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Eleanor Clark Parker

Birth	:	29 Mar 1920 North Woodstock, Grafton County, New Hampshire, USA
Death	:	12 Feb 1995 Concord, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, USA
Burial	:	Rose Cemetery, Bath, Clinton County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.8022003, -84.3981018
Description	:	Daughter of Leander & Clarice (Clark) Parker ======================================================= Eleanor Clark Parker was born on March 29, 1920 in North Woodstock, New Hampshire to Leander Fox Parker, Water Commissioner, North Woodstock, New Hampshire and Clarice Vinn Clark Parker, housewife. She graduated from Woodstock High School in 1937, and from Mount Holyoke College in 1941. That fall she began teaching at Madison High School in New Hampshire. In 1943 she moved to Lincoln High School, and in 1946 to New London High School, both in New Hampshire. In 1954 she moved again to Laconia High School where she worked until her retirement in 1980.... Read More	Daughter of Leander & Clarice (Clark) Parker ======================================================= Eleanor Clark Parker was born on March 29, 1920 in North Woodstock, New Hampshire to Leander Fox Parker, Water Commissioner, North Woodstock, New Hampshire and Clarice Vinn Clark Parker, housewife. She graduated from Woodstock High School in 1937, and from Mount Holyoke College in 1941. That fall she began teaching at Madison High School in New Hampshire. In 1943 she moved to Lincoln High School, and in 1946 to New London High School, both in New Hampshire. In 1954 she moved again to Laconia High School where she worked until her retirement in 1980. She received several awards in her lifetime. Eleanor Parker died at age seventy-four on February 12, 1995 in Concord, New Hampshire. from: Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections Manuscript Register ======================================================= Once Upon a Time, Eleanor C. Parker Had to Defend the Teaching of To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, If You Can Believe It... By DEAN DEXTER It was 1964 and although but a few decades ago, it was another world. That summer, after a long debate in Washington, not unlike that seen in today's headlines, which included a 54-day filibuster in the U.S. Senate, a landmark Civil Rights Act became law, essentially ending legal racial discrimination in the United States. It was also the year the United Methodist Church voted to open its doors to people of all races, actually to "anyone," again after lengthy soul-searching and at times a not so pleasant "conversation" among the members of its national conference. And that fall, in 1964, a veteran New Hampshire school teacher was asked to account for the teaching of the book To Kill a Mockingbird in her high school senior English class. The Laconia, New Hampshire of 1964 was very much like it is today. That is, it was a smallish, but vibrant community where everyone essentially knew everyone else, at least somewhat, but because fewer left the city after coming of age, and with no outlying shopping malls to draw people away to shop and work, life in Laconia then was perhaps tighter and more personal. Eleanor C. Parker, Laconia High School, circa 1965-1966, Dean Dexter photo So there was high drama the night the extraordinary Eleanor C. Parker, alumnus of Mount Holyoke and Boston University, went before the Laconia School Board that October to defend herself after a parent had complained to authorities about the Pulitzer Prize winning book her class was studying, published four years earlier by the southern writer, Harper Lee, now considered a classic Miss Parker was a gracious person and not about the idea of whining or scolding or lecturing city officials or the community at large, about the need for "tolerance" and "acceptance," all of which she could have probably gotten away with due to her teaching skills and kindly ways. Nor did she drag along her lawyer. After advising her class that "anyone had a right to express his opinion and was therefore free to object to the book," or return it unread, she told the board, her students, who she described as "alert and intelligent 18 year-olds, said they liked the book." Not one objected to it. "What happens if we are told we cannot discuss the book?" students asked of her, the day she was told to suspend study of To Kill a Mockingbird, pending school board action. "The question I had to answer and wish now to make clear what my answer is," Miss Parker told the school board that night, before a room over-flowing with parents and students, "If my class and I (and thus of course ultimately other classes and other teachers) are not allowed to continue to discuss this book, I shall have to ask the Laconia School Board to accept my resignation." "When I teach this book, I look at my students and hope that they and I, myself, will learn to be like Atticus (Atticus Finch, the principle character), to meet ignorance, hatred, prejudice, not with more ignorance, hatred, prejudice, but with understanding, goodness, love. This is my purpose in teaching Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird," Miss Parker said, in a quiet voice, without a hint of tremor. According to newspaper reports, "applause was deafening at this point." And of course, the board unanimously gave a vote of confidence to Miss Parker and the school English Department. Years earlier, Miss Parker had written about her love of teaching: "One of the most exciting experiences of my life occurs each fall when I meet a group of young personalities, knowing that I have a chance to help them discover things about themselves, about people, and about living…Even on the rainy day when everybody hates everything, especially school, even then I would teach because I love to…Through me the great ideas of the past may be turned by the young minds of the present into the pattern of the future. Since I could not do this of myself, I have a guide. One whom men of all ages have called the Master Teacher." That December, Miss Parker was named New Hampshire Teacher of the Year (1965), and was later a top finalist for National Teacher of the Year honors, awarded by Look Magazine. For many years thereafter, Miss Parker would serve the people of the city, and their children, as a much beloved and respected teacher at Laconia High School. To the people who were packed into a meeting room one fall night many years ago, when a lone, unmarried school teacher put a career of over 20 years on the line, that her students might "discover things about themselves, about people, and about living," would be one of those singular moments in the life of a small community. One that maybe comes along once in a generation, if that, a real life drama which could itself be worthy of Hollywood, and of a best selling book. Dean Dexter is a former newspaperman, who has served as chairman of the Belknap County commission, the Laconia School Board, and as a state representative from Ward 4. He resides in Meredith and Concord. Posted -- March 31, 2010 Column Published, Laconia Daily Sun, Thursday, April 8, 2010. [email protected]

