Life of a pirate

It's a pirate's life for me ... Pictured are students in Tracy Maroney's class who were pirates for the day. They are, left to right: Front row (on their knees), Keyon West and Amber Flicek; middle row, Michaela Treadway, Tori Cabrera, Taylor Sheppard, Allison Owings, Chelsea Newman, Jacob Harris, Ashley Hasty, and Darian Lanham; and back row, Tyler Sheehan, Jordan McGee, and Brian Mere. Landlubbers in Tracy Maroney's class at North Augusta Middle School are, left to right: Front row, Bailie Timmerman, Christian Davis, Zach Davis, Marcus Mosley and Ashley Sanders; back row, Nick Barrs, Austin Grady and Rico Turner.

By PHYLLIS BRITT

"Ahoy, mate"... "Shiver me timbers" ... "Walk the plank ..." All these and more phrases likely to be heard on a pirate ship in the 18th century resounded throughout the hallways of North Augusta Middle School last week.

Teacher Tracy Maroney explained she and fellow teacher Dianne Chassereau were teaching South Carolina history and, specifically, the pirates who terrorized the coast and helped shape the state's future.

Last Thursday the students dressed up as pirates and began talking like them as part of the conclusion of the study on coastal pirates. The conclusion of the unit required not only that students dress like pirates of the era, but that groups produce a skit or a song about pirate life. In addition, landlubbers (those who didn't dress up as pirates) were asked to write a short story about pirates off the coast of South Carolina.

During their study, the kids were asked to create their own "Jolly Roger." Maroney explained a Jolly Roger was the way to identify the ship, so students made banners that reflected themselves.

The students were grouped for the finale by a democratic process -- typical of pirate ships of the time. They selected their captains. The landlubbers, who represented the merchant ships, were not so lucky.

Maroney explained the unit was designed to teach the students how the coastal pirates helped shape the history of South Carolina.

Among the pirates being studied were Blackbeard, Stede Bonnet, Anne Bonny, Calico Jack and Mary Read. The students got a close look at the life of a pirate during the 1600s and 1700s, along with the impact on the residents of South Carolina who got fed up with the Lords Proprietor's lack of ability to protect them from these coastal pirates. This led the colonists of South Carolina to become a Royal Colony, said Maroney.

As a reward for all their hard work, Maroney provided the students with a pirate's favorite cookie. And what might that be? Why, Chips Ahoy, of course.