In order to realize the project it is necessary to teach teachers how to play the game and to implement the chess educational programme in schools and provide schools with the appropriate equipment. The educational-methodical complex is available. It is designed for four years and includes manuals, training programmes and methodological materials. "Icing on the cake" is the workbook. Training that takes 135 academic hours is based on the old principle - from simple to complex. 33 hours are allocated for first-graders and the cycle of 34 hours for the next three grades…
This all is not just the know-how but the time-tested decisions. Such programmes have been implemented in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Hungary, Spain, Mexico, Poland and Turkey long time ago.
"It is essential that he project should be implemented as soon as possible," stressed the teacher of chess Anatoly Klimov from Kireevsk city. "Chess is a life in miniature. However, you can replay and correct errors in chess but the errors of life cannot be corrected and that’s why one should train oneself in chess to make fewer mistakes in life."
Anatoly Ivanovich has been playing chess since he was six years old and his teaching experience is close to 25 years. It all started as a simple hobby and grew into significant achievements – such as participation in regional and all-Russia tournaments.
" Children often have to choose among varieties of sports. Combining chess and football, for example, is very difficult. But there should be the overall development of children. The introduction of chess in the elementary schools is essential for personality development. And what a life path a child would choose is its own business."
Chess players are confident that this sport is developing a harmonious personality, math and strategic planning skills, spatial thinking, stamina and self-control. That is why it is important for children to start playing from an early age.
However, curriculum has its limits and one should use common sense when introducing new subjects for the already overburdened children. This means that before adding anything you need to remove something first. The leaders of Tula schools say that the best option is to try to teach children on optional basis after lessons.
"We must admit that children unwillingly attend the physical education lessons. I am not sure if chess would be much popular," says the deputy director of secondary school No 20 (Shchyokino city) Oksana Soboleva. "Although I must admit that our school has a chess club attended by many children and some of them are already the chess masters.
I think you need to teach chess to children. The high-quality mathematics education has disappeared in our country in recent years. Many students are unable to think logically and cannot solve simple tasks. They are the children of gadgets with the pixel memory. And we need to correct the situation."
Incidentally, the chess community appeared in Tula in 1913 but at that time it was for the purpose of having fun. The members of that closed club played not only chess but bridge and were allowed to smoke and drink. The central chess club was opened in Tula on August 17, 1986.