Systematic study of chess complements the core education program, by filling gaps in critical thinking, creative thinking, communication, and collaboration. It provides a challenge for the “gifted,” and an intervention tool for the “at-risk.”
“Chess has taught my students more than any other subject.” – Dr. Fred Loveland, as Principal of Panama Jr/Sr. High School
General Chess Education Research
Critical and Creative Thinking
This study, by Dr. Robert C. Ferguson, demonstrates that the systematic study of chess was more effective in developing critical and creative thinking than all the other “enrichment” activities he tested.
This study conducted specifically on the Success Through Chess program, shows that elementary students involved in a weekly chess class during the school day had significant gains in critical thinking skills.
This study, conducted by James M. Liptrap, shows that regular, non-honors students involved in a 1-hour weekly chess program after school had significant gains in standard test scores over students not involved.
Average Daily Attendance and Morale
Public School 68 in the Bronx noted standardized scores increased 11.2% in reading and 18.6% in math in one school year. Principal Cheryl Coles wrote: “As encouraging as our scores are, the benefits of our Chess Education Program far exceeded anything that these scores could ever hope to indicate. There were significant outgrowths in varying degrees in all curriculum areas. Such as: increased enthusiasm for learning, increase in general fund of knowledge, increase in pupil attendance, increase in self-confidence, increase in parent involvement, etc.”
“Chess is the touchstone of intellect.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe