09-01-2014, 05:22 PM
I think we would all agree that the demand is there to run school chess clubs from the pupils point of view but a lack of volunteers to run the clubs. As its already been pointed out the teaching staff are short of time due to other demands & parents are not so keen on putting themselves forward because of the commitment, amongst other factors.
The last school club I started & ran was at Kirkhill Primary from 2003-2008. During that time I had waiting lists of pupils wishing to join the club all the time. The teams took the Primary Team & P5 & under titles in the National events on a couple of occasions & also East Renfrewshire. We had great success. However, the school didn't support the club & didn't give the children the recognition they deserved. On my last year there we couldn't even get a member of staff to present the internal end of season trophies. I know of other schools in South Lanarkshire that have taken a similar attitude when a parent has run the club although they also became National champions. If someone is willing to give up their time free of charge to the school you would think they would support that person & the children better. In contrast you get schools bending over backwards to support the running of a club.
From the Kirkhill club there have been about 10 or 12 players that won the National team titles & at least six primary players that have represented Scotland. However, as far as I am aware only three of those players still play since moving to High school or later & two of those are my sons. Had there been an established chess club running at the High school the others may have continued to play but there wasn't & with peer pressure & other activities in the curriculum its so easy to stop playing. I offered at the time to run a club but the high school didn't want to do anything at that time. It was possibly a year later when one of the teachers started a lunchtime club but it was restricted to specific year groups & I was told 'only for fun'.
What I am trying to point out here is that there are many contributing factors. Main one being a lack of volunteers to run the clubs. Some people are willing to run clubs for a small charge but the schools claim lack of funds so are not interested. Some schools (I am referring to High Schools here) are not interested at all & wouldn't or don't support chess. Children have other activities, studies & demands that come into their life & cant fit everything in. Its only those that have a real passion to play that continue with the game. Its not always about ability as some really good players have given up & especially girls that could have gone on to great success. However, if there are a few in the same age group & the same ones get the opportunities to represent their country & in doing so improve, it leaves the others behind & can be enough for them to throw the towel in.
What can be done? For those that are already involved in Junior chess, to continue to do their best to promote the game & give the children opportunities. If it means some children only play for one or even 6years, at least they have played & maybe one day they will come back to the game. It doesn't really matter, as whilst they were playing, they hopefully learnt how to play & had the benefits associated with chess. I know from experience again that some children with disabilities that have taken up chess whilst they were young, have benefitted from playing as its made them a better person in that they have been able to control or overcome some of their problems just by the disciplines of playing the game & therefore it has given them opportunities that maybe were not there before.
One idea that has come up in the past but never to fruition is for a one day course to be put on for parents & teachers (maybe on an in service day at school) to teach basic chess & how to run a school club & to highlight the benefits it can give.
The last school club I started & ran was at Kirkhill Primary from 2003-2008. During that time I had waiting lists of pupils wishing to join the club all the time. The teams took the Primary Team & P5 & under titles in the National events on a couple of occasions & also East Renfrewshire. We had great success. However, the school didn't support the club & didn't give the children the recognition they deserved. On my last year there we couldn't even get a member of staff to present the internal end of season trophies. I know of other schools in South Lanarkshire that have taken a similar attitude when a parent has run the club although they also became National champions. If someone is willing to give up their time free of charge to the school you would think they would support that person & the children better. In contrast you get schools bending over backwards to support the running of a club.
From the Kirkhill club there have been about 10 or 12 players that won the National team titles & at least six primary players that have represented Scotland. However, as far as I am aware only three of those players still play since moving to High school or later & two of those are my sons. Had there been an established chess club running at the High school the others may have continued to play but there wasn't & with peer pressure & other activities in the curriculum its so easy to stop playing. I offered at the time to run a club but the high school didn't want to do anything at that time. It was possibly a year later when one of the teachers started a lunchtime club but it was restricted to specific year groups & I was told 'only for fun'.
What I am trying to point out here is that there are many contributing factors. Main one being a lack of volunteers to run the clubs. Some people are willing to run clubs for a small charge but the schools claim lack of funds so are not interested. Some schools (I am referring to High Schools here) are not interested at all & wouldn't or don't support chess. Children have other activities, studies & demands that come into their life & cant fit everything in. Its only those that have a real passion to play that continue with the game. Its not always about ability as some really good players have given up & especially girls that could have gone on to great success. However, if there are a few in the same age group & the same ones get the opportunities to represent their country & in doing so improve, it leaves the others behind & can be enough for them to throw the towel in.
What can be done? For those that are already involved in Junior chess, to continue to do their best to promote the game & give the children opportunities. If it means some children only play for one or even 6years, at least they have played & maybe one day they will come back to the game. It doesn't really matter, as whilst they were playing, they hopefully learnt how to play & had the benefits associated with chess. I know from experience again that some children with disabilities that have taken up chess whilst they were young, have benefitted from playing as its made them a better person in that they have been able to control or overcome some of their problems just by the disciplines of playing the game & therefore it has given them opportunities that maybe were not there before.
One idea that has come up in the past but never to fruition is for a one day course to be put on for parents & teachers (maybe on an in service day at school) to teach basic chess & how to run a school club & to highlight the benefits it can give.