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39.11 Chess Teaching and Big Chess
Through Chess 'N Math Association

39.11.1 Introduction

This section is one installment in a large thematic thread on the subject of chess that runs throughout the chronicle. Click here to see a table which summarizes these thematic threads.

39.11.2 Teaching Chess With Chess 'N Math Association

From September, 1997 to December, 1998 I taught chess in a variety of schools under the auspices of the Chess 'N Math Association.

39.11.3 Chess Lessons

It is true that to learn something well, it is helpful to teach it. And so while teaching chess, I had to re-consider what I thought to be the essense of chess. These essentials I have summarized on the following web site: Essentials of Chess. Here there are many quotations as well, such as the following from Alekhine:
    "The combination (a forced variation leading to a positive result)
    is the heart of chess."

39.11.4 Big Chess at the Eaton Centre

In the late summer of 1998 I enjoyed the best of jobs. I played chess. Even better, I played big chess, in public in front of the Eaton Centre at Yonge and Dundas. The chess peices were between 40 cm and 80 cm tall. Every morning I laid out a large carpet-board and set up the pieces. I played with whomever came along, especially children. It was free for them, but I was paid by the Chess 'N Math Association. Very quickly and throughout the day, this attracted a crowd. I made every game into a public lesson.


I did this in

I was also teaching and playing in tournaments during this period (see below).

39.11.5 Writing About Chess

I also wrote about chess theory, which can be found at: "Chess in Education A Creative, Aesthetic, and Feminist Approach to the Life Lessons Learned by Students Studying Chess as an Integral Part of the School Curriculum -and as a Non-school Educational Experience" The game shown above, from the Bond film "From Russia With Love" is in fact the famous Spassky-Bronstein game in Leningrad (1960), which Spassky won. The photo shows the actor in Spassky's position of white making the critical 22nd move: knight at f7 takes black bishop at e5. Even though the King (at g8) tries to escape by 22....K-h7 it is too late. 23. Q-e4 + leads to Black's resignation. The full game can be seen at Chess Corner.



39.12 Summer, 1998: Lillooet

39.12.1 Introduction

By this time, Lillooet was quite developed. I had a studio there where I painted and sculpted. In this studio, and in the living room, I had built up an extensive collection of found objects, primarily driftwood. When I would find some driftwood, looking at it suggested ideas for how it could be additionally carved to create something.




39.13 Life at 30 Charles Street, Yorkville

39.13.1 Introduction

During this period Joanna and I lived in apartment 309 at 30 Charles Street. There were many amenities within easy walking distance (or dog-walking distance), including Yorkville, Queen's Park, and the Metro Reference Library.

39.13.2 Yorkville

39.13.3 Yonge and Bloor

39.13.4 Queen's Park

39.13.5 Metro Reference Library

39.13.6 Life in the City

The Path: Toronto's Underground Downtown

 The map below illustrates Toronto's large system of underground malls, passageways, and points of interest. Click to enlarge the map. View of the CBD from Broadview Queen Street West



39.14 Fall, 1998: Semester 7 at Oakwood C. I.

39.14.1 Introduction

This section is one installment in a large thematic thread on the subject of my teaching that runs throughout the chronicle. Click here to see a table which summarizes these thematic threads.

Click here to see my public records page at the Ontario College of Teachers

39.14.2 TDSB

39.14.3 Oakwood


By this time, we had a new art teacher, Karen (see below):

39.14.4 Oakwood Chess Club

My mind was still very much on chess at this time, and every lunch hour I was the staff supervisor for the Oakwood chess club. We also entered the TDSB tournament which played after school once per week.

39.14.5 Architecture Courses, Fall, 1998

The Fall of 1998 I took two more courses from the Uof T School of Architecture: "Site Engineering" (site planning, surveying) and "Visual Analysis" (a drawing course).






39.15 Preparations for Trip to Eastern Europe: "Teachers Without Borders"

39.15.1 Introduction

39.15.2 Organizing and Solidarity Work with Eastern European Teachers Unions

39.15.3 Teachers Without Borders

Since 1995, I had been involved with an organization called "Teachers Without Borders". I was especially active in the summer of 1998 and the lead up to my first trip to Ukraine in December, 1998. I believe that political struggles and the workers' movement transcends national borders. It is typically the position of the right wing that nationalism and patriotism transcend such considerations. The capitalist ruling class in each country does not mind foreign interferance when it comes to exploiting foreign markets, use of military force, or the transnational flow of capital. But when it comes to workers helping workers, they are the first to cry fowl, raise the flag and appeal to nationalism. This was more the case in the Eastern Bloc than it was in the West. Gierek had his policy of "Polonia" and opposed Western aid to Solidarnosc (see Chapters 26 and 27). The Soviets did not allow international unions or even their literature (see Chapter 33). As I was to learn, the Ukrainians authorities were open to the flow of captial, but were opposed to any foreign interference when it came to helping workers to organize and protect themselves.

....

The correspondence amongst my collegues during the month leading up to my trip was all about the politicial assassination of the much-loved Galina Starovoitova in her St. Petersburg home on 20 November, 1998. She was an ally of Nobel Prize winning dissident Andrei Sakharov and seemed destined to be an important leader in the new Russia. A Russian military intelligence (GRU) officer was arrested. This defendant was supposed to have a jury trial, but was higher authorities in 2004 insisted on a judge-only trial, which resulted in a verdict of not guilty.



39.16 Summary, Conclusions,
Connections, Goals,
Omissions, and Regrets

39.16.1 Introduction

Like the end of any period, this period ends with a major decision. The cross-road decision was to would send me off in a new direction

39.16.2 Summary

This chapter was dominated by this year being

39.16.3 Conclusions

39.16.4 Connections

39.16.5 Goals

Any consideration of specific goals, should be seen in the light of my mission statements.

39.16.6 Omissions and Regrets

The bulk of this chronicle concerns things planned, experienced, written, won, acquired, painted, accomplished, etc. This section concerns those which were only desired, thought of, considered, not completed, lost, and perhaps regretted.






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1998 to 2000

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