Malachi participates in a K through 5th grade chess club in his afterschool program.  It's divided into 3 skill levels, and he plays in the advanced group where most of the kids are in the older grades (M. will turn 7 next month).  He reports that the older kids are having serious problems with sportsmanship when they're losing to him, doing things like walking out in the middle of a match or trying to cheat.  So, this week he called out an older boy for cheating, and the kid punched him in the face!  We had to have M's glasses repaired.  The kid got in serious hot water, but I'm really wondering if this group is properly supervised.  There are two teachers at the program, but still.  M. really loves chess, and is good at it, but he's also dealing with an anxiety disorder right now, and the environment seems hostile.  Thoughts?

Gwen