By SCOTT D. JOHNSTON
Paul Bouma may have retired from teaching last week, but a visit to one of his very last English Literature classes at North Beach Jr./Sr. High School quickly showed he’s still very passionate and engaged with his students.
“Mr. Bouma,” who has been at North Beach for 30 of his 34-year teaching career, was taking a couple dozen young minds through what may be one of the most common high school classroom experiences in the country, one he has repeated countless times: the study of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.”
And his face effortlessly and genuinely displayed the full range of grand theatrical expression, enthusiasm and excitement that might have made even The Bard blush a bit, as he helped his 21st century students explore the classic play from the late 16th century.
Bouma was born in Australia, the son of a Christian Reformed Church missionary who took his family to northern Canada, the Philippines, and eventually Burlington, WA. Early on, he said, “Dad wanted a church pianist. So, I started taking lessons at age five and I’m still studying.”
To this day, he “loves fixing and tuning pianos. There’s a sense of immediate satisfaction.” He has played all over the Harbor for more than two decades, including the last 14 years with his PB Group, and has a written “a lot of originals and recorded some albums.” Although Bouma can and does play various keyboards in an almost endless variety of genres and styles, his personal taste leans toward jazz because “it allows me to improvise and explore, to push the potential, to find the greatest creativity within a restricted set of chords.”
After earning a BA in English at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, PA (about 30 miles from another of his father’s missionary postings), he had his first teaching job in Jordan. In 1987, following four years of high school English and Spanish in Cascade, ID, he applied for teaching positions all over Washington state, and was the only one of three applicants at North Beach “who actually showed up for the interview.” He’s been here ever since.
“I love this area,” he said. “It’s the best place I’ve ever lived, with its clean air, its resources…” His son and daughter both graduated from NBHS, and “did very well at this place, for this place and by this place,” he said.
Without being asked, his students offered similar sentiments about their departing instructor and mentor. “Mr. Bouma has been here since Day One of our high school careers — he’s always there for us,” one said. “He doesn’t come here for the paycheck, he comes here for the students,” another said with a smile.
His retirement at age 60 comes as he is starting to feel some burnout. “I can feel my patience ebbing,” he explained.
“I’ll miss the kids — their freshness, their vitality, the extremities of their emotional ups and downs,” he reflected. “I have thoroughly enjoyed the dramatic adventure – kids have so much drama that they have to work out before they find themselves. That has kept me thoroughly entertained, intrigued and aghast.
“I’m very grateful to have played a part in so many students’ successes. I cannot put a value to the trust that families put in me. That part of it still amazes me,” he concluded.
At a retirement party at Las Maracas last week, interim North Beach School District co-superintendent Stan Pinnick thanked Bouma for his years of strong involvement, and noted, when he and Dave Wayman became co-superintendents years ago, Bouma “was the first to say, ‘I want to help.’”
With a bit of a wistful smile, Wayman said simply that he will always remember Bouma as a colleague “who became a friend.”
As far as his new life goes, Bouma said his wife, Hetty, “has got plenty lined up for me.” And he’ll continue to perform, with several upcoming appearances already booked.
Scott D. Johnston photo: Paul Bouma on his final day in class.
Angelo Bruscas/North Coast News: Paul Bouma is given a standing ovation at the recent North Beach gradation ceremonies with assistant principal Wendy McCoy and principal Lynn Buedefeldt.
