by Dave McCain,Outpost Staff
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Students watch Ron explaining moves across a paper chess board. Photo by Dave McCain |
"It's not just learning the game. The game of chess is a teaching tool.”
So says William Dixon, co-founder of Project Chess and the Young Masters Chess Club. He, Irene Dixon and several others teach chess to young people across Reno and Sparks. So far, youngsters are loving the game.
"We start from square one. They don't know a thing about the board. For ten weeks they get ten lessons and after that they are tournament players,” Irene says.
Irene and William start their program by asking schools if they would like to participate with the Project. Once the school officials give the go-ahead, Irene and William set up after school classes. These classes are about two to three hours, once a week for 10 weeks. Irene and William start the classses with basic moves to more advanced moves.
Irene says that chess has become more popular with young people in the last five years. Several years ago she and William asked a psychologist to study the effects the game has on children. The psychologist found chess as a power trip for kids."The only thing he [the psychologist ] has come up with so far is that in young people's lives, they are told what to do, ” says Irene."When we set them at a chess board. . .there's no lock involved. And we tell them 'You're on your own.' so they look around and say 'This is all up to me? I have to make the decisions? ' This doctor really believes this is like telling kids they are on their own . ” " All through the courses, we teach them different things. We really believe it's a new feeling for [kids]. It gives them a sense of power,” says Irene.
Right now, Irene and William are currently teaching classes at Spanish Springs and Wooster middle schools. But, if you want to have Project Chess come to your school, get in line. The group is booked solid till January 1999! "We can't keep up with the demand," laughs Irene. "I've got eighteen [other schools] on the waiting list. Every kid wants to learn! ”
Irene and William are looking toward the future. They want to open up a chess center for kids and take chess to others who have never played it. However, Irene says that the Project needs financial help and moral support. "We're looking for a fairy godmother or a fairy godfather that would like to adopt the Young Masters Chess Club. Just help us out.”
To get in touch with Irene or William or to learn more about chess in general, contact them through The Young Masters Chess Club: 1-702-356-8288. Their address is:
Young Masters Chess Club, Inc.
264 Danny Lee Circle
Sparks, Nevada 89433.
All donations to the chess club are tax deductible.
Checkmate!
Copyright 5/10/98 Nevada Outpost http://www.jour.unr.edu/outpost