Ten years ago this July, I co-founded a Book Club with two other teachers in Patrick County.

Since then, we have expanded to ten members and have read 82 books.  The book we will discuss next month is about the most daring rescue attempt by the U.S. Coast Guard.  Reading this book made me think about another ship that needs a heroic rescue.

The ship I’m thinking about has many children on board.  The ship’s captain seems to be intentionally steering the ship into the eye of a hurricane.  The epicenter of the storm has many dangers lurking.  For example, while many of the shipmates have worked very, very hard all year to provide a smooth voyage for the children, many shipmates plan to jump ship as soon as it docks.

Why?  The shipmates are tired of the captain and the chaos under his leadership.  The mates are disgusted with the favoritism and nepotism.  The mates are outraged that there are double-standards when it comes time to discipline certain mates who are either not performing their tasks, are not qualified to perform their tasks, or have done something very wrong and no punitive action takes place.  Why do some mates get to exceed the time required to meet requirements while others are released because they have not done so?  Does the captain think the mates don’t know about these double standards?

I am worried there is going to be mutiny on the ship.  I am worried that too many qualified shipmates will bail when we dock and find much better paying ships on which to embark.  How will we ever be able to attract experienced shipmates with such uncompetitive pay?  And while the mates are at the near bottom of the ships’ salary scales, the captain wanted a substantial raise?  Thank goodness there was some sanity among the ship company owners.

Citizens of Patrick County…pretend you’re a member of the U.S. Coast Guard.  You need to get involved if you are concerned about children on board and the mates who prepare them for the real world.  Please help there be a happy ending to this story.  CALL the Captain’s bosses and insist we RESCUE THE SHIP!

Nancy M. Carlson

Stuart