Recently, Lebanon Elementary School Family Resource Center Director Dawn Blandford decided to bring back an LES tradition: chess. In years past, the school had an active chess program. Blandford decided to make the game the focus of an after school program, which meets once per week, and the local American Legion agreed to donate chess boards and offer help in teaching students the game.
Blandford had 31 students sign up for the chess club, and on a recent Tuesday afternoon nearly all of them were in attendance. Students were spread out in the school’s cafeteria in pairs after having picked up a snack and a chess board. She said that this has been her most well-attended after school program.
Several students had never played chess before, but a few of them, like 5th grader William, were already somewhat familiar.
“A couple of videos online inspired me to start doing chess,” he said, adding that he’s also downloaded an app to help him learn the game at home.
He also said he thinks it was a good idea for Blandford to offer the program.
“A lot of people don’t really know chess, and I think it’s smart to offer a chess club because it could help improve focus and IQ,” he said. “It helps me focus when I have to decide where to move.”
As for those just learning the game, he admits, “It’s kind of hard, but maybe after three times playing you’ll start to remember all the rules.”
Fellow fifth-grader Bryan also played chess before joining the club. He started by playing checkers and says, “that’s where I started to develop my skills.”
Among the students who attend chess club, Bryan noted that he’s one of the best players, but didn’t go so far as to crown himself as the number one player.
“Well, I’m tied with a lot of people,” he said. “We’re all in first.”
But it’s not just the competition that has him showing up each Tuesday afternoon.
“It’s fun and it’s challenging and you get to play with a lot of new people and get to know them.”
Second-grader Francisco said he was excited when he first heard about the program. Although he’s still “just learning” he said he’s had fun picking up the game.
He admits that “it’s kinda hard,” but he’d encourage others to be a part of the program.
“I’d say to join it because it’s fun and it helps me think,” he said.
At one table, third-grader Aleah and fourth-grader Lucas were in the middle of a game when they had a disagreement about one of the moves. They eventually consulted the playing guide printouts that are distributed to help students who are still picking up on the rules.
For Aleah, who is new to chess, overall learning chess has not been terribly difficult although “learning how the pieces move and how to attack” has taken awhile.
“I wanted to learn how to play chess and meet new people,” she said, adding that she’s asking for a chess board for her birthday.
Lucas had played with his uncle before and said that chess “is one of my number one games [...] it’s actually pretty exciting.”
He had a high praise for the program, along with just a hint of criticism:
“One of the good parts is you actually get snacks, but one of the bad parts is it only happens on one day. I wish they would change it to Tuesdays and Thursdays.”