Save the Tree
Bob Pataki plans to build a new beeper emporium, but his choice of location means destroying oldest tree in town. The kids and Arnold's grandma stage a resistance to protect their town's heritage.
New Teacher
The fourth grade class gets a new teacher. Under the influence of Helga and Harold, they proceed to harass him until he resigns in frustration. But the class soon realizes the error of their ways when Principal Wartz hires a far stricter and slightly unhinged replacement teacher.
"Save the Tree" provides examples of:
- Cool Old Lady: Pookie leads the resistance while dressed like Tarzan. The tree is saved when she hijacks Bob's bulldozer.
- Here We Go Again!: After Bob relents and allows the kids to keep their tree, he says he'll build his new emporium in the vacant lot where the kids play baseball. The kids immediately disapprove of this, with the implication being that they'll have to stage another protest.
- Loophole Abuse: Bob tries to slip past the protesters by starting demolition at the stroke of midnight when his permit to build will officially commence.
- Not in This for Your Revolution: Helga joins the resistance and says it's because she wants to humble her dad, but Helga being Helga, her motives are obviously to be with Arnold.
"New Teacher" provides examples of:
- Break the Cutie: Mr. Simmons is a friendly and open-minded teacher. He's heckled from day one just for being new. Harold stealing his lunch proves to be his breaking point.
- Chekhov's Classroom: In the first act, Mr. Simmons teaches the class that one of the most helpful thing to learn is to ask "Why". Later, the kids use this to unnerve Major Goosestep and his rigid mindset.
- Drill Sergeant Nasty: Major Goosestep. For someone who was employed to be a teacher, he's more accustomed to yelling at the kids for so much as "sassing" him than actually teach them.
- Embarrassing First Name: When coerced by Major Goosestep to reveal his real name, "Curly" can only sheepishly admit that his first name is Thaddeus. If only Major Goosestep hadn't cut them off, the class would've laughed their butts off the entire day at learning this.
- Glass Cannon: A psychological variation. Major Goosestep has a knack for intimidating everyone in the class into falling into line with nothing but his yelling, and sheer willpower. But later, it turns out he's easily undone simply by continually asking "Why".
- Irony: Mr. Simmons attempted to have a nice first day of school, but was pressured by the children's shenanigans. It's only later when they have an impromptu class session in his front yard that he finds his stride as a teacher.
- Jerkass Ball: The normally kind-hearted Arnold participates in the heckling. When Mr. Simmons caves in, Arnold looks in his direction with a sense of guilt, but ignores it and leaves his new teacher in the lurch.
- Kick the Dog: The entirety off the first act is about the kids trying to get Mr. Simmons to quite by acting extra uncooperative. When Mr. Simmons tries to stand his ground, they entire class makes it very bald-faced that they will disobey him just for kids.
- Shell-Shocked Veteran: Major Goosestep is implied to have PTSD, given he's highly strung and when the class put up resistance, he breaks even harder than Mr. Simmons did.
