Education in The Simpsons

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Springfield Elementary School

Education is a common recurring theme in the Television show The Simpsons. Many of the episodes feature scenes at the fictional Springfield Elementary School and several plotlines have also revolved around education. Many different themes have been featured, including lack of funding of public schools (The PTA Disbands) and evolution vs. creationism (The Monkey Suit).

Other episodes have revolved around the fictional Springfield University, which is where Homer went when fired from the Nuclear Power Plant (Homer Goes to College). Lisa also secretly started attending it in the episode Little Girl in the Big Ten.

In general, many of Springfield's citizens are uneducated, even though several have gone onto post high school education.

1 Daycares & Pre-Schools
- 1.1 Ayn Rand School for Tots
2 Elementary Schools
3 High Schools
- 3.1 Springfield High
4 Colleges
5 Alma Mater
6 Harvard
7 Episodes that Focus around Education
8 External Links

[edit] Daycares & Pre-Schools

[edit] Ayn Rand School for Tots

Run by "Ms. Sinclair", the sister of a musical director. She runs her school under the strict teachings of Ayn Rand and does not believe in baby bottles, trying to develop "the bottle within". She also does not allow pacifiers, which leads to Maggie and her fellow babies to rebel.

[edit] Elementary Schools

[edit] Springfield Elementary School

Principal: Seymour Skinner
Superintendant: Superintendent Chalmers
Teachers: Mrs. Krabappel, Miss Hoover, Mr. Largo, Mrs. Pommelhorst
Janetorial Staff: Groundskeeper Willie
Cafeteria Staff: Lunchlady Doris
PTA President: Ned Flanders

Main Article: Springfield Elementary School
See also: Springfield Elementary School Students

Once the most dilapidated school in Missouri, it was moved to Springfield brick by brick. Springfield has long been an underfunded school with a computer-less computer lab, a less than enthusiastic staff and a group of very uneducated students. On many occasions it has been said that Lisa is the only one keeping the school going. There are several subjects that have been cut, such as Geography (which was proving to be an embarrasment), math, and music, gym and art (due to a lack of funding). The majority of Springfields adults attended Springfield Elementary, and several were Presidents, including Krusty and Otto.

The school is horribly underfunded. For instance, there is a cinder block in place of a tether ball, and it has several grossly incompetent teachers. It was revealed in "Lisa Gets an 'A' " that Springfield Elementary was once voted "The Most Dilapidated School in Missouri", then it was moved brick by brick to Springfield. As well, only the teachers eat French fries made from potatoes.

The schools lack of funding has been the centre of several episodes, including The PTA Disbands, in which the teachers go on strike until more funding is provided and The President Wore Pearls in which Lisa leads a student strike to get music, gym and art back.

[edit] West Springfield Elementary School

This school has been seen only in the episode Trilogy of Error. Lisa, in a rush to get to school, hitches a ride with Krusty who accidently goes to the wrong school. West Springfield Elementary has several French classes and is attended by a boy named Thelonius, who Lisa fell in love with.

[edit] Springfield Preparatory School

Encountered by the Simpson family in The Bart Wants What it Wants, it is attended by the children of many of Springields citizens, including Dr. Hibberts daughter, Kent Brockmans daughter and Rainier Wolfcastle's daughter Greta.

[edit] Enriched Learning Center for Gifted Children

Attended by Bart after he cheated on a test in the episode Bart the Genius.

[edit] Springfield Magnate School for the Gifted and Troublesome

At the end of The President Wore Pearls, Lisa is sent here as punishment for starting a strike and she discovers a charming French boy who tells her of their large library. However, Homer immediately stopped her from going due to not wanting to drive her.

[edit] Cypress Creek school

Attended by Bart when the family moves to Cypress Creek for Homer to get a much better job, it is a very advanced school. It has a website of it's own, which very few schools had in 1995. However, it was too advanced for Bart, and after being asked if he ever learned cursive and started swearing at the teacher, he was placed in the remedial class. He hated it, as he was surrounded by "Arsonist, and kids with mittens pinned to their jackets all year round".

[edit] High Schools

[edit] Springfield High

Because there are very few teenage characters in The Simpsons, there is no set high school, although Homer and Marge and many other adults attended Springfield High back in 1974.

[edit] Colleges

[edit] Springfield University

Springfield has a large and prestigious college which Homer attended in the episode Homer Goes to College. It teaches several different courses, including nuclear physics, and the meaning of cartoons.

[edit] Springfield A&M

The longtime rival of Springfield U, its mascot is a pig named "Sir Oinkalot" who has several powerful friends, including Richard Nixon. The two schools meet in an annual football game.

[edit] Springfield Community College Extension Center

Homer briefly taught a class on the "Secrets of a Successful Marriage". Other classes taught there include "how to chew tobacco" and "Strip for your wife".