I think anything that encourages focussed/prolonged abstract thinking about complex systems should be encouraged. In chess, the mental discipline to think throu

I think anything that encourages focussed/prolonged abstract thinking about complex systems should be encouraged. In chess, the mental discipline to think through a series of moves without actually seeing them, and also to formulate heuristic strategies ('if i put this piece here, it will stop any threats coming from...'). There probably is not enough of that at school - I think reading and analysing novels is the closest you get. And some kids do that very passively (like they'll completely miss the implied point of chapters).