Both of these books were a lot of fun to read. What I like about reading them together is the fact that you can read one true account of pirate history, and compare and contrast that with the other fiction book. I was constantly saying, “Well that wouldn’t have happened based on what I just read.” I also took into account the information I researched through our internet workshop about pirates. That information did not go hand in hand with the stories told in Pirate Diary.
One area that really stuck out to me from reading this book what I read about pirate violence. Every movie ever made about pirates shows evil captains making his own crew and innocent victims walk the plank. The pirates are always drunk, and every drinking more as the movie progresses. There is certainly no honesty between crew members, their greed overrides every human emotion. Based on What If You Met a Pirate- none of that “Hollywood” dress up is accurate. Pirates actually had no “class system” aboard a boat. It was a true democracy, meaning the crew members could easily vote the captain off if they chose too. There was also not much violence between pirates on the same ship. Even more shocking, the book said that there had never been one account recorded of anyone ever walking the plank. That is what pirates are known for if you ask any elementary aged student. I was really shocked that the books I have read, and the movies that I have watched my entire life were so untrue.
This leads into our teaching for the last two semesters. Professors can’t stress it enough that as teachers we much find children’s literature that is historically accurate. Unless we want a great historical fiction book, letting students know that what they read in certain books may or may not be 100% true is important. In another class we are taking, we have learned the term altermate conception. This means that people have an idea about something, because they have heard it or seen it- or be taught it, that may or may not be a true account of the information. Teachers must confront this problem, and fix childrens’ understandings. Using a fiction and non-fiction book together like this, allows students to read books that are fun (although the non-fiction book is wonderful and laid out in an way that flows) while also learning about the reality of pirates.
Thank you for referencing specific content you learned as well as the discrepancies you referenced. Did you find the information from Pirate Diary to be accurate, too? I think the discrepancies you reference (walking the plank) came from the book The Not So Jolly Roger, right?
Heather, I always think of pirates in movies too. Through the readings, I found many things out about pirates that I did not know before. The reason for wearing the earring was amazing to me. I never would of thought that a Christian burial would be important to a pirate.