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Eleanor Clark Parker's memorial?
Eleanor Clark Parker's memorial is located at: Rose Cemetery, Bath, Clinton County, USA.
When did Eleanor Clark Parker death?
Eleanor Clark Parker death on 12 Feb 1995 in Concord, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Eleanor Clark Parker's memorial?
Latitude: 42.8022003
Longitude: -84.3981018

Family Members:

Parent

Leander Fox Parker

(1880 - 1956)

Clarice Vinn Clark Parker

(1885 - 1972)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Rose Cemetery
Bath, Clinton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8022003, -84.3981018

2. Pleasant Hill Cemetery
Bath, Clinton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8074989, -84.4492035

3. Saint Patrick Cemetery
Shiawassee County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7766991, -84.3506012

4. Graham Cemetery
Owosso, Shiawassee County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8339060, -84.3337050

5. Sprague Cemetery
Laingsburg, Shiawassee County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8555474, -84.3444395

6. Shaftsburg Cemetery (Defunct)
Shaftsburg, Shiawassee County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8056000, -84.3011000

7. Oak Plain Cemetery
Shaftsburg, Shiawassee County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8114014, -84.2925034

8. Riverside Cemetery
Okemos, Ingham County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7235985, -84.4396973

9. Unitarian Universalist Church Memorial Gardens
East Lansing, Ingham County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7427540, -84.4825510

10. All Saints Episcopal Church Memorial Garden
East Lansing, Ingham County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7423020, -84.4825220

11. Oklahoma Peavine Equine Burial Site
East Lansing, Ingham County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7266300, -84.4560420

12. Kay Family Cemetery
Perry, Shiawassee County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8333841, -84.2861084

13. Saint Katherines Episcopal Church Cemetery
Williamston, Ingham County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7167015, -84.3631973

14. Gunnisonville Cemetery
Gunnisonville, Clinton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8124962, -84.5219879

15. Reed Cemetery
Victor Township, Clinton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8918991, -84.4281006

16. Peoples Church Memorial Garden
East Lansing, Ingham County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7360050, -84.4861000

17. Glendale Cemetery
Okemos, Ingham County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7120910, -84.4412930

18. Foote Cemetery
Williamston, Ingham County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7160988, -84.3407974

19. Laingsburg Cemetery
Laingsburg, Shiawassee County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8909400, -84.3408230

20. Mount Olivet Cemetery
Laingsburg, Shiawassee County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8915340, -84.3404690

21. Wilsey Cemetery
DeWitt, Clinton County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8633003, -84.5128021

22. East Lawn Memory Gardens
Okemos, Ingham County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6991997, -84.4372025

23. Brick Cemetery
Locke Township, Ingham County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7465603, -84.2686789

24. Shaftsburg Cemetery
Williamston, Ingham County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7458763, -84.2687454