John Cannon is a truck driver from Ocala, Florida. As he travels from one city to the next delivering everything from computer chips to styrofoam, his route is monitored in Jim Renckens fifth and sixth grade social studies class. A large map of the United States is displayed on the wall, with tacks stuck in the places Cannon has been and thread connecting one tack to the next so his path can be followed over time.

The students know where Cannon has been because he sends a postcard when he gets there. Michael Krol, one of the students, said, "It's so cool for us to see so many different places."

Students in Renckens' classroom can take in scores of national landmarks and spectacular views just by gazing at the wall. California Gold Country, Florida alligators, fireworks over New York City, the Grand Canyon, lightning behind an Arizona cactus and a place in Kansas known as Dorothy's House, complete with a yellow brick road, are taped side by side.

Cannon is a member of Trucker Buddy International, a non-profit organization which, according to its website, is dedicated to helping educate and mentor school children via a pen-pal relationship, with the purpose of enhancing the grade school curriculum in reading, writing, geography, mathematics, social studies and history. Cannon's buddies in Milford contact him by email or send letters to his home in Ocala. Though he is on the road for forty-five weeks of the year, he returns home when he can and responds to the students.

Cannon visited his buddies in Milford once previously, but was unable to bring his truck at that time. During his visit Friday, his shiny white Covenant Transport truck, which also serves as his home away from home, was parked outside the school. The students were given questions to answer about the vehicle, including its length, to be determined with rulers, and the diameter and radius of the wheels.

But measurement may well have been the last thing on their minds as they took turns climbing in and out of the cab to see Cannon's bunk.

"I get four hundred television channels," Cannon told the students.

Student Katie Yerdon dashed around the side of the truck at one point, gleefully shouting, "He can cook in there! He can cook in the truck!"

Anyone who has ever seen a tractor trailer driver take a tight turn wonders how it's done. The students were shocked to learn that Cannon has to shift eight times just to get to thirty-five miles an hour. Cannon explained that based on his identification number, the exact location of his truck could be pinpointed online. Two fuel tanks that hold one hundred gallons each help drivers avoid frequent stops.

Renckens cautiously helped the students into the back of the truck, where he spoke about cargo and travel. But foremost on everyone's mind was the burning question: Who will be lucky enough to sound the horn at the end of the lesson?

After spending the afternoon with the students and staff, Cannon wrote the following letter to the students and staff at Milford:

"About eighteen months ago I made a phone call to a little known organization called Trucker Buddy. My hope was to find a group of young people that would find a bit of enjoyment writing to a truck driver that spends many a lonely day and night traveling the highways of our great country. Never in my wildest dreams did I envision meeting and corresponding with a group of people like yourselves. It is truly uplifting to know that such a wonderful and caring group of people have accepted the challenge of educating our young children...

"Thank you all so very much for allowing me to come into your school...and for the opportunity to meet all of your young charges. They are truly wonderful young men and women. I know that all of you take the time to help them overcome [their] challenges and go the extra mile to help them succeed, as well as grow into responsible, caring individuals...that through your example develop an attitude of respect and a level of self esteem that is missing in our society today.

"It was heartening to see them all working as a team, as equals. Not one debasing another or acting in a way to take away from the enjoyment of another. This is something that we as adults have yet to fully achieve."