An important article

[Andrew Martin]

I would say this article needs to be read by everyone involved in junior chess:

http://iloapp.orlandochesshouse.com/blo ... 2#comments

[Michael Farthing]

OK I'm laying myself open to being a reactionary whatsit, but...

I felt very in tune with this article and it brings to the fore in my mind some grave reservations that I have about our approach to junior chess at the higher levels. I have seen local youngsters (in areas other than chess) working themselves to the bone, proud to be in a national squad, all energy going into this! top 20 in the country! in the international squad! the sky is the limit!

"Oh sorry, you're not quite good enough. Tough". Devastated. Parents: suicidal.

We start this process with kids aged 8 or 9. Is it fair on the kids? Is it even fair on the parents?

[MJMcCready]

I would say it needs to be disregarded in favour of one vastly superior.

http://www.chesskids.org.uk/fallacies.pdf

[David Blower]

I am familiar with point 1 made in the first article. I have encountered people saying this several times, so much so that the first thing we tell the children and parents at Brewood, is that we don't guarantee that we will turn them into a grandmaster! This topic here: http://www.ecforum.org.uk/viewtopic.php ... 32#p161032 was me in the same room, standing open mouthed in shock, as I heard someone say these things.

[PaulLeggett]

GM Hansen's article as referenced in IM Martin's original post seems to be more on point-and to the point- than the other referenced article. The second article clearly has some passion on the subject, but it also has the feel of an article written by someone who was paid to do so, where the compensation was on a "per word" basis.

Since the point of both articles is to successfully convey an idea about scholastic chess, here's hoping that they are both successful!