Junior Jack Hafer makes his next move against opponent sophomore Joshua Barnett during a game of chess in social studies department teacher David Cleveland’s classroom. The two students are practicing their chess skills. “(Chess is) really important because it seems so simple but when you get into it, it’s extremely complex and it really tests your mind,” Hafer said. Photo by Kennae Hunter.
By KENNAE HUNTER – Staff Writer
GLAD Time is the two hour period on Wednesdays when students can remediate and participate in enrichment activities. Beginning in the 2014-15 school year GLAD Time has more opportunities for enrichment compared to the previous school year. This year, chess club, which formerly met outside of school hours only, has been added to the list of available GLAD times.
When Cleveland started teaching students how to play chess, these sessions quickly turned into what is now chess club. Originally, chess club only met on Tuesday afternoons. With the focus on enrichment during GLAD Time, however, Cleveland saw an opportunity to expand meeting times.
“(Chess club) is two days a week now and it gives you that much more time to learn the skills and get better,” sophomore Zachary Myers said.
With chess, students learn decision-making and consequences for making mistakes in an unorthodox way. Despite the fact that chess is a game, the thinking skills it provides are beneficial for students.
“Every game is different because every time you play you’re subject to the decisions of the other person as well, so you have to react to their decisions and make them react to your decisions,” Cleveland said. “It’s something you have to think about and it will train you for making better decisions in the future.”
