Maurice Campbell was born at Steuban, Wisc. on April 5, 1913. When Maurice was a young boy, his family moved to a homestead in the Cadillac area. Maurice completed Grades 1 through 8 at Prairie du Chene, Wisc. after which he attended the collegiate in Moose Jaw where he graduated with a Grade 12 diploma. He subsequently enrolled in the Moose Jaw Normal School to prepare for a career as a teacher. Two decades later, Maurice also acquired a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Saskatchewan.
Education was the Campbell family's profession. Maurice's mother was a teacher as was his sister Marion. His brother Ralph (Scotty) was an instructor in the technical wing of the North Battleford Comprehensive High School. And, his son, Clayton, was also a teacher and vice-principal.
In 1932, Maurice began his education career in a one room school at Richlea in the Eston-Elrose area. He taught every subject except Latin and French. For all of his hard work, Maurice was paid the princely sum of $400. He also taught at Abbey, Plato, Lacadena, McGee, Lucky Lake, Harris, Tyner and Stranraer. It was bit of a surprise to learn that Maurice took a three-year hiatus from the classroom to try his hand at another occupation - the hotel business. But teaching was in his heart and he quickly returned to what he loved. In 1948, Maurice moved to North Battleford. He taught for two years at Connaught School and then accepted a position at the North Battleford Collegiate Institute. In 1970, Maurice moved to the newly completed North Battleford Comprehensive High School where he closed out his career in 1973 - a remarkable 41 years of service.
By any measure, Maurice was an outstanding teacher. His place was not in administration or central office. It was in the trenches - in the classroom with his students. He wasn't a lofty pedagogue. Instead, he was a highly intelligent, gifted, adaptable and down-to-earth professional teacher. During his career, Maurice taught in almost every area of education, but his specialty was mathematics.
Maurice's largest strength as a teacher was that he understood kids. Perhaps that was because he remained a kid at heart to the end of his career. Regardless of whether he was teaching math or coaching baseball, Maurice got his ideas across with the kind of authority that kids understood. Using this kind of approach to instruction, Maurice molded the lives of hundreds of students.
Another important key to Maurice's success was the enjoyment he got from working with young people. He was quoted as saying that, "I claim that if a person enjoys his work, every day is a holiday. I've been on holidays for many years, because every day I've spent with my students has been a holiday, and I thank all those young people for making those holidays possible." Doubtlessly, this attitude rubbed off on his students.
Maurice respected his students and was able to see their potential regardless of their circumstances. He noted that he had " never met a bad boy or girl in all my years in the profession. I've always found that if you play ball with the kids, they'll play ball with you," which was surely the reason students respected and admired Mr. Campbell so much. Maurice summed up his belief in his students by underscoring that every graduating class was a fine crop of young men and women. He referred to them as Canada's greatest resource and that it had been a privilege to have grown old in the company of these young friends.
Maurice certainly worked within the organizational framework of the education system, but he could hardly be described as a conventional teacher. He would not allow himself to be hemmed in. In fact, his motto was, "my way," borrowed from Frank Sinatra's famous song. In other words, he did not lock into the latest, fashionable theories on education, most of which were based on intangible ideals and theories, not research. Maurice applied common sense to his craft. The success of his methods was measured by the extent to which his students achieved.
Maurice Campbell's students will likely remember him best for his legendary sense of humour in the classroom. On one occasion, he entered the classroom with a look of devilment in his eyes and remarked, "Say, you kids wouldn't want anyone to think you're a bunch of dummies would you?" The answer, of course, was a resounding "no." Mr. Campbell told his students the superintendent was coming and it was necessary to put on a good show. His plan was simple: "When I ask a question, everyone put up their hands. If you know the answer, put up your left hand. If you don't, put up your right hand. Now let's practice because sure as ., some of you won't know your left hand from your right." Nor was Maurice's sense of humour limited to the classroom. He jokingly once remarked that if you look at past mayors in North Battleford - Roy Dean, Jim Maher and incumbent Jack Clement - it appears that anyone can run for mayor. Names were mentioned, but all were good friends of Maurice. And, Maurice's famous one liners at Beaver baseball games kept the crowd in stitches.
Maurice's greatest contribution was the knowledge and values he left with his students. But he also served as city alderman from 1954 to 1957 and from 1963 to 1964. Maurice was also the North Battleford Beavers' biggest supporter. As a fan, Maurice was at his best when his beloved Beavers were playing. No one could rally the team like Maurice. His jibes were never malicious or personal, and were never directed against an individual. He also supported the team by selling pools on the next game or peddling programs. He was not one to shirk work if it meant helping the ball team.
After a long life as a loved and respected teacher who helped many hundreds of young people to be happy and productive citizens, and contributed immensely to our city as a sportsman and volunteer, Maurice died on Aug. 12, 1977.
It would be difficult to measure the impact that Maurice Campbell had on the young people and citizens of our community. As an educator, he was without peer. He was also one of our most engaging and colourful citizens. His was a life well lived. On the occasion of North Battleford's centennial, we say thank you to Maurice J. Campbell for his exemplary service and for enriching our lives.
