CHESS CLUBS IN SCHOOLS: THE WAY TO GO?

From the comments made in my previous post, I would like to draw your attention to this article :

http://www.chesskids.com/piagpolg.pdf

Please pay close attention to his last paragraph, especially his views on chess clubs run by teachers or those with no knowledge of the child's cognitive development.

It is not a pretty scenario.

Which explains the rationale behind my earlier post : we need chess clubs where young and adults can interact, enjoy the game and learn about its beauty and history. The school chess clubs do not do such a good job at that. There are lots of retiring chessplayers, primarily those born in the 50's who are approaching 55 years of age and will soon retire. Their passion, knowledge and experience should be tapped by the organising body to help revive these chess clubs in community clubs of remniscent of River Valley, Buona Vista, Kuo Chuan, Siglap and even better, develop new ones in townships like Sengkang, Choa Chu Kang and Jurong West. Mustering these retirees will be a long drawn effort but I am sure it is critical now to start this process, or in Richard James' words, " we may soon be a land without chess".

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