A MD80 taxied without nosewheel steering after a ramp employee held up what appeared to be nosewheel steering bypass flag. The bypass pin was removed by another worker after the crew reported the nosewheel steering inoperative.

Narrative

I am writing this report since I am concerned about lack of training of the ramp employees. After push back; the tractor was moving away from the aircraft. I noticed a male ramp employee walking away from the aircraft with a red streamer in hand. Another ramp employee appeared to yell something to him. He turned around; looked at me; raised the streamer up in the air; turned around and continued to walk towards the terminal. Starting to taxi we had no nosewheel steering. Station was notified via radio and supposedly a Supervisor came out to the aircraft. He removed the steering bypass pin; showed it to me with a proper salute and we departed. It would appear that the employee who initially pulled the streamer from the nose gear did not know how to give a salute; understand the importance of a salute; nor did he understand the reason and procedure for pulling the bypass pin; since he apparently pulled the streamer from the pin and walked away leaving the pin in the nose gear. I am afraid if a ramp employee can show that little knowledge of our procedures that possibly bodily harm to him or another ramp employee could occur at that station.