2004-02-07
By Greg Elwell
The Oklahoman
"I'm a hack," the Ida Freeman Chess Club sponsor said. Nichols, a
fifth-grade teacher at Ida Freeman Elementary, 501 W Hurd, said it's his job to
lose to the 68 students in the club.
"I put on a good show," he said. "I act like it bothers me,
but that's my job. I never let anyone win, but deep down, that's exactly what I
want them to do," he said.
"This time of the year they earn bonus points by doing service for the
club, among other things, and beating the coach is one of the ways to get
points. Let's just say my dance card is always full."
Started in 1997, the club has consistently drawn about 90 percent of
fifth-grade students, with kindergarten through
fourth-graders looking forward to their chance to join.
Emily Nasuta, 11, said
that down to the youngest student, the thing to do at Ida Freeman is play
chess.
"It's very fun," she said. "It
makes me feel good, because I'm not always good at things I do,
and feel like I can do this better than normal."
It's also an effective teaching tool, 11-year-old Kody
Bray said.
"It helps you slow down and think better," he said.
Where other schools might have students playing cards before class, Nichols
said it's not unusual to see students at Ida Freeman researching opening
defenses, working on chess homework or doing checkmate puzzles.
"If you walk through the halls in the school, you'll see telltale signs
that chess is part of the culture," he said "Our kids look forward to
having free time because it means they get to play chess."
Chess booster and parent Michelle Dunlap said she was taken off guard by the
magnitude of interest in the game and her son's involvement.
"My first tournament, I took a book and three magazines," she
said. "I never cracked my book."
It's all hustle and bustle at regional chess meets, Dunlap said, but she
credits the youngsters for making it fun and Nichols for planting the interest
in all of them.
"I have to give it to Mr. Nichols," she said. "If he didn't
promote to students, my son (Dylan, 11) wouldn't know how to play chess. It's
the thing to do when you're in the fifth grade."
Her son has learned a lot of life lessons from the game, she said. Studying
chess has motivated him to work hard, stay in good standing in the club and learn
good sportsmanship.
"Watching these kids work, it makes you proud, whether it's your child
or not," she said.
The club currently has seven of the top 10 players in the state in their age
bracket, and Nichols is hoping to capture more spots when they host the state
tournament March 27.
The group's main goal right now, however, is raising money to attend the
2004 National Elementary K-6 Championships in early April, for which the club
needs to raise $15,000.
They have only about $2,000 on hand, he said. If they don't raise at least
$10,000 by the end of the month, the trip to the national tournament likely
will be canceled.
"It's ironic to me that in the year we have probably our best team ever
that money might keep us from going," he said. "We're working on fund
raisers, a night out at El Chico's and a tournament T-shirt, but if things
don't happen by the end of the month, we have to call it off."
Room and bus reservations are on the parents' credit cards, but will become unrefundable after February.
"I am unwilling to have them lose personal money on this," Nichols
said. The group is still in search of a corporate sponsorship or donations.
Even if they don't get to nationals, Nichols said he is proud of the club's
successes and is happy that so many view it as a positive force in their lives.
"The reality of life is that kids learn, and I think it helps our kids
with focus and concentration," he said. "And what it does for
self-esteem is great. If it does nothing but that, we've been successful."
"Besides," he said, "They could be playing Pokemon."
"Copyright 2004, The Oklahoma Publishing Company"