Andrew Warde High School
Class of 1976
This is the first of a two-part "Where Are They Now?" feature series highlighting the career of Mr. John Honey.
Ask Mr. John Honey about his most vivid memory during his 37-year teaching career at Andrew Warde High School, and his ever-present smile widens. It was, without question, an embarrassing moment for him and the school.
"I was teaching a class on probability, back when Connecticut first had a lottery," explained Honey, recalling the 29-year-old event as if it happened yesterday. "I decided that we would get lottery tickets for every kid in class. I figured, if anything, we'd probably have a five dollar winner.
"The Friday before Memorial Day, I'm passing these tickets out knowing they (the students) can't purchase these because they're too young. I started thinking, 'What am I doing?'"
Science and Mathematics say the "probability" of hitting it big isn't very good, right?
Think again.
"Doesn't one kid ask, 'What does three in a diagonal mean?' He won $1,000!"
Caption: Mr. Honey is right at home in his classroom at Fairfield Ludlowe High School. After teaching 37 years at Andrew Warde High School, he moved cross-town in 2004.
Honey was just getting started. It was clear he enjoyed retelling the story as much as I enjoyed listening to him. We could hear the sounds of the Ludlowe football team practicing on the gridiron outside his classroom. They were preparing for a game against Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk Friday night. He poured a cup of coffee, asked me if I wanted one, then proceeded with the story.
"It was (headmaster) Bob Genualdi's first year at the school. The following Tuesday I walked into his office. I explained we were doing a lesson on probability and told him what happened. He said, 'Oh, shit!'"
Honey told me that the Fairfield superintendent of schools caught wind of what happened and immediately turned the story over to the press. The Bridgeport Post sent a reporter to the school to interview him. "Front page headline," Honey deadpanned. "Teacher loses, kids win!"
However, that's not the end of the story. The Associated Press also picked up the story. "They were all over it," he admitted. "My Dad was watching the channel 4 news, and all of a sudden he hears about a human interest story from Fairfield, Connecticut." By this time, both of us were laughing and enjoying the reminiscing.
So, what happened?
"We donated the money to the school," Honey stated. "We (the students and I) went to Boston, chartered a bus, and had lobster dinner. I think it came to $980."
Thirty-seven years worth of memories just can't be told in one afternoon. We were both enjoying our stroll down memory lane. Mr. Honey, also known for having coached tennis star James Blake, is still going strong after all these years.
After 37 years teaching at Andrew Warde High School, Mr. Honey is now on the other side of town, educating young minds at Fairfield Ludlowe High School. Honey admitted he has a soft spot for Warde, but it was time to move on.
"Every time I go to Warde I get nostalgic about it," he said. "When I go over there now, there are very few people who know me. The kids (today) at Warde have no idea who John Honey is."
So, how and why did he end up at Ludlowe?
When the high school re-opened in the Fall of 2004, it needed a staff, and many teachers who were at Warde requested a transfer to Ludlowe. For Honey, the change came by way of a request from Ludlowe's new headmaster.
"Nancy Larsen is the reason I'm here," Honey stated. "I had torn my achilles, and she stopped over the house. She brought me flowers and said, 'I'd really like you to be a part of my staff. I think you could help establish the school.' She's just a wonderful educator."
There were other factors which made the decision to move to Ludlowe an easy one for Honey.
"It doesn't matter what building you're in," he pointed out rather matter-of-factly. "The facilities at Warde (prior to the renovation project) were shabby. I had the same room for 25 years." It was time for a change.
He's thoroughly enjoying the last few years of his storied career. One staple which remains from his days at Warde is his collection of pennants. His classroom is decorated with college pennants given as gifts from former students through the years.
Caption: College banners decorate the walls in Mr. Honey's classroom. They're gifts from former students. The tradition started when he taught at Andrew Warde High School.
"Every teacher decorates their room in a different way," Honey said. "Every Thanksgiving kids come in with different banners. It's neat to look at the banners and think of the kids. Those are kids I had."
The colorful pennants adorn the classroom walls and feature colleges from across the nation. Honey said he lost several pennants in the move from Warde, but the flags are special to him.
Mr. John Honey started at Andrew Warde High School as a student teacher in 1965. He became a full-time teacher the following year, somewhat by accident. He never envisioned a career in education, but here he is 41 years later still enjoying every minute in the classroom.
Which teachers did he respect? What does he think of his profession? Why has he lasted this long? We'll take a closer look at one of the most well-respected educators in Fairfield this coming Monday. Stay tuned for the second part of our visit with Mr. John Honey.
In the next installment, Mr. Honey shares his thoughts on his longevity, his teaching career, and his philosophy. Share your thoughts by adding a comment below.
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Paul
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