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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, July 1, 2010 · 22 Travel Oakville Beaver Teacher seeks contact with former students My name is Anthony Bouwman better known as Tony. I write to you from Phuket, Thailand where I retired after teaching 30 years for the Halton Catholic School Board. In 1980, I taught a grade six at St. Vincent's School in east Oakville. At that time I initiated a relative new program called Child-Centered Learning. One of my hobbies was biking and on the weekends I cycled to McMaster University to take additional courses. As I began to get stronger and stronger, I hit upon the idea to involve my class in my dream to cycle from Oakville to Los Angeles in 45 days and arrive in L.A on my 50th birthday (Aug.15). After careful planning to start a Child-Centered Learning Program, and with the advice of my colleagues and my superiors, I embarked on my plan. My class took part in almost all aspects in the subjects I taught around the upcoming journey. A tremendous amount of learning took place. Some students didn't even want to leave after school, but rather do more research. I had a wonderful class assistant whose name I have forgotten, but who was a tremendous help. On the last day of school at 2 p.m., the whole class, the staff and Father Oderra gave me a send off as I started down Braeside Drive with tears in my eyes, because my daughter Diane, who was in Grade 8 at the time, saw me leave on this long and dangerous journey. One of my students was Kelly Simpson whose father was publisher of the Oakville Beaver. Kelly mentioned my plans to her father and he asked me to stop by the Beaver on Speers Road en route to Los Angeles. Mr. Simpson was there to greet me and asked me to send reports back to the Beaver. I agreed. He gave me $100 to start me off. The rest is history. I arrived in L.A at Redondo Beach at 11 p.m. on Aug. 15. Mission accomplished. I took the Greyhound bus back to Oakville where the Beaver took this picture that you see in this article. I am now at a ripe old age of 79 and still going strong here in Phuket, Thailand where I have lived and taught for 15 years as a volunteer teacher. The students I had in this super class in 1980, must be by now 40 years old. I do not remember their names except for Kelly Simpson. If this article reaches you through the Oakville Beaver, I would appreciate an e-mail from you, my former students, from so long ago. Finally, I can never forget the supportive role of the wonderful parents, Father Oderra's blessing and Mr. Tony Hennelly, my kind superintendent at that time, to make my lifelong dream possible. My theme of this trip was a song by Abba, I have a dream. MR. ANTHONY BOUWMAN BETTER KNOWN AS SIMPLY TONY. tonybouwman@yahoo.com BEAVER TRAILS TO THAILAND: Anthony Bouwman took a copy of the Oakville Beaver (Aug. 1980) containing a feature story about his cycling journey to Los Angeles, to Phuket, Thailand, where he has lived and taught for 15 years as a volunteer teacher. Discover your new favourite destination! Disney Cruise Line is making a little magic on the Mexican Riviera beginning in January 2011 with a "Kids Free" offer on the Disney Wonder's seven-night cruises. Guests 17 and under can sail free on seven-night voyages aboard the Disney Wonder when accompanied by two full-fare paying guests occupying the same stateroom, government taxes and fees excluded. This offer is valid for most sailings from 23JAN11 to 20MAR11 and covers a variety of stateroom categories, ranging from deluxe family staterooms with verandas to standard inside staterooms (Categories 4 to 11). There are a limited number of staterooms available for this special offer. 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