Principal: Critical Thinking Skills Used In Chess Vital For Student Success

In commentary for Education Week (9/26), author and principal Salome Thomas-EL writes that her "inner-city" elementary and middle school students would "win every match" if they had the opportunity to play chess against President Obama or Education Secretary Arne Duncan. She describes matches her students have won against prominent national leaders, adding, "Unfortunately, most of our nation's urban and rural students won't have the same opportunities as my chess players because, as a general rule, we don't teach our children to think critically or to think ahead. We don't teach them to use logic and reason or to consider rewards and consequences before they make decisions."