In this month’s newsletter, I have chosen a PIRATE theme. Why? At the end of September, on the 19th, there is a fun day called “Talk Like A Pirate Day”.
During the last week of in-centre tutoring (starting Monday 19th September), we will be talking like pirates. Some of you may question the educational value of this decision. For me, one of the important things for learning is making it fun.
Thus the decision was made. It will not change what we teach. The tutors will have some fun by teaching the children a few pirate phrases to share in their session.
The expressions: ‘Shiver me timbers. That be a great effort me heart’ or ‘Arrrr, well done lad/lassie’ will ring out through lessons this week.
Who were the pirates? Daring characters who swooped on treasure ships and returned home with golden cargoes? Brutal sea-thieves who showed no mercy to their victims? Bold adventurers, who paid for travel by theft at sea? In fact, pirates were all these things and more. For centuries, pirates have sailed across the seas and oceans of the world.
Christine Hawkins
Owner KMEC Hunter
Piracy began more than 2000 years ago in Ancient Greece when sea robbers started flocking around trading routes. These sea robbers challenged all those who passed from there and looted them mercilessly.
Organized piracy and privateering was finally ended in the nineteenth century as governments of most countries increased the sea patrols and made piracy punishable by death. However, piracy has not completely disappeared. It is still flourishing from Sumatra to Somalia, and today’s pirates are quite different from the lovable rogues shown in movies such as ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’.
