As social studies becomes a thing of the past, schools across the country have a new distraction on their hands: chess. Yes, you read that right. The game that has been around for centuries has suddenly become the talk of the town. Teachers are astounded as they catch their students playing this game at every opportunity they get. “I’d be happier if they played it during recess, but no, they have to whip out their Chromebooks and obsess over it during class,” said one bemused teacher.
Data from Chess.com show that the young fan base for chess is growing by leaps and bounds. They even had to add overflow rooms for the National High School Chess Championship in D.C. to accommodate the record 1,750 attendees. Who would’ve thought that participation medals would be running short for a centuries-old game?
A prolific California school librarian has set aside a section of the library where her young chess enthusiasts can indulge in their newfound passion. An Illinois teacher has bought 24 chess sets to cater to the surging demand of his students. And in Hawaii, chaos ensues every morning as students glue their eyes to Chess.com, unaware of their surroundings.
Teachers are even taking students’ phones and laptops away as they can’t resist the temptation to play the game during class. “Imagine having to physically take your students’ phones away just because they can’t stop playing chess,” says one high school geography teacher, rolling her eyes. Justine, we feel you!
While it is unclear what is driving the sudden chess mania, students seem to be hooked on chess personalities such as GothamChess on YouTube. Even TikTok feeds are flooded with chess content, making chess the newest TikTok challenge. Move aside, fidget spinners!
Chess has always been trendy, with its popularity based on the 90s hit movie “Searching for Bobby Fischer”. More recently, chess received another boost in popularity among adults during the pandemic and due to the Netflix series “The Queen’s Gambit.”
Even though some teachers can’t seem to get over their students’ new obsession, others are seeing the bright side. James Brown, a teacher in New York’s South Colonie School District, welcomes the craze. He has been buying more chess sets to keep up with the growing demand. He believes that chess develops critical thinking skills among students, a win in his book, and let’s not forget the benefits of important life skills like the ability to take calculated risks.
The beauty of playing chess is that it brings different social groups together. A librarian in California noticed that the game prompts students to interact with those outside their usual social groups when they wouldn’t otherwise. This proves that chess is not just a game, but a medium to break social barriers.
The chess mania is also inspiring students to set up their own chess clubs, with one school in Nebraska even starting their own chess club, which meets daily. Children are squeezing in as many games as they can before class starts. Even the superintendent of schools has approved of it, impressed that his very own children have been bitten by the chess bug.
It’s safe to say that teachers can put aside their angst with chess because the reality is, there’s something charming about the new wave of chess passion sweeping across the country. We can’t help but smile when we imagine young students crowded together, puzzling out their next move on a chessboard.
Serious News: washingtonpost
