Viola Swamp is the main antagonist of the Miss Nelson book series. She is the "meanest substitute in the whole wide world". Miss Swamp is a real witch. She is secretly Miss Nelson and her sister Barbara.
She was voiced by Connie Zimet in Miss Nelson is Missing. It is unknown who voiced her in Miss Nelson is Back or Miss Nelson Has a Field Day.
History[]
Books[]
In Miss Nelson is Missing, Miss Nelson can't control her crazy classroom because she was too nice. The next day, she disguises herself as a witchy teacher: Viola Swamp. The kids could see that Viola Swamp was a real witch. She (Viola Swamp) meant business. Right away she put them to work. Then she loaded the kids with homework. Story hour was cancelled. (The narration of that page reads, "'There is going to be no story hour today!', said Ms. Swamp. 'Keep your mouths shut!', said Ms. Swamp. 'Sit perfectly still!', said Ms. Swamp. 'And if you make mistakes, you will be sorry!', said Ms. Swamp".) The kids try to knock on Miss Nelson's door. But no one answered the door. In fact, the only person they did see, it was Viola Swamp (who was coming up the street from the grocery store). And one of the kids said that if Ms. Swamp saw them, she would give them "more homework". And the class got away just in in time. The kids learned their lesson when she secretly removed her disguise.
In Miss Nelson is Back, Miss Nelson told her class she was going to have tonsillitis and they (her tonsils) would get removed. Three students disguised themselves as Miss Nelson because they got tired of Principal Blandsworth's lame entertainment. When they went out for ice cream, they passed Miss Nelson's house. She saw her students out of school she tried to call Principal Blandsworth. But he didn't believe it was the real Miss Nelson. So she returned as Miss Viola Swamp. When she found the mask of the Miss Nelson disguise, she pretends to be Miss Nelson when Blandsworth arrived. When she closed the door, she came back as Miss Nelson.
In Miss Nelson Has a Field Day, the school was gloomy and Miss Nelson was worried because the Smedley Tornadoes never won because they were the worst team in the whole state of Texas. Miss Nelson was told by the janitor that the Werewolves will make mincemeat out of them if they continue to lose. Miss Nelson heard Coach Armstrong crack up, so she took him home. When she heard her students talk about her alter-ego, Viola Swamp, she sent her sister Barbara to disguise herself as Viola Swamp as a coach. Under Coach Swamp's leadership, the Smedley Tornadoes drastically improved their performance in a short amount of time, allowing them to win a massive victory over the Werewolves. When Barbara removed her Viola Swamp disguise, Miss Nelson thanked her.
Personality[]
Miss Swamp is described as the "meanest substitute teacher in the world". She is notorious for being strict, harsh, rigid, and gruff, which helps restore order, discipline, and allows students to progress and develop much more effectively. Her methods, while severe, have proven to be effective and helped restore order to chaotic classrooms and greatly improve the performance level of the school's football team.
Trivia[]
- In the end of the first book Miss Nelson is Missing, it is revealed that the detective (at the police station) Detective McSmogg is working on a new case. He is now looking for Ms. Viola Swamp. (That is, as the narration of the last page reads, "Detective McSmogg is working on a new case. He is now looking for Ms. Viola Swamp".)
- Viola Swamp previously taught at Barnard College in New York City.