Francis Haney

Francis Haney (formerly Herb Haney  ) is the former principal of Lakewood Elementary. He oversees everything happening in the school, whether it be school events, bad behavior from pupils, school renovations, etc. Besides being the principal, he is very active in the community of Elwood City, and often takes part in managing or competing in public events, especially if they are sponsored by the school. He leaves Elwood City in Season 20 to fulfill his dream of building a school in Tanzania in Africa, being temporarily replaced by Ms. Tingley.

In the first few seasons of the show, there was a running gag with Mr. Haney. He'd randomly appear with a toy or a balloon, or he'd have bad luck for no apparent reason. He would get hit by things such as burgers on the face or get knocked off of his bed by the Tooth Fairy. Most of this was due to simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Everybody would respond by saying, "Sorry, Sir". His luck has improved in later seasons, though. He also has a niece and nephew who appear in "The Return of the King" who are tutored by Mr. Ratburn's former 3rd Grade teacher, Mr. Pryce-Jones. He is also a tax customer of one of his pupil's, Arthur Read's, mother, as revealed in "Arthur's Mystery Envelope" when he gives Arthur an envelope filled with tax documents. Arthur at first thinks that it contains information regarding him, but later finds out it does not.

Appearance
Mr. Haney is a bear with a light grey fur. He is often seen wearing a light blue jacket suit over a white shirt and an orange and blue striped tie. He also wears dark blue pants with brown loafers and glasses. He is one of the few characters in the series depicted with fur, as opposed to a complexion like most of the characters that have human-like skin tones.

In the Arthur books, Mr. Haney is usually depicted wearing a green suit rather than a blue one. However, beginning in season 16 of Arthur, Mr. Haney has started wearing a green suit on the show. Though during the imagine spots in season 20's "The Hallway Minotaur", he is back in his blue suit.

Personality
Mr. Haney is a kind character who cares deeply about the well-being of his students, but will deal a stern stance if they do anything to disrupt the day for their class or their teachers. He also can be a bit clueless, having been talked out of giving a punishment by students like Binky Barnes, though this happens only on rare occasions. He suffers from dyslexia.

Appearances

 * Specials
 * Arthur - It's Only Rock 'n' Roll
 * Season 8
 * Thanks a Lot, Binky 80202
 * Bugged 80302
 * Fernkenstein's Monster 80401
 * Desk Wars 80701
 * Season 9
 * The Law of the Jungle Gym 90302
 * D.W. Beats All 90901
 * Season 10
 * Buster's Special Delivery 101002
 * Season 11
 * Brain's Shocking Secret 110401
 * Dancing Fools 110601
 * Season 13
 * Prunella and the Disappointing Ending 130502
 * Prunella and the Haunted Locker 130802
 * Season 15
 * Fifteen 1501
 * Buster the Lounge Lizard 150402
 * Season 20
 * The Hallway Minotaur 200701

Trivia

 * Mr. Haney is seen walking past the library with a dog on a leash pulling him in D.W.'s Imaginary Friend.
 * In "The Boy with His Head in the Clouds", he is revealed to have dyslexia.
 * In the early books before the cartoon, Mr. Haney was known simply as "The Principal", and he wasn't given a name until the book Arthur Meets the President and the cartoon show.
 * Mr. Haney is only ever referred to as "Sir" by his students in "Arthur vs. the Piano".
 * As revealed in "D.W. Tricks the Tooth Fairy", Mr. Haney is single.
 * Francis Haney gets hurt in "Arthur vs. the Piano".
 * In the early season of Arthur, certain items are shown that look like him. In Arthur's Birthday we see a piñata that looks like Mr. Haney. In Arthur Bounces Back, when he presses a button on a toy robot, it changed into Mr. Haney.
 * According to wetalearningmedia, Marc Brown tells the viewers at home that Arthur's principal, Mr. Haney was HIS principal at Lakewood Elementary. That's who he is based on.
 * Mr. Haney is revealed to be one of Mrs. Read's customers in Arthur's Mystery Envelope.
 * Mr. Haney's first name was Herbert before season 11.
 * After Mr. Haney's voice actor passed away in 2014, Mr. Haney was effectively written out of the show by having his character travel to Africa in Season 20, with Ms. Tingley assuming the role of school principal on a temporary basis.