CHESS MUST BE COMPULSORY IN SCHOOLS

Is chess an art or a science? Is it a game, sport or teaching material? There is enough evidence that suggests that chess improves the intelligence quotient (IQ) of its players.

Chess is more than a game. It is superior to most board games (monopoly, draft, umlabalaba, snakes and ladders, and intjuba), yet very affordable. Chess is an internationally recognised game/sport, played only by those who value the price of improving their IQ. Every child and every sportsperson needs to play chess.

Every organisation must introduce chess, if it wants to increase productivity. A journalist, boxer, lawyer, manager or karateka, who plays chess, thinks better than his/her counterparts. Chess is a special and interesting game that complements all other sports in the world. Frank (1974) and Ferguson (1995) found that learning chess, even as teenagers, strengthened both numerical and verbal aptitudes. Other studies have added that playing chess can strengthen a child’s memory (Artise).  According to Gaudreau (1992), by integrating chess into the traditional mathematics curriculum, teachers were able to significantly raise the average problem-solving scores of their students, than ones who just took the standard mathematics course. 

CHESS AND
EDUCATION

According to a survey conducted by the University of Sydney (Dauverge, 2000), the following were outlined as the benefits for children studying and playing chess:
•    Raised intelligence Quotient (IQ) scores.
•     Strong problem-solving skills, teaching how to make difficult and abstract decisions independently.
•     Enhanced reading, memory, language, and mathematical abilities.
•    It fosters critical, creative and original thinking.
•    Provides practice at making accurate and fast decisions when under pressure, a skill that can help improve exam scores at school.
•    Teaches how to think logically and efficiently in learning to select the ‘best’ choice from a large number of options.
•    Challenges gifted children while potentially helping underachieving gifted students learn how to study and strive for excellence.
•    Demonstrates the importance of flexible planning, concentration, and the consequences of decisions.
•    Reaching boys and girls, regardless of their natural abilities or socio-economic backgrounds.

COGNITIVE TRAITS

Accumulating evidence suggests that playing chess improves ones thinking and intelligence. Waters, Gobet and Lyden (2000) and Frank and D’ Hondt (1979) and other researchers concluded that chess effectively improved the intelligence of both children and adults. Frydman and Lynn (1992) concluded that even though chess positively improves the intelligence of the players, players with an initial high IQ play better chess compared to those with a lower IQ.

These conclusions are also based from studies done in Africa (Zaire).  Chess is a complex game with an indeterminately high cognitive ceiling. It involves spatial problem-solving in which participants often need to control as much space on the chessboard as possible in order to win the game. Chess requires spatial cognition on the part of the participants as well as the character traits of reflectivity, carefulness, and patience.

Chess makes use of spatial thinking, logical thinking, and critical thinking (Saariluoma, 1995). To address the challenge of inadequate levels of scholastic achievement and critical thinking among American youth, noted chess commentators such as Gershunsky and Gufed (2000) recommended that chess instructions be introduced in all schools.

LATEST UPDATES...

2014 WORLD JUNIOR
TAEKWONDO CHAMPIONSHIPS

Congratulations to the Taekwondo Team, taking part in the 2014 World Junior Taekwondo Championships in Taipei City, Taiwan. Information received yesterday (March 25, 2014), according to Mbongeni Nsibandze, the local Taekwondo trainer and coach, Carlota Munave and Phiwayinkhosi Dlamini won their first bouts.

Phiwa won (9-6), his first fight against an Australian fighter; unfortunately he then lost his second fight to a Kazakhstan player. The Kazakhstan player went on to win silver. Carlota won her bout against a Brazilian fighter. 

Carlota trains at St Michael’s and Phiwa is a Nazarene and U-Tech product. We further wish Thandolwethu Motsa (Masundvwini High) and Diana Stromvig (St Michael’s/Sisekelo) good luck, as they are still waiting for their bouts today (March 26, 2014).
The nation is behind you! Please don’t forget to play chess before your bouts!

Fair Play! It’s A Game After All

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