Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
Magnus Harrison Obituary
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Magnus Harrison
Sponsored by Carolyn Harrison.
6 Entries
The best teacher I ever had
David Rust
March 8, 2017
"Stop making eyes at Brigitte!"
He taught me french AND german, introduced me and some others to Charlie Chaplin's MODERN TIMES when he took a carload of us to see it at the Eglinton in Toronto one day. He loved to throw chalk. He would spin around in his class and challenge us to know MORE. He wasn't afraid to expose "Up With People" (remember those friendly little fascists?). He loved his tape machine: "ooo-oooh, Marius! Ooh-oooh, Fanny!" It's time to get those red cor-puskles moving around.
He headed the Drama Club, so I was happy to mug around with him while I was a member. He had a real sense of the dramatic. I was never, ever bored in his classes.
"All right, you blighters! Let's get working on this!"
The stupid thing is, that I loved him as a teacher and I could have sought him out when I last was in Canada, but I didn't.
Thank you, sir. I thought of you today when I put my spats on to take a walk. (He explained the german term, machen Spaziergang - to take a stroll, as putting on your spats and putting one foot forward.)
Thank you again for making me respect the language, and for explaining what English *really* was.
reg harrison
July 11, 2012
It's been a year since we lost you dad you are missed more than ever.
Paul Jacobi
July 21, 2011
I was extremely sorry to hear of Mr. Harrison's passing. At the end of the 60's I was a student at Blakelock and Mr. Harrison was my German teacher. I can truly say that very few people have had such an impact on my life. His cool British humour and sometimes biting commentary grabbed our attention as few other teachers could. Personally I must have been very much impressed with his wisdom and ability to engage the students since I have been living in Germany now for over 30 years. Through all the years I never forgot him and often thought back fondly to those classes at Blakelock.
Paul Jacobi
Joseph Ashworth
July 15, 2011
Mr. Harrison was my English teacher at Blakelock when I was in Grade 12 and I have many, many fond memories of those days. He never hesitated to share his feelings and ideas with us, some of them less than "politically correct". He expected a lot from us and did not hesitate to call us "twerps" when we were less than our best. He was passionate about teaching, learning and living, politically committed (an outspoken critic of the Vietnam War). He brought in extra-curricular books and thereby introduced me to Aldous Huxley and Evelyn Waugh. He shared his love of old jazz and blues (and his disdain for big band music and everything we were listening to on the radio) from Bunk Johnson and Sidney Bechet to Bessie Smith. When I was an undergraduate at St. Mike's, Mr. Harrison came to visit to see how I was doing. He sat in on one of my classes and spent the day on campus. I consider him to have been one of the outstanding influences on my life and I am very sad to hear of his passing. Please offer my sincere condolences to all the members of his family.
How you can show support
Steve Dalton
July 13, 2011
I'm very sorry to hear of Mr. Harrison's passing. I remember that Grade 12 French (1967 or so) was enhanced by Mr. H. playing reel to reel tapes of New Orleans jazz by the likes of Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton. I have no idea how he tied it all into the French G12 curriculum, but he got away with it, and he exposed us to an art form we might never have noticed otherwise.
I also remember that when one misbehaved, one was questioned, and had to answer, in French. I got the feeling that the transgression was less important than the dialogue that ensued.
He brought with him some of the old school Brit traditions such as addressing students by their surnames, and this might have made him seem a bit intimidating; we had to look beyond that, and enjoy a unique experience with a teacher unlike any others. My sincere condolences to Mr. Harrison's family; please be assured that there are many former students who treasure memories of our time in the classroom with him.
Judy Wedeles
July 13, 2011
I am so sorry to hear of Mr. Harrison's death. He was a great influence on me when he taught me French at Blakelock, and as I continue my own teaching career in the same school. I often think of the days he brought in records of some of the great French singers to try to inspire us. One day he casually suggested we watch a Charlie Chaplin movie on TV that night, so a friend and I arranged a sleepover and stayed up late to discover the artistry Mr. Harrison saw. It is these small influences that a true teacher imparts that students carry with them their whole lives. My deepest condolences on your loss.
Showing 1 - 6 of 6 results