Chess helps cure social ills?

From a report on Aberdeen's primary school chess development programme:

Chess, like all educational initiatives, cannot be a substitute for social policy measures that tackle the material poverty of low income and a long working day for many parents. It can, however, contribute to children's personal growth and resilience in circumstances of poverty.

If a primary source of social capital is the 'keeping of privilege' by the rich and powerful by means of extended family resources and the purchase of educational opportunity, then chess-play, as a form of cultural capital, can redress some of these imbalances of educational opportunity.

Wow! I just thought it made you a better student.

Read "Classroom revolution as chess puts a check on unruly children" from The Scotsman.