Students from Webster Elementary School learn to talk, walk and sing like sailors in school outing.
By Betty Bailey/Special to The Malibu Times
“All hands,” shouted the captain, in what sounded like something one would hear in a swashbuckling pirate movie. But when the captain of the Spirit of Dana Point called out those words earlier this month, it sent small sailors from Webster Elementary School scurrying about the tall ship’s decks.
The sailors were fourth- and fifth-grade students from teacher Bea Poole’s class. The outing was a chance to feel, smell and taste the life of an 18th century sailor. The Spirit of Dana Point is a rationally built accurate replica of a 1770s privateer used during the American Revolution, the time period Poole’s class is studying. It is owned by the Ocean Institute and is used for marine education.
The lessons started the moment they stepped on board. The crew gave basic instructions-the sailors were to obey the captain, address him as “Sir,” and say “Aye” when you mean “yes.” They were to answer to one of three “mates” who were chosen from among the ranks to act as crew leaders. There was really no need for the “tall sailors” who were there as chaperones. With the looming threat of having to polish the ship’s bell, nary a sailor misbehaved.
“Being a mate was the best part,” said 10-year-old Jordan. “Our job was to order our crews and to tell them what to do. It was fun learning how to talk like a sailor and learning how to be like a sailor.”
Like all good sailors, the Webster students learned one end of the ship from another and took turns keeping watch on the bow.
“Keeping watch was pretty fun,” said 10-year-old Cody. “We got to look out for ships and got to see if they were flying an American flag or if they didn’t have a flag. If they didn’t have a flag, we would count them as British, especially when they were heading towards us.”
When the students spotted a particularly aggressive-looking British ship off the port bow, it was time to ready for attack. The sailors uncoiled a fire hose that ran the length of the ship and opened fire. The enemy ship kept its distance.
“It was just fun sailing on the boat and learning the ways of the sailor back then,” said 10-year-old Jackson. “It was a lot of fun and it was exciting but it was hard work. I’d say the hardest part was pulling the sails.”
Hoisting the sails on the 100-foot main mast was, indeed, quite a chore. The officer would yell, “Heave!” The sailors would reply, “Ho!” as they pulled the heavy rope in unison. They were taught a couple of sea shanties to take their minds off the task. One was a silly song about a man named Reuben Ranzo. The other was The Drunken Sailor shanty and the crew seemed to be caught off guard when the small sailors knew more verses than they.
Using a compass and rulers, the sailors learned how to chart their course on a map. They learned a board game that included a bit of history. They even took turns at the ship’s wheel.
“It felt like you were controlling the whole, entire boat,” said Cody. “It felt like you were the captain.”