Woodworking Class Remains as Popular as Ever at Warde in Today's Modern World of Technology

Despite all the technological advances made in the classroom over the last 30 years, one constant remains the popularity of woodworking class. The handiwork of Fairfield Warde High School students, fashioned with skills dating to another era, will be showcased at the annual Open House hosted this Thursday evening, June 5, at 7 o'clock by John Kassay's woodworking classes.

Coffee tables and dining room tables with intricately designed legs and smooth surfaces that students have designed and built are among the projects that will be on display. Several students will show grandfather clocks they have crafted, while others are finishing full-size entertainment centers and a rocking bench in time for the exhibit.

During our senior year at Andrew Warde High School, the bicentennial celebration created a greater interest in colonial design. Courses in cabinet-making helped foster a spirit of the early colonial manufacturing techniques. The photo below shows Wyatt Whiteman (at left) and Joe McCormack (at right) finishing their wood shop projects in 1976.

According to the 1976 Flame yearbook, "Most of the classes operated at full capacity all year, indicating a renewed interest in applied technical education." Overall, the industrial arts program at Warde offered one of the widest selections of courses of any school in the area. Take a look at Danny Cody (at left) and Keith Balias (at right) below carefully placing their finished wood shop project in the car some 32 years ago.

Kassay said this year's program is supported by the Warde administration. "They recognize that the learning is hands-on and uses problem-solving, math and measurement. You really have to think about what you are doing," he said. Kassay said a lot of his students are not college-bound and instead plan to pursue woodworking as a career.

Senior John Petro is taking Kassay's courses as preparation for college studies as a construction management major. These students say the value of woodworking skills in the modern age is high, even if it seems a growing number of their peers show no interest. "Technology can only take you so far," said senior Shane Man. "There will always be a spot for hands-on workers."

His students have already taken advantage of the fact they have learned how to make repairs around the house, and realize that they can use these skills to save money in the future. Senior Julia Arduini, who built an Adirondack chair in the class, said, "It's good when you can go into a store and see a simple chair and then see how expensive it is and realize you can build it yourself."

Each year at the exhibit projects are judged by former colleagues of Kassay's from Seymour High School and given ribbons based on "quality, finish, construction and techniques." The exhibit usually attracts a good turnout of parents and teachers.

Did you take a woodworking class during your days at Andrew Warde High School? What do you most remember about it? Share your thoughts in the "comments" link below.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film".