Recollections: Divided by 2a

That’s as much as I can remember of the quadratic equation. Dad, on the other hand, often recited the formula as though it was yet another sonnet in his memorized repertoire.

Dad often quipped that “Frasers can do mathematics through a brick wall.” He was, in fact, quoting Dr. John Duncan Campbell. J.D.’s flattering assessment would be valid. This esteemed educator and superintendent obviously crossed paths with the Ontario Frasers, by proximity and by profession. The small township of Turnberry (30,000 acres) in Huron County was both Dr. Campbell’s birthplace (according to one source), and the location of the Fraser farm on the Maitland River.

In the old scrapbook from Grandma Fraser’s trunk, there is an obituary (c. 1950) for Dr. J. D. Campbell. To have saved this is evidence that admiration ran both ways.

J. D. Campbell's obituary, circa 1950

Further online searching yields little else about such an accomplished man. A publication entitled “Report of the Minister of Education Province of Ontario for the Year 1945” notes his retirement after an impressive career in education:

Dr. J. D. Campbell, B.A., was born in the Township of Turnberry and received his elementary education in the rural school in S.S. No. 9 Turnberry. He obtained his secondary education in Seaforth Collegiate Institute and Harriston High School. He attended the School of Pedagogy in 1895 and began teaching in U.S.S. No. 12 Culross, where he remained for four and one-half years, resigning his position to become principal of Highgate Continuation School. After three years he attended the University of Toronto and graduated with First Class Honours in Mathematics and Physics in 1908. He was appointed to the staff of Chesley High School in September, 1908, and obtained the principalship in 1909, which he held until 1913 when he was appointed Master in Mathematics in the Stratford Normal School. Dr. Campbell later served with distinction as a Master at the Ottawa and Toronto Normal Schools. Under his skillful and steady guidance thousands of student-teachers learned a great deal of the more excellent way of teaching. In 1928 Dr. Campbell was appointed to the Technical staff of Inspectors in the Department of Education, and one year later was appointed Assistant Chief Inspector of Public and Separate Schools. In 1944 he became Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education, a position which he held until his retirement on August 31st, 1945. Dr. Campbell obtained his degree as Doctor of Pedagogy from the University of Toronto in 1943. His thesis regarding Arithmetic in the Ontario elementary schools is a splendid contribution, and is indicative of the type of work done by Dr. Campbell. The educational system of the province has benefited greatly from the services of Dr. Campbell, and his sound scholarship and good judgment have won him the respect of all who have been associated with him.

We can’t be sure of which Fraser(s) Dr. Campbell was referring to (or which township Dr. Campbell was actually born in), but we know that Dad perpetuated the ability to see mathematics through a brick wall, starting at an early age. Proud mom Annie (Reid) Fraser kept a few of his early workbooks, along with high school tests and years of report cards. Dad was consistently at the head of the class across the board. [Likewise, Mom was a precocious student, and I will grant her extra credit for being a number of years younger than her classmates!]