Should chess be a school subject?

@mdinnerspace

If a child isn't interested in an activity or subject they tend to resist learning or getting benefit from it. However game formats have a higher percentage of attracting children's interests and therefore likely benefiting from it. It's really hard for example to attract children to learn critical thinking skills, but chess naturally does this. Scrabble/words with friends is also a fantastic game format under utilized in today's academic settings, specifically with younger children. There is a reason children love recess for example, they like to play. Capture that and use it in my opinion!

Totally agree. Game formats are excellent teaching tools. Kids love to play games. If it sparks an interest I'm all for it.
I was commenting on the topic. Should chess be taught as a "Subject" to which I disagree.
Chess should be taught as a "hobby". A fun pastime. A game. Once an interest is taken, then the correlation to other skills can be made. Logical thinking, etc.
But I think it is somewhat backwards to teach chess, ascribing it's benefits as a "reason" to learn the game. If an interest is taken, then teach how the game can benefit other learning experiances.

I just saw too many parents "forcing" chess on their kids who became enamored with the notion chess would help their grades, to study better etc. Introduce the kids to chess. Those that take a shining... run with it.

I don't think so. At least in America, we're so obsessed with competition. We need to work on inclusion, cooperation, collaboration, not further emphasize conquest, individualism, I win you lose.

No, no more than snooker, darts, fencing, ball-room dancing, chinese...

Excuse me

Nothing should be "should be" ... like many activities in life, Chess has many good things and others that are not so much, the former are part of the Learning, the latter are only part of Knowledge but just to stay out of practice

All the best!