Slashdot Mirror
Armenia Makes Chess Compulsory In Schools
Hugh Pickens writes "AFP News reports that chess will become a required subject in primary schools in Armenia, where children from the age of six will learn chess as a separate subject on the curriculum for two hours a week. The lessons, which start later this year, will 'foster schoolchildren's intellectual development' and teach them to 'think flexibly and wisely', says Arman Aivazian, an official at the Ministry of Education. President Serzh Sarkisian, an enthusiastic supporter of the game, has committed around $1.5 million to the scheme in a move to turn the country of 3.2 million people into a global force in the games, says Aivazian. 'Teaching chess in schools will create a solid basis for the country to become a chess superpower.' Armenia's national team won gold at the biennial International Chess Olympiad in both 2006 and 2008, and the country's top player, Levon Aronian, is currently ranked number three in the world."
Creationism is elevated to the status of scientific theory to be taught in schools.
Hmmmm, boy those Armenians sure have their education priorities wrong.
Plotting, scheming. Next it'll be mandatory reading of Sun Tzu's Art of War, Animal Farm and 1984. Apple stores burnt to the ground. Halted sales of converse to Hipsters. Mandatory prison sentences for anyone using a laptop at Tzarbucks. These are the children of the future...
Task Mangler
I wonder if the Armenian Government is afraid of producing more Kardashians.
American schools in the south have mandated that schools shall now teach Tiddlywinks in an effort to increase manual dexterity so as to reduce the likelihood of burger flipping injuries for future generations.
The class shall follow directly after the new science curriculum, "7 days, the making of Earth".
LOL. I'm an idiot. I can't follow the structure of parent and child posts here. Please disregard the misplaced passive-aggressiveness. I'm sorry.
Some of my favourite people are from th US; Vonnegut, Chomsky, Bill Hicks.
Maybe you should play more chess...