26 Jun 2006
The drama and challenge of chess attracts many
DALLAS—Walk into the classroom at Greiner Middle School and the sound will surprise you—the sound of silence that is. Hovering over black and white chessboards, students plan their next move in their quest to beat their opponents at a game many of them knew nothing about until a few days earlier.
As part of the Dallas Independent School District's Extended Year Summer Program, students in grades 3-8 learn to play tournament level chess while sharpening their problem-solving and thinking skills.
Chess coach Dennis Raveneau says the rewards of the game are many. "Academically, chess helps the students sharpen their high order thinking skills through planning and strategizing. Competitively, it promotes sportsmanship. They learn to win or lose gracefully. And the best thing is that, no matter how badly you play, there is someone you can beat."
Love for the game develops quickly. Beginners learn the grid coordinate system, how to move their pieces and the value of each piece. Strategy follows. "Within a week they play competitively," said Raveneau.
Robert Sanchez, a sophomore at the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center and previous program participant, now mentors young players. "The main thing for new players is to get used to the fact that chess is a slow game. It is a lot of fun, but you have to adjust to the speed."
At the end of each summer session, students participate in a mini-tournament and winners are awarded trophies for their effort. "Some students have great potential to continue as professional, grand master even," said Raveneau, who during the school year teaches 4-6 grade at George Bannerman Dealey Elementary School where he sponsors a chess club.
According to James Kemp, founder of Chess for Life, Inc., the organization that conducts the summer camps at Greiner, Zumwalt and Blanton elementary, enrollment this year is about 400 students and interest continues to grow.
"Chess is like all art forms: you have to practice, spend time developing the skill. It is an instinctual and thoughtful rhythm of considered progression and response with purpose, and you develop technique that supports your best intentions," said Kemp, founder and director of the Young Art Institute in Education.
Kemp says some students become so accomplished and so inspired by the game that they come back each year to sharpen their skills, with many playing year-around and in tournaments. "Some play over the phone, long distance. Once you know the game you can anticipate moves. It is all about strategy."
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