Although there are full displays of sea life at nearby aquariums, this boy and girl could not identify a seal or sea lion in the water. Aquarium sites nationwide now offer dramatic, up-close viewing of the undersea world, along with narration suitable for children and adults. They can make for an entrancing discovery experience. The order sends students running to one of the biggest maneuvers of the day. But the voice is that of a teenage girl at the helm, Captain Jim feeding her the orders.
Volunteers coach the kids in easing off lines for the three smaller sails at the bow.
Cheers rise from her friends for the windblown girl. Gladson has tapped into her self-confidence and enlarged on it. He believes that the strongest of all human drives is to learn, to know new things. But in at-risk kids, that drive has been blunted by domestic and social environments, and his mission is to restore their motivation to learn. For parents faced with a comparable situation, Gladson says to always remember the bond of love that exists with the child, and be alert for any windows of opportunity the child may offer to let you in.