“The Game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement; several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired and strengthened by it, so as to become habits ready on all occasions; for life is kind of Chess in which we have often points to gain and competitors or adversaries to contend with and in which there is a vast variety of good and ill events, that are in some degree the effect of prudence, or want of it.”
~ Benjamin Franklin
Scholastic Chess in Wisconsin 2009-2010
The 2009-2010 scholastic season finds Scholastic Chess continuing to grow in Wisconsin and
having a profound effect on the development of young minds for more students across the state.
WSCF, along with other organizations have made chess more accessible to students than any other
time in the states history. Wisconsin’s effort joins a growing movement nationally with the same
objective. This past spring I had the opportunity to do gather information on past research that I
believe makes a powerful case for using chess as an educational tool in the classroom and/or in some
form in every school. The scientific research done on the effect of chess on student intellectual development
is substantial. I believe the case is compelling that every child should be taught chess, read the
full article here…
Using Chess as an Educational Tool
This scholastic season finds WSCF facilitating over 40 tournaments across the state in four different
geographical zones. Highlights of the schedule include the new Grand Prix USCF rated series of tournaments
at the Bayshore Mall, the Grade level tournament in a more spacious venue at the Milwaukee School of Engineering,
the all girl’s tournaments at Acuity Insurance corporate headquarters in Sheboygan, the interstate invitational at Discovery World and the
state tournament at the Kalahari in Wisconsin Dells. This year Jr. High Nationals are in Minneapolis and High School
Nationals are in Columbus Ohio which raises the possibility of bus tours to each city.
The number of schools with chess clubs and curricula continue to grow across the state. Five new clubs are hosting
tournaments in the state this year.
Chess in Education in the US
National educational organizations continue to grow. One such organization is the
American Foundation for Chess based in Seattle. AF4C offers a curriculum designed
for 2nd and 3rd graders with the following mission:
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“Our vision is to provide elementary school students the opportunity to develop essential life skills such as the power to think ahead, make good choices, and think analytically. As classrooms have become increasingly diverse, it was important that we design our First Move program with tools that bridge social, economic, and cultural boundaries, in order to narrow, and eventually close the achievement gap.”
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They go on to write:
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“Kids see chess as a game; they don't realize the powerful learning that goes on while they play. Teachers see students picking up math concepts more quickly, a better aptitude for reading comprehension, a new sense of focus and more courtesy towards others. First Move is offered during the School Day as a supplemental curriculum to the existing core curriculum. Our focus is not on competition or tournament play, but rather in the thinking skills that are an inherent part of chess.”
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Their curriculum involves 60 lessons to be taught in the classroom by non-chess
playing teachers with the intent of laying a strong analytical foundation for students
subsequent years in school and live. Please visit their website at :
WWW.Af4c.org
In the 2009 – 2010 school year Wendi Fischer, Executive Director, states that the “
First Move “ curriculum will be in front of 60,000 students nation wide. She projects
that number to be 100,000 students in 2010 – 2011. Wisconsin currently has two schools
participating in that program. The first school, Sheboygan Christian School is in their
3rd year of the program and is excited about the difference the program has made in their
entire school. A new school offering the program is Stettin Elementary in Wausau.
St. Louis
St. Louis has recently begun an effort to put chess in the class room,
read more at…
http://www.af4c.org/news/2009/09/22/st.-louis-introduces-chess-to-classrooms
National Press
An article in USA Today on June 2nd speaks to the resurgence is chess in
schools today.
http://www.af4c.org/news/2009/08/14/chess-making-comeback-in-u.s.-schools
An Historic Program
New York “Chess in Schools” program has existed since 1986, is a non profit organization and serves 27,000 students in New York City Schools with title I status. If offers as its mission statement;
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“Chess-in-the-Schools" is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to
improving academic performance and building self-esteem among inner-city public school children.”
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You can learn more about this pillar in chess education at:
http://www.chessintheschools.org/s/index.cfm
President Clinton on Chess in the Schools
In 2007 Bill Clinton in his book,
Giving, How Each of Us Can Change the World,
speaks to the difference one person can make in the world and motivates all of us to do our part.
He tells how one philanthropist gave over a million dollars to some chess enthusiasts who had a
vision to teach chess to under privileged students through out New York. You can read the complete
story at….
http://www.chessintheschools.org/resources/PDF/6-BillClintonGiving_Flyer.pdf
WSCF has a vision to bring chess to all students in Wisconsin and especially to Title I
students like those in New York. With our dollars and our time, let us work together to
help the children of Wisconsin by adding this valuable educational tool wherever possible.
Bob Patterson-Sumwalt
September 2009
WSCF President/Founder
bob@wisconsinscholasticchess.org
Using Chess as an Educational Tool
by Bob Patterson-Sumwalt
Chess has been touted for centuries as a way of
educating the mind in preparation for life. The same is true
today: Googling “Chess in Education” results in 998,000 hits.
Interest in chess as an educational tool began in 1779, when Benjamin Franklin wrote:
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The Game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement; several very valuable qualities
of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired and strengthened
by it, so as to become habits ready on all occasions, for life is a kind of Chess, in
which we have often points to gain, and competitors or adversaries to contend with, and
in which there is a vast variety of good and ill events that are, in some degree, the
effect of prudence, or the want of it. By playing at Chess, then, we may learn foresight,
circumspection and caution.
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Read the full article here.
Chess Empowers Young Minds
by Bob Patterson-Sumwalt
There are many myths and stories about the
origins of chess. According to David Shenk,
author of The Immortal Game: A History of
Chess, one of the oldest myths tells of two
successive Indian Kings, Hashran and Balhait.
King Hashran asked his sage to invent a game
symbolizing man’s dependence on destiny and
fate...
Read the full article here.
Older WSCF Articles in the LIBRARY
The Wisconsin Scholastic Chess Federation (WSCF), formerly Milwaukee Area Scholastic Chess Association (MASCA), is a 501(c)(3) non profit association dedicated to promoting chess for our youth in greater Milwaukee and Wisconsin. WSCF coordinates scholastic chess tournaments at area schools, operates a chess school with qualified instructors who follow the WSCF curriculum, offers services through the WSCF chess club coach program, conducts chess club management seminars for parents and teachers, and provides chess club start-up grants.
P.O. Box 170843, Milwaukee, WI 53217-9998 Phone: (262) 573-5624
Site last updated on:
Friday April 17th, 2009
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