So argues John Mac Ghlionn in today’s Martin Center article.
In chess, he writes, “Every action has a reaction. Decisions have consequences. The game of chess teaches people basic life skills, like the importance of patience, perspective, and proper planning. It is, in many ways, a highly effective, highly instructive educational tool. Right now, the US is very much lacking such tools.”
That’s right. Playing chess builds, to use Hercule Poirot’s favorite phrase, “the little gray cells.”
Ghlionn explains that, “Researchers have found that the schema used by chess players is eerily similar to the scientific method, with great emphasis placed on calculations and assessments. Other researchers have documented the ways in which chess improves attention, memory, concentration, and reasoning among players.”
If American schools (including colleges) would encourage chess, that would have great benefits for the individuals and, in the long-run, for the country.