Beschreibung:

[Fischer, Bobby]Counselling evaluation form submitted on Bobby Fischer's behalf, by his mother. Brooklyn Community Counseling Center, 13 October, 1958 14 pp. (280 x 215 mm). 12 pages of the original form with 2 photocopied pages, printed questionnaire and reports, with comments filled out by Fischer's mother and a counsellor in blue ink; pages toned, old folds, some minor tears to bottom corners. A unique document revealing a rare portrait of Bobby Fischer's brilliant mind and difficult youth In October, 1958, less than a year before he dropped out of high school, his mother Regina Fischer sought services from the Brooklyn Community Counseling Center, in order to "help [him with] speeding up reading, possibly also math." She goes on to note that he "could use a lot help. But might accept help only in impersonal, technical areas like increasing reading speed or improving math computation." The documents then showcase a fascinating back-and-forth between Fischer's mother, his assistant principal, and a counsellor, revealing how adults in his life responded to his precocity and difficulty. The counsellor's preliminary notes state, "Bobby Fischer is a well known chess prodigy. He has had a litany of difficulties in school from 6 yrs on. For about 1 1/2 yrs he was seen by several psychiatrists + psychologists in therapy however sustained contacts were not continued. Mother states that she is aware that therapy is necessary but indicates that B. will not continue. She wants reading help for him … She indicates that as soon as he feels people are trying to 'help him', he will break off contact." After speaking with his assistant principal, Miss Corey, the counsellor records her opinion "that BF does adequat [sic] work in school and that he is 'nervous + jittery' + that he reads slowly. ... Miss C does not think that BF should be 'loaded up' with any more work.” She goes on to note, "Principal feels that Mrs. Fischer is extremely 'overly-anxious' for Bobby, pushing him in all directions—swimming, reading etc. She was reluctant to give out information + stated that all of Bobby’s needs were being satisfied at the school. 'What he needs is contact with the swimming teacher.' The impression was of a woman jealous, guarding a prized possession + … resentful of the interests of other persons." Ultimately, she writes that Fischer's mother "has been convinced by Miss Corey that the problem is that Mrs F 'pushes' Bobby too far and therefore that no contacts with BCCC are needed or are advisable. Mrs F did not wish to 'cross' Miss C, who threatened to drop the [...] tutoring B. is receiving at Erasmus if B comes to the Center. The option of calling the center was left open for Mrs F. and the case can be concerned closed temporarily." Fischer proceeded to drop out of school as soon as he was legally able. He later said to Ralph Ginzburg "You don't learn anything in school." REFERENCEGinzburg, “Portrait of a Genius as a Young Chess Master,” Harper’s p. 49-55Condition reportCondition as described in catalogue entry. The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The