Armenia makes chess compulsory in primary school

[Death_Korps_Kommissar]

[link]http://arbroath.blogspot.com/2011/04/armenia-makes-chess-compulsory-in.html?spref=fb[/link]

Huh so armenia are making chess an extra subject in school for two hours a week.
The idea being to make it a superpower in chess but also to help their children think logically as well.
Thoughts?

 

[Gaiseric]

That's pretty awesome.

I suck at chess...

 

[Azure-Supernova]

I read the topic title as 'cheese'. I shall now retreat at this topic has become less interesting to my work-numbed mind.

 

[Ambi]

I lol'd when I read "a chess superpower". Anything that forces children to gradually build confidence, and focus while contemplate decisions is good. I like that they value a "sport" that places emphasis purely on the intellect. I'm not a psychologist, but maybe the areas/neural pathways of the brain exercised by thinking strategically in chess will be used in thinking about other areas... I'm just speculating here. I don't know, I suppose some chess thrown into the mix could do them well.

As for the other reasons stated, "thinking flexibly and wisely", maybe there are better ways? I think it would be better if everyone were taught how to spot logical fallacies and other things that are relevant to everyday life (if they don't in Armenia already).

Good idea. WOuld never fly here, some of the students wouldn't know the difference between a bishop and a knight (i am not kidding -.-)

Oh my, they must not know anything about life.

...Well, I guess it says something negative about their general knowledge.

 

[Purple Shrimp]

the USSR did the same thing

 

[SckizoBoy]

Good idea. WOuld never fly here, some of the students wouldn't know the difference between a bishop and a knight (i am not kidding -.-)

IRL or on the chessboard... or both?!

*sigh*

OT: Hmmm, so long as FIDE keep their grubby hands off, I guess it'd be OK.

 

[Motti]

they want to be a chess superpower? Fair enough I guess.
Some countries have nukes, others a powerful economy, whereas armenia has chess.
I wonder if that's how they would settle diplomacy?

 

[Woodsey]

Good idea. WOuld never fly here, some of the students wouldn't know the difference between a bishop and a knight (i am not kidding -.-)

So?

OT: Not a bad idea, be interesting to see if it works.

 

[Wondermint13]

Awsome I say.

That game really gets the old noodle going.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

It's a bit of an unusual thing to do, but I like it, hopefully it will help develop the young kids minds, and keep them challenged. I'd be up for trying something similar in our schools, just to help kids develop their abilities to think logically and tactically.

The skills needed to play chess well probably also translate into most other areas of life.

 

[joebthegreat]

Good idea. Would never fly here, some of the students wouldn't know the difference between a bishop and a knight (i am not kidding -.-)

That's kind of the point of "teaching" you see.

Also I've never met a kid who couldn't figure out chess given an honest chance (maybe they couldn't "master" it, but figure out the basics? Easy).

 

[silver wolf009]

My high school refuses to allow a chess club because, and I qoute:

"Chess is a game, and therefore shall be given jurisdiction over by the gamers club."

And for context, our gamers club consists of twelve people, two of which play Pokemon in the corner, while the other ten have dedicated every second of their lives to understanding Brawl, to an almost creepy extent. They have memorized how long it takes for every character to go from free fall to controlled drop. An X-BOX 360 was actually stolen so there has never been any attempt to break them away from their Wii. I feel jealous of these people.

EDIT: The people in Armenia I mean.

 

[OmniscientOstrich]

I wonder if System of a Down will end writing a song about this?

 

[TheAmazingHobo]

Sure, why not ?

Physical sport is usually compulsary, so why not have the mental equivalent have the same privilege ?
Though I am a bit opposed to the idea of forcing kids to participate in one specific sport. There are other mentally stimulating games of equal or greater complexity than chess. There should at least be some kind of choice.

 

[Hashime]

Well chess will help children learn logical planning, to think ahead, and general strategy, so it is not like having to play chess is detrimental.

 

[googleback]

Yeah, thats interesting. I've never played chess in my life, would have liked it at school.