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April 10, 2002
Rome students learn the life of a truck driver
Second-graders from four classrooms at Gansevoort Elementary in Rome participated in Trucker Buddy Day with their teachers Christine Jobson, Jackie Keys, Lucille Martinez and Deborah Pinti.
Students in Deborah Pinti's second- grade class have ridden big rigs over the highways of America - without ever leaving their Rome classroom.
The Gansevoort Elementary students are involved in Trucker Buddy International, a pen-pal program created by a former driver. The second-graders exchange letters and cards with driver Joe Owens.
"A lot of our kids may not have the opportunity to do a lot of traveling, and it gives them some experiences they may not ever have," said Pinti, a member of the Rome Teachers Association, which is led by Pat Mungari. "They hear about a lot of different places that you don't necessarily cover in your classroom."
Pinti uses the program to promote geography and writing to her students. Each time the class receives a postcard from Driver Joe, the class tracks his progress on a map. "I tell the kids to ask me about anything," said Owens. "I was their age once and I always wanted to know about the big trucks."
The students write Owens monthly, which helps Pinti with her lessons. "The kids are just learning letter writing," Pinti said. Students learn about all aspects of driving, including different types of trucks, cargo and truck weight, and the amount of time drivers spend on the road.
For more information about Trucker Buddy International, including how to sign up for a buddy, visit www.truckerbuddy.org.
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