Conducts A
p. 41 · Read in the full issue
Mission In The Mud
Travelling School
MR. and Mrs. Harry Standen, who conduct the Mission in the Mud (the Bamu River Mission of Western Papua) have evolved another new idea for mak ing life more interesting for the natives of their mission district.
This is a mobile school plus handi crafts centre, conducted on board the mission launch which plies up and down the river.
The Standens have found that these semi-nomadic people who live on the muddy rivers and muddier banks of the Western rivers have some desire for learning but their
manner of living, suspicion of other natives and wandering, preclude anything in the nature of a per manent school.
It is planned to anchor the launch at central anchorages and for the children to have school lessons on it for two or three days each fort night on the up trip, the launch re turning to the anchorages for the same purpose on the return trip down river.
The Standens hope that some of the brighter children will become sufficiently interested in learning to go to the mission headquarters station for further education.
As well as a travelling school, the launch will carry out a medical patrol and carry patients to head quarters hospital.