CHESS IN THE CURRICULUM
The NSCF has been a pioneer in curricular chess instruction where chess is offered to students during the school day. Exposing all students to chess instruction, wherever possible, introduces and helps develop critical thinking skills at a young age. Below are just a few of our successes.
If you are interested in bringing high-quality chess instruction to your school, please contact us by email: classes@nscfchess.org or telephone: (914) 683-5322.
CHESS FOR OVER 40 YEARS AT HUNTER, NY
Beginning in 1979, the NSCF’s Executive Director, Sunil Weeramantry developed a comprehensive chess program at Manhattan’s Hunter College Campus School, a renowned laboratory school for gifted students. This program evolved to the point where chess is now a required subject for all students in kindergarten through fourth grade. The Hunter administration believes that chess is an effective vehicle to develop critical thinking skills in younger students. To mark the program’s 40th anniversary, Sunil was honored with proclamations from New York State Senator Elizabeth Krueger and New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo. The program was also featured in the April 2019 edition of Chess Life magazine.
SPEYER SCHOOL, NY
Another notable collaboration emerged with Speyer School, a Manhattan institution dedicated to accelerating and enriching the curriculum for advanced learners. At the founders’ invitation, Sunil established a chess program that has since become integral to the school’s offerings. All Speyer students from kindergarten to fourth grade receive dedicated chess instruction twice weekly. For grades five through eight, chess is available as an elective. Sunil directed and taught the program for 10 years before recruiting a new chess program director to continue the legacy.
GREENWICH ACADEMY, CT
Sunil designed and implemented a pilot chess program at Greenwich Academy, a prestigious all-girls school in Greenwich, CT. This initiative introduced chess as a core curriculum subject for grades one through three, aiming to increase female representation in the chess world. The resulting team, the “GA Gators,” achieved notable competitive success on the national stage.
Former Lower School Head Jeanette Tyndall championed the program, emphasizing chess as a tool for overcoming the fear of incorrect answers. She observed that bright students often hesitate to participate in discussions where multiple correct solutions exist. Chess, however, teaches students that various approaches can lead to success. The GA chess program cultivated a culture of excellence, rather than imposing a rigid pursuit of perfection.
GREENBURGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, NY
Initially introducing chess within gifted programs, Sunil subseqently demonstrated the subject’s value for all students. A prime example is the Greenburgh Central School District, which expanded its chess program from a gifted-only initiative to a district-wide curriculum for kindergarten through second grade.
NEW ROCHELLE SCHOOL DISTRICT, NY
Another example of reaching all students comes from New Rochelle. From 1995 to 2015, thanks to support from the New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence, NSCF instructors delivered a 24-week chess curriculum to every second and third-grade class in five of the city’s elementary schools, ensuring broad student participation.
WHITE PLAINS SCHOOL DISTRICT, NY
In 1984, Sunil collaborated with his hometown school district of White Plains, New York. Bonnie Ackerman, the Talented & Gifted program coordinator, made a pivotal observation: chess aligns more closely with philosophical and logical reasoning than with mathematical skills, a departure from the conventional perception. Leveraging a first-year grant from the American Chess Foundation and matching district funds, chess was integrated into the gifted program curriculum across all elementary schools. The district’s sustained commitment to the program continued for fifteen years.