tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881402584568285627.post1215968453918844460..comments2024-03-20T00:30:11.702-07:00Comments on Home Education Heretic: Chess parents and othersSimon Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10865289865412656573noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881402584568285627.post-54772280342980007772010-12-04T01:58:03.590-08:002010-12-04T01:58:03.590-08:00How can you be the best if you don't try? Had ...How can you be the best if you don't try? Had Peter Williams been referred to Russian chess coaches his game play would improve fast. Most of the best talents in any field do so through hard work, genius does help, but it is a small factor in eventual success.Alex Jonesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881402584568285627.post-25714902361344739022010-08-17T18:34:55.748-07:002010-08-17T18:34:55.748-07:00Although there are drawbacks to promoting a single...Although there are drawbacks to promoting a single activity such as <a href="http://www.chesslikeananimal.com" rel="nofollow">playing chess</a> such as feeling like if you are no good at that particular thing then you are nothing, I would argue that there are positive aspects to this as well. It gives someone a goal, something to pursue, helping to avoind mindless drifting. It makes you interesting. Someone who has a passion they pursue to the exclusion of all others has a deep understanding of that subject, not a superficial one. They seem to those around them to be mysterious, complex, interesting. And it is better to be a person who is deeply interested in one thing that a wallflower waiting for others to pay attention to them. This is especially true for girls, who so often sit on the sidelines and watch the men pursue their worldly activities. A final thought is that if they do decide to move to a different subject they will be able to bring with them the ability to delve deeply into a subject with the discipline and passion true genius requires.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02408044121527736548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881402584568285627.post-22621182336839692902010-07-15T11:32:02.359-07:002010-07-15T11:32:02.359-07:00Yes, I couldn't agree more. We have had severa...Yes, I couldn't agree more. We have had several friends with kids who were gifted in one area or another. The children who treated the talent as a hobby and didn't take it over seriously seemed to get by OK. Those who who were urged to think of themselves as geniuses and future world champions often had difficulties later on. This is precisely why I am in favour of a broad education and not one focused upon just one area.Simon Webbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10865289865412656573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881402584568285627.post-39835906314848358282010-07-15T10:58:29.505-07:002010-07-15T10:58:29.505-07:00Well, I don't know anything about chess parent...Well, I don't know anything about chess parents other than my encounters with the one on here. I have come across a few others though who have a different goal (such as Olympic swimming - friend of my youngest dd), music and the like. The trouble is that it is really difficult to distinguish between the goals of the parents and those of the children. It is only with hindsight that you can really tell-if the children felt pushed by the parents or regretted their life focus, then it evident then. <br /><br />I do think though that it is important that however fixed a childs eyes may be on their particular goal, their education should be broader than that, and they shouldn't be denied normal interactions with a wider group of those who don't share the same interests. Statistically they will have to deal with mixing with others sooner or later (if they fail to reach their desired career it may be sooner)and they need to have developed enough other skills and interests to cope if things don't go according to plan.Julienoreply@blogger.com