Harry M. Beer

Harry McWaters Beer (15 April 1913 – 23 March 1987) was a Canadian Quaker and Headmaster of Pickering College.

Beer was educated at Pickering College and served as French Master from 1938 to 1953 before becoming the school's longest-serving Headmaster from 1953 to 1978.[1]

Beer championed the abolition of corporal punishment as a means of discipline to the Canadian Association of Independent Schools,[2] which eventually outlawed caning and other physical punishments as a result. The practice was subsequently outlawed across Canada in 2004.[3] Beer brought other pacifist ideals to Pickering College during his term as Headmaster, including human rights, social justice, end environmental concerns in the teaching curriculum.

He was brother-in-law of diplomat and academic John Wendell Holmes and father of politician Charles Beer.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Notable Alumni, Class of 1842". Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2010-12-22.
  2. ^ "Pickering College: The Site of Canadian Quaker Reunification" (PDF). The Canadian Friend. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-28.
  3. ^ "Top court upholds spanking law". The Toronto Star.