THE SIMPSONS: SPRINGFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

You probably know Springfield Elementary School

We are sure you know Springfield Elementary School. It is probably the most famous school in the world. Yes, you´re right, it´s the school where Bart and Lisa Simpson study.

It is a grossly underfunded school which suffers from the incompetence and apathy of its administration, teachers, staff and students. It is an overt satire of publicly funded schools and education in the United States. We would like you to see with us the main characters who work at the school. In a following article, we´ll pay attention to Bart, Lisa and their schoolmates. So, come with us to visit Springfield Elementary School.





PRINCIPAL SKINNER

Seymour Skinner is the principal of the school. He struggles to control the crumbling school and is often engaged in a battle against its inadequate resources, apathetic teachers, and often rowdy and unenthusiastic students, especially Bart Simpson. A strict disciplinarian, he has a militaristic attitude that comes from his years in the United States Army during the Vietnam war. This is also the cause
of a postraumatic stress disorder.

Principal Skinner

SUPERINTENDENT CHALMERS

A strict and largely humorless man, his general manners and personality are like those of a military officer. Whenever he visits the school, some kind of disaster happens. He produces extreme anxiety in Principal Skinner and even paranoia when he hears his usual catchphrase (recurrent words): "SKIN-NER!!!!!" or "SEYMOUR"!!!!!

Superintendent Chalmers often visits the school

EDNA KRABAPPEL

She is the teacher of Bart Simpson´s 4th grade class. She represents the most clear caricature of the American public school system. In a chapter, it is revealed that she was once a very optimistic person who genuinely wanted to help her students, but it finally seems that years of frustration thanks to the school, and particularly Bart Simpson, wore that enthusiasm away. She is divorced and looks desperately for a romantic partner. Of special importance are her relationships with Principal Skinner which move between passion and disdain.

Miss Krabappel, Bart´s teacher

ELIZABETH HOOVER

The teacher of Lisa Simpson´s 2nd grade class. Like Miss Krabappel, She is single and hates the school. Although she seems to retain an enthusiastic attitude towards her job on some ocassions, she eventually seems to be overwhelmed with stress, looking for whatever remedies that can alleviate it. She is sometimes seen smoking and even drinking on the job.

Miss Hoover is Lisa´s teacher

GROUNDSKEEPER WILLIE

A Scottish immigrant, he is the head groundskeeper at the school. He is almost wild in nature and is immensely proud of his homeland. He is easily identifiable by his flaming red hair and beard, as well as his aggressive temperament and strong Scottish accent. He is depicted as incompetent, slow-witted and a heavy drinker. He shows antipathy to both his employer, Principal Skinner and to Bart Simpson, who plays pranks on him.

Short-tempered Groundskeeper Willie

OTTO MANN

He is the school bus driver. He is famous for his maniacal driving style, his love of heavy metal music, drugs and his propensity to act as a perpetual 1980s teenager.

Otto is the School bus driver

To end with, some videos. In the first one, The Simpsons sing Chuck Berry´s blues School Days. In the second one, Bart has a nightmare about what life would be like if his poor test results caused Springfield Elementary to close.