“Good Morning, Sir!”
p. 35 · Read in the full issue
Teaching Young Natives to Trade.
From Our Own Correspondent.
Thursday Is., Nov. 25.
REFERENCE has been made in these columns previously to the Aboriginal School on Mabuiag Island, with its equipment of home-made models and well-executed maps, etc., the work of the head teacher.
Amongst the latest additions in this way are a series of fine pictures of noted explorers who roamed the north ern seas, and a big model of Sydney Harbour bridge, six feet long. As the eye is a valuable factor in native educa tion, these models and pictures have proved very useful in teaching the is lander something about the history of the place they live in, and where their marine products go.
At Yorke Island, the teacher has started a technical class for boys, and they are learning to produce their own axe-handles and make other articles of domestic, utility from the natural wood supplies. Next year technical classes are also to be commenced at St. Paul’s,
where they can learn simple carpentry, etc.
All the Government schools in the Strait now aim at equipping the younger g-eneration of islander with practical knowledge which will not only be of use to him at home, but also assist him in looking after his own affairs in connec tion with outside transactions.
Even the native teacher is anxious to instil into his pupils the right way to do buying and selling, and the following notes, taken from a sheet pasted up in one school, although a little astray here and there so far as perfect English is concerned, indicate the advance that these days demand: “The person who keep a store is a storekeeper or a merchant. That is a man who buy things and sell them to others. You are customer buying things from his shop. He waits on you; that is, he serves you. You want things, you give him money, he will give you what you want if your money is enough. Don’t forget to say on entering, ‘Good morning, sir,’ or if more than one, ‘Good morning, gentlemen.’
If a woman is serving, you must say, ‘Good morning, madam,’ or ladies, if there are all women serving. Of course, use words as to time of day. Always try to understand time to say, ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you.’ Don’t lean or sit on the counter when you are inside unless the shopman let you, but, of course, this is not usually happens.’’