History YMMV / TheSimpsonsS2E1BartGetsAnF

* HilariousInHindsight: Here, Bart is horrified at the prospect of being held back for a year in school, going so far as to have an emotional breakdown when said prospect briefly becomes a reality. Later episodes would see him be sent back to [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS6E5SideshowBobRoberts Kindergarten]] and [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS14E3BartVsLisaVsTheThirdGrade 3rd grade]], embracing the change in the former, and merely being annoyed that he has to share a class with his recently-promoted sister in the latter.

* DiagnosedByTheAudience: Many viewers like to think that the reason for Bart's difficulty focusing is because he has a learning disability of some sort. It helps that [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS11E2BrothersLittleHelper a Season 11 episode]] would later diagnose him with ADD.

** In the episode "Special Edna" Bart nominates Mrs. Krabappel for a teaching award on the basis of the fact that she never gave up on him. The same episode shows her staying late with him at school to rewrite a failed essay and turn it into a passing one. ApatheticTeacher or not, she cares about helping Bart succeed despite his challenges--and it all quite possibly started right here.

* SignatureScene: Bart crying over his F. Need we say more?

* HeartwarmingInHindsight: Mrs. Krabappel is so amazed by Bart's knowledge of UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington surrendering to the French in 1754 that she raises his grade from "F" to "D-" meaning he ''barely'' passes. Future episodes ("[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS12E5HomerVsDignity Homer vs. Dignity]]", "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS16E3SleepingWithTheEnemy Sleeping With The Enemy]]") show that Bart actually does have talent after all.

* HilariousInHindsight: Here, Bart is horrified at the prospect of being held back for a year in school, going so far as to have an emotional breakdown when said prospect briefly becomes a reality. Later episodes would see him be sent back to [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS6E5SideshowBobRoberts Kindergarten]] and [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS14E3BartVsLisaVsTheThirdGrade 3rd grade]], embracing the change in the former, and being annoyed that he has to share a class with his recently promoted sister in the latter.

* HilariousInHindsight: Here, Bart is horrified at the prospect of being held back for a year in school, which causes him to have a crying fit when said prospect briefly becomes a reality. Later episodes would see him be sent back to [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS6E5SideshowBobRoberts Kindergarten]] and [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS14E3BartVsLisaVsTheThirdGrade 3rd grade]], embracing the change in the former, and being annoyed that he has to share a class with his recently promoted sister in the latter.

** If the story took place now, Bart's tearful story of how difficult getting even an F was could end with him being sent to a school psychiatrist to find out if he has a learning disability (see AlternateCharacterInterpretation above). Granted, [[ApatheticTeacher Krabappel]] is not exactly the best teacher out there. 9 seasons later, the episode "Brother's Little Helper" would see Bart being medicated for ADHD.

** If the story took place now, Bart's tearful story of how difficult getting even an F was could end with him being sent to a school psychiatrist to find out if he has a learning disability (see AlternateCharacterInterpretation above). Granted, Krabappel is not exactly the best teacher out there.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation:
** Bart's intense difficulty to keep himself studying is occasionally seen as evidence that Bart has a learning disability [[AmbiguousDisorder of some sort]], usually ADHD due to [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny his difficulty with time management and staying on the task at hand]].
** Was Bart crying because he failed his test after studying for it so hard, or did Mrs. Krabappel hurt his feelings by [[KickTheDog telling him to his face that teaching him for another year will be hell]]?

* IdiotBall: You would think Bart would ask Lisa to help him study or tutor him. Even though she is aware of his situation and offers some guidance, neither of them ever consider it.

** Bart explicitly getting a 59 on the final test and failing. In many schooling systems this would be well above a pass, so anyone who grew up in one of those schools will be far more critical of Springfield Elementary than intended. To say nothing of the school willing to hold Bart back a year based on a single percentage point, which most schools would never do (Bart being given that bonus point is likely not as uncommon as you think).

** With a hint of EpilepticTrees thrown in, Bart's intense difficulty to keep himself studying is occasionally seen as evidence that Bart has a learning disability [[AmbiguousDisorder of some sort]], usually ADHD due to [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny his difficulty with time management and staying on the task at hand]].

* HarsherInHindsight: Despite Bart earning his happy ending and actually passing his history test, later episodes would still have him in the fourth grade, making this whole episode a complete waste.

* TearDryer: Bart has been told that if he gets a failing grade on his upcoming test, he will be required to repeat the 4th grade. Bart actually cracks the books and studies, but his one Herculean effort is not enough to make up for a lifetime of poor study habits. Bart gets an F. He breaks down crying, telling Mrs. Krabapple that he had really tried this time, and all she can do is try and comfort him. But then, just when it looks hopeless, Bart compares his loss to George Washington having to surrender to the French in 1754, an obscure bit of history. So impressed is Mrs. Krabapple about this applied knowledge, she gives him a bonus point on the test, which pushes him from an F to a D -, allowing him to pass.

* AlternateAesopInterpretation: As noted on this page, the episode can come across as a criticism of how society views learning disabilities, the American education system or both. Bart not only needs help with his studies but actively ''seeks'' it for most of the episode, so the conclusion that forcing him to try with no one to help and then declaring all his progress to be worthless based on an arbitrary metric makes [[AdultsAreUseless the adults look far worse]] than Bart ever could.

* ValuesDissonance: If the story took place now, Bart's tearful story of how difficult getting even an F was could end with him being sent to a school psychiatrist to find out if he has a learning disability (see AlternateCharacterInterpretation above). Granted, Krabappel is not exactly the best teacher out there.

* AlternateAesopInterpretation: As noted on this page, the episode can come across as a criticism of how society views learning disabilities, the American education system or both. Bart not only needs help with his studies but actively ''seeks'' it for most of the episode, so the conclusion forcing him to try with no one to help and then declaring all his progress to be worthless based on an arbitrary metric makes [[AdultsAreUseless the adults look far worse]] than Bart ever could.

* HeartwarmingInHindsight: Mrs. Krabappel is amazed by Bart's knowledge of UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington surrendering to the French in 1754 that she raises his grade from "F" to "D-" meaning he ''barely'' passes. Future episodes ("[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS12E5HomerVsDignity Homer vs. Dignity]]", "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS16E3SleepingWithTheEnemy Sleeping With The Enemy]]") show that Bart actually does have talent after all.

** Bart explicitly getting a 59 on the final test and failing. In many schooling systems this would be well above a pass, so anyone who grew up in one of those schools will be far more critical of Springfield Elementary than intended.

* HeartwarmingInHindsight: Mrs. Krabappel amazed by Bart's knowledge of UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington that she raises his grade from "F" to "D-" meaning he ''barely'' passes. Future episodes ("[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS12E5HomerVsDignity Homer vs. Dignity]]", "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS16E3SleepingWithTheEnemy Sleeping With The Enemy]]") show that Bart actually does have talent after all.

* HeartwarmingInHindsight: Mrs. Krabappel amazed by Bart's knowledge of UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington that she raises his grade from "F" to "D-" meaning he ''barely'' passes. Future episodes ("[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS12E5HomerVsDignity Homer vs. Dignity]]", "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS16E3SleepingWithTheEnemy Sleeping With The Enemy]]") show that Bart actually does have academic talent after all.

* HeartwarmingInHindsight: Mrs. Krabappel amazed by Bart's knowledge of UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington that she raises his grade from "F" to "D-" meaning he ''barely'' passes. Future episodes ("[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS12E5HomerVsDignity Homer vs. Dignity]]", "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS16E3SleepingWithTheEnemy Sleeping With The Enemy]]") show that Bart is actually pretty smart after all.