Darnell Young uses a game to sharpen math and science skills
By Kim Bryant
For the St. Louis American
The clamor in the school atrium is reminiscent of a pep rally last Wednesday, but these 125 Crestview Middle School students are staying late to participate in their fourth annual Chess Night.
As they carbo-load on pizza, wings, sandwiches and soda, Chess Club sponsor Darnell Young explains, “Here, chess is an epidemic.”
He directs students to the cafeteria, where more than 50 chess boards are set up and waiting for their creative minds. As they get started, invited guests from the Jennings School District arrive.
Though the students are all revved up, they all fall into deep concentration when they get behind a chess board, with prompting from Young: “You play chess in silence.”
Young has taught science at Crestview Middle School for more than 20 years and has operated its Chess Club for the last 11 years. He also runs the Chess Club at Hanrahan Elementary School in the Jennings School District, for its after-school program. He is a one of a growing number of educators who incorporate chess into their curriculum.
He says, “On the first day of school, I give them the syllabus; on the second day, I begin teaching chess.” The kids have to learn the game, because it is a part of their grade.
Chess, a game of skill and strategy, helps develop math and science skills by improving a child’s visual memory, capacity to anticipate consequences, and ability to use criteria to drive decision-making and evaluate alternatives. It also improves organizational habits, patience, concentration, persistence and spatial reasoning.
“It’s been helping me in science,” says sixth grader Kali Sims of Hanrahan Elementary. Though she only studies chess with Young in the Stars and Heroes after-school program, the game has improved her school work.
“I make better observations,” Sims says, “and then I can create hypotheses.”
Chess Night brings these skills to the forefront, as the students move from board to board, looking for opponents. Young is instrumental in guiding the matches, knowing each child by name and skill level.
Young says he uses the game as a socializing tool. He also points out the boost of self-esteem when one of his academically-challenged students defeats a student from the gifted class.
Good sportsmanship is heavily emphasized. Donovan Berry, a 4th grader at Hanrahan Elementary School who is preparing for a match with an 8th grader, is learning to appreciate this aspect.
“I like how after you win, you shake hands,” he says.
“I hoped that the Jennings and Crestview kids would interact and show a mutual respect towards one another, thereby connecting kids of different cultures,” says Young.
“I hope that they show better sportsmanship and become better life-long problem solvers.”
Faculty and parental support have been instrumental in this work. Donovan’s father, Brandon Berry, follows all of his son’s matches.
“I’m impressed to see this many people, of different cultures, skill levels and grades, all come out,” Berry says.
“And it’s important that they’re helping one another out.”
Pamela Terrell follows her 7th grade son Darius as he competes in different matches throughout the night.
“This year, he’s had some of the best grades he’s had in school. He seems to be more interested in school,” Terrell says.
“Chess gets you thinking a lot better, because you have to think about what the other player is going to do before you make your move,” says Darius, who attends Crestview Middle School.
“You also have to think about the consequences of making a move.”
CeJay Young, an 8th grader at Crestview Middle School, is becoming a master at the game. He is sought by competitors throughout the night. Though he loves to win, he explains how chess helps his school work.
“It helps me in math, by calculating points so I can win,” he says.
Chess Club alumni
Though this is CeJay’s last year at Crestview, he plans to return next year, joining a number of high school students who make appearances as alumni at Chess Night.
Sisters Jaronda and Jarchelle Williams, a sophomore and junior, respectively, at Marquette High School, returned for this year’s Chess Night. Though both are skilled players, they are not involved in the Chess Club at their new school.
Jarchelle says, “Here, you have Mr. Young! He wants you to learn how to play, because you can apply it to life.”
Young began playing chess in 1972 while watching customers in a barbershop battle. His passion for the game is evident to the students and translates into their own appreciation for the game.
Young says chess is “filling a void” that is felt around the school, since the grant ran out for its after-school program, 21st Century. The Williams Sisters, who were a part of the 21st Century program, said it gave them the opportunity to do their homework with assistance from faculty.
Both are surprised to see that their former teacher continues to display the mural they had created during the program. They know that they can expect to see pictures of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X among the scientists on the walls of his classroom.
“I remind my students that people had to die for you to be out here,” Young says. “The way you pay them back is through good grades.”
