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1994-01-05
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EVANS ON CHESS April 23, 1993 By GM Larry Evans (Copyright)
A CHESS MILESTONE
December 24, 1992, was a milestone for chess in America. Governor Jim
Florio of New Jersey signed a bill encouraging schools to teach chess.
"The mental agility and self-discipline involved in chess, to say
nothing of the fun and comradeship, are things from which all students
can profit," he noted. The bill sailed through the Senate 23-1 and 63-6
in the Assembly.
"In countries where chess is offered widely in schools, students
exhibit excellence in the ability to recognize complex patterns and
excel in math and science. Instruction in chess during the second grade
will enable pupils to learn skills which will serve them throughout
their lives," states the bill.
Within just two months over 70 new school chess programs sprang up. The
idea is catching on in all 50 states.
The Reno Gazette-Journal describes Irene Dixon Darnell as a Chess
Grandma On The Warpath. "In the war against drugs, she holds the rank
of general in charge of chess. Since she began teaching chess to kids
in a Latchkey Program over two years ago, the 73-year-old grandma has
had success after success, including the 793rd Point of Light award
from President Bush."
She teaches an afterschool program at the Salvation Army, schools, even
police stations; she also launched several regional junior tournaments
plus an overflowing Friday evening club for kids and their parents at
the YWCA. "It just mushroomed. We really don't know how far it will
go," Irene marvels.
As a result of holding classes for teachers, she now has an army of
allies in local schools. She also won a $16,000 grant from the Nevada
Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Abuse to take her chess school on the road
as a preventive measure to train young minds to think about chess
rather than more harmful pursuits.
"My motto is, Push Pawns Not Drugs. I get kids hooked and teach them
the basics. My partners take it from there," she said.
Ben Rickman, 9, grimaced as if in momentary pain when he tried to solve
a chess problem. "It's a brain exercise. It warms up my brain," he
said. "Homework has gotten easier since I checked into this class." He
also likes sports -- baseball, tennis, ping pong and kickball -- as
well as computers and cards.
"It's fun to watch kids think. Research has shown that chess makes kids
smarter," said Irene. "Patience and the ability to visualize are some
benefits. Other lessons learned include reading and writing chess
notation, using a clock and abiding by the rules."
Irene is trying to push a chess bill through the Nevada legislature
modelled after New Jersey. "My dream is to teach chess all day long,
full-time, in schools. I want to get a lot of people involved."
But Irene lacks one virtue of a real chess player. She's impatient.
"It's not moving fast enough! Think of all the kids here who need
this!"