William Harrison
Schoolmaster, Craigflower
October 15, 1866 - August 1, 1870
Following the resignation in October 1866 of Thomas Russell as schoolmaster for Craigflower, the Board of Education appointed William Harrison to that position. Regrettable little is known about Harrison apart from Superintendent Waddington's description:
Visit from Mr. William Harrison for a situation as Teacher. Mr. Harrison is recommended by the Revd. Mr. Somerville,; he has a second class certificate from Canada and taught also five months in San Francisco. Considers himself well bossed in Grammar, Geography and Arithmetic,. Is unacquainted with Geometry. Is for the present bookkeeping at Mr. Fell's Grocery.1
Harrison commenced teaching at Craigflower Oct. 17, 1865 following an official "induction" by Waddington:
Visited the Craigflower School in company with Dr. Tolmie, chairman of the Board of Education, from 11 a.m. till 12 o'clock noon. Inducted the new Teacher, Mr. Garrison, with a short address to the children, and gave him a letter of introduction to the parents. 17 children were present, and a fair attendance may be expected when the school is finally opened on Wednesday. The children seemed altogether pleased with the reopening of the school and their new teacher.2
Thereafter, the Superintendent's references for 1866 noted that a number of text books were delivered to the school; in March 1867 a discipline problem was dealt with.3 By the spring of 1867 in appears that the "uncertainities attending payment of [teacher's] salaries" as a result of the recession were taking their toll. Teachers had not been paid since the previous August and schools were kept open through community donations and benefits. Harrison was destitute:
Visit from Mr. Harrison Teacher at Craigflower. He has now been living for more than a fortnight on bread, milk and potatoes, and the neighbours and parents of the children having learnt this deplorable state of things and rather than allow the school to be closed, have called a meeting for this evening at 7 o'clock to agree on the best mode of contributing something to assist the Teacher in his present cruel position. I desired Mr. Harrison to thank the inhabitants for the lively interest they take in the support of their school.4
By the end of July, Harrison was reported as "still very unwell":
...but it was hoped that the holidays would enable him to recover his health so as to resume his accustomed duties at their expiration.5
The economic situation continued to deteriorate and with Waddington's resignation in September 1867, regular reports on the schools ceased. However, Harrison remained at Craigflower until May 1869 when he tendered his resignation. He remained at the school until the August holiday at which time he indicated he would not re-open the school. Then followed a long period or correspondence over the issue of salary owing.6
Meanwhile, the School Act of 1869 had brought into existence local school boards and Harrison was subsequently hired by the board representing Lake Hill School. In January, 1870, the Colonist commented on Harrison's work:
We understand a tabulated report from Lake District School was placed in the hand of the Government [regarding the number of children, books, curriculum furniture, etc.] ... Considering the labour involved we think a blank form should be used.... The school is under the efficient charge of Mr. Harrison, formerly of Craigflower.7
However, before the end of the school year Harrison had resigned his position claiming the obstructionist policy of the school board had caused irreconcilable differences.8 Harrison then decided to establish a school for adults:
"An Evening School" will be opened in New Dominion Hall, Colonist Bldg. on Sat. Oct. 1 at 7:30 pm. Mr. W. Harrison a gentleman who holds two first class certificates as teacher will conduct the institution, which is much needed here by many young men, the nature of whose employment prevents them attending a day-school.9
Although there are no indications as to the success of this venture, by 1874, a William Harrison was listed as bookseller. This proved successful and by 1875 Harrison had moved to large quarters:
A portion of the first floor of the Colonist office has been leased to Mr. Wm. Harrison Bookseller, and the composing room for the newspaper hands is the large hall formerly occupied by Chamber of Commerce...10
That bookseller and schoolmaster were indeed one and the same is indicated by the unusual article which appeared in the Colonist, 1877, which questioned the wisdom of scholarships being awarded by the Victoria school system:
Such foolish expenditure ... by a system whose proper adjuncts are wealth and affluence ... answers to the above questions will be found in the best books on education, government, school teaching and self-government.
[signed] W. Harrison11
As previously noted evidence regarding Harrison's private life is obscured by the number of Harrisons in Victoria. However, records for a William Harrison, age 31, of Lancashire, England, who was married in Victoria, January 25, 1873, to Martha McCorkall, 21, of County Derry, Ireland, may pertain to Harrison, the schoolmaster; a daughter Annie Isabella, was born January 12, 1881.12 In 1893 the Colonist reported the death of Mrs. Wm. Harrison, aged 42;13 present research has not revealed an obituary for William Harrison.
Endnotes:
1. Alfred Waddington, Reports: School Visits 1865-67, Sep. 11, 1866 C/AA/30.8M. Record for this period show that four William Harrisons resided in Victoria; consequently it is difficult to ascertain which documents refer to Harrison, the School Master.
2. Ibid., Oct. 15, 1866.
3. Cf. J. Stricker, Craigflower School, HBC, Dec. 1979.
4. Waddington, op cit., April 20, 1867.
5. Ibid., July 26, 1867.
6. See Appendix I
7. Colonist, April 26, 1870, see Appendix I
8. Ibid., Jan. 1, 1870, p.3
9. Ibid., Sept. 6, 1870, p.3
10. Ibid., Feb. 25, 1875, p.3
11. July 12, 1877, p.3; B.C. Directory 1877-78, lists a Wm. Harrison, bookseller, stationer & news agent Gov't St., res. View Street.
12. Colonist, Jan. 31, 1873, p.3; Verification of Marriage particulars, and Birth Certificate, Vital Statistics, loc. cit.
13. Colonist, July 11, 1893 p.5,
The many friends of Mrs. Wm. Harrison, 238 Johnson St. will regret to hear of her death.... She had for some time been a severe sufferer from rheumatism & a complication of diseases... she had been upwards of 20 years in this city coming out from Moville Ireland with her sisters Mrs. Maslin, Mrs. Jas. Smith & Mrs. Field.
p.8 Death ... beloved wife of Wm. Harrison... aged 42 years. Colonist reports on the death of W. F. Harrison "Saanich Pioneer" proved not to be Harrison the schoolmaster.