Every Lakesider must take two semester-long P.E. electives, but some may be surprised to find their pickleball tournaments and flag football games replaced with the rigorous and demanding task of sitting and moving around plastic figurines. “It was inevitable, really,” Mr. Lawhead, Department Head of P.E., said on the subject. “After examining the P.E. curriculum, we found the lack of chess inexplicable and galling.”
The new and improved Game and Movements class will feature different units in which students can dive into the rich and varied chess strategies, culminating in a two-day tournament for them to battle it out on the board. Students will develop well-rounded skill sets in a curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, deep concentration, and correct sitting posture.
“Health-conscious parents needn’t worry,” Ms. Long, a P.E. and Human Development teacher, explains. “In fact, studies have shown that the mental exertion of a good chess game can burn as many calories as two hours of weightlifting, a wrestling match, and a 10K marathon, combined.” Aside from learning different tactics, students will hone their fine motor skills. “Chess pieces are heavy,” Ms. Long adds. “The simple act of maneuvering the pieces around the chessboard will improve wrist strength, and the intensity of the games is bound to leave students sweating.”
Student response has been varied. Timothy Dong ’27, co-author of the “Tatler” article, “Is Chess a Sport?” has an optimistic take on the matter: “I think I can speak for the entire student body when I say that I am absolutely delighted about this new addition.” One student, who elected to remain anonymous, complained, “I was expecting to capture flags, not pawns. Learning about gambits and piece development does the opposite of increasing my heart rate.”
While some may be worried that the introduction of chess will open the floodgates for checkers, Esports, and other board games to infiltrate the P.E. curriculum, Mr. Lawhead advises us not to fret. “As a school, Lakeside is committed to thinking outside the box. We hope that students will embrace the advent of these ‘sedentary sports’ with open arms.”
