They need to be taught how to think and how to select and process information. Non-traditional teaching methods need to be employed, such as the use of chess as a teaching tool. Chess teaches critical thinking. Chess develops creativity and encourages imagination. Chess has been shown to be effective as a positive alternative and a tool for prevention in society.
Chess helps develop proper study habits and research techniques.
Chess helps today's youth learn how to anticipate consequences of their own actions and make proper decisions. Many of the positive attributes and ideas developed by exposure to chess are carried over into all aspects of life. Let me give one example. Our lives have been permanently changed because of a very improbable sequence of events. Silicon can be purified into a very high purity single crystal state.