Do you remember Viva Parker?

I have come across a lovely book edited by William L. Sherman in 1996, titled Tributes to Iowa Teachers. Inside I read a testimony to Belmond Elementary School teacher Mrs. Viva Parker written by Belmond resident Vicky Quigly. I thought you might enjoy reading it for yourself. Maybe Mrs. Parker was also your teacher.

Forty years ago, I couldn't wait to get to school each morning, mainly because of a fun and creative fourth grade teacher by the name of Viva Parker.
Mrs. Parker was small in stature, very strict, and very demanding, yet she was a grandmotherly figure, full of love and concern for all of her students. She demanded respect from each of us. Respect for our peers, respect for private and school property, and respect for her and our elders. She reminded us over and over again, "Remember the 'Golden Rule' - do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Personal hygiene was important to her. Daily we had clean fingernail checks, clean handkerchief checks, and teeth checks. Remember the yearly dental cards that would line our classroom.
Good penmanship was a must in her room. She refused papers that were sloppy and difficult to read and papers that had been ripped or heavily erased. She taught us the Palmer Penmanship Method and expected us to do our best.
Every Friday we looked forward to spell downs. Occasionally we competed against the other fourth grade section. We always learned so much more than just spelling words. One day in particular, we were spelling so well and she was having trouble retiring us - she walked over to a large map, pointed to Mexico, and our next two words that sat down several of us were Ixtacihuatl and Popocatepetl. Believe it or not, I had a boy in my section correctly spell Popocatepetl and my section had bragging rites for the day. I have always remembered they were volcanoes in Mexico, but I do have to confess to checking the spelling before writing this paper today.
I have so many wonderful memories of my fourth grade year and it has been fun writing this testimonial. Mrs. Parker touched the lives of hundreds of impressionable 10-year-olds as she taught for 40 years. How fortunate I feel to have had this delightful woman as a teacher and a role model. I think of her often with much admiration. I hope everyone has experienced a "Mrs. Parker" at some time in their life.