One of the nice things about the Arnold Denker Tournament of Champions is that it leads to favorable stories about chess in local newspapers, like this one from an Arkansas paper.
Held every year in conjunction with the U. S. Open, the Denker tournament is considered by many the most prestigious scholastic chess event in the nation.
The Miami Herald has a nice story about the U.S. Chess Federation's selection of Miami Dade College as the 2004 Chess College of the Year.
The Washington Times has a nice profile of Olympic Chess House, a non-profit organization affiliated with the USCF. An excerpt quotes the mother of one of the participants in this scholastic program:
"My son needed to focus in class," Ms. Seaward says. "I found he didn't have the discipline he needed. Students who participate in chess increase their abilities in reading, math and science. ... He wouldn't be in one of the best schools now if those things weren't in place."
Today's Twin Cities Pioneer Press has a great story about scholastic chess in Minnesota. Here's the lead:
When Mike Macken started a chess club two years ago at John Glenn Middle School in Maplewood, he figured if he could get a handful of kids off the streets and involved in an activity, it would be worth it.Principal Nancy Weinand said she liked the idea, but didn't know it would become so popular. About 150 students show up on a regular basis to play against their classmates.
Dan Heisman's A Parent's Guide to Chess is now being discounted by Chess Cafe: $14.95 by 50% for purchases of 10 or more copies. This book is a good candidate for bulk purchases, and the discount makes it easier.
Writing in the September issue of Chess Life, David Dana-Bashian recommends "Crazyhouse" as a chess variant with good training value for children.