Buster Makes the Grade (episode)

"Buster Makes the Grade" is the second part of the seventh episode of season one of the animated children's series "Arthur". It originally aired on October 21st, 1996.

Plot

Buster is lazy and never studies or does his homework. Mr. Ratburn warns him if he doesn't get a B on the test, he will not be able to join his friends in the fourth grade. The episode is about when Buster plays around in class while others is doing their test. Title Card. Mr Ratburn giving out the test and some of them did bad and Buster did badly and went to Mr Haney to talk with Buster and his mom and Grandmom came to the office and Mr Haney warn Buster if he dont get good grade he get left back in third grade. Later on Arthur tired to study with him and Buster wasn't paying attention to him, then Muffy and Francine tired to help him by divide the chocolate bar that Muffy brought and he also didn't pay attention and Muffy gave Buster a F, then Binky tired to study with him by tying Buster on the tree pole while Binky read to him and Buster fell asleep. Later Buster study hard to pass then the next day Buster pass on the quiz and the class was proud of him.

Trivia

References

• The book Arthur was reading to Buster while sitting by the tree near the baseball park was Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Goofs

• An elementary school would never accept a teenager or anyone older for a student, so it's strange why Buster would have a nightmare about repeating the third grade 33 times and being 41.

• In the scene where Arthur comes over to help Buster with studying, the cup full of school supplies was on Buster's desk for most of the scene; but when Buster stands up from his desk after Arthur told him he barely read a chapter, the cup of supplies is gone.

• When Francine and Muffy teach Buster to divide three candies evenly among three people, they're saying that Buster is wrong, but they're not right, either. Diving twenty into three would be a mixed number: six and two-thirds, but most students don't learn about mixed numbers until they're in at least fifth grade. (Please clarify this statement.)

• Binky roping Buster against a tree would promote health abuse.

• When Buster solves the problem 17 X 17 = 289, it was correct and Francine and Muffy clapped for him; but then he jokes and says it was nothing and then the girls scold at him.

• It's strange why the Brain wouldn't help Buster, for he's very intelligent and loves to help his friends on their schoolwork.

• In Buster's second imagination about getting held back several times, when he goes into the principal's office where Arthur is the headmaster there and then Buster pushes Arthur after being told to go to preschool instead of fourth grade, Arthur's eyes were tiny black dots when his glasses came off; but Arthur's eyes weren't supposed to change until the second season.

• Fourth graders Steve (rabbit) and Billy (bear) are seen coming to the front door to Buster's to offer him to play baseball with them and Buster declines; but Arthur and his friends (except for Binky) aren't friends with the fourth graders except for Prunella.

• When Mr. Ratburn announces to the class that he graded the math tests from last week, Billy is seen in the class where Arthur and his friends are in now; but Billy was in Mr. Ratburn's class the previous school year and should be in the fourth grade class.

Quotes

• [Buster walks into Mr. Haney's office]
• Buster: Mom, Grandma, what are you guys doing, here?
• [Buster's mother Bitzi and his grandmother are in Mr. Haney's office about Buster's poor grades]
• Bitzi: It's nothing to worry about, dear. [sobbing]
• [Buster's grandmother comforts Bitzi]
• Mr. Haney: [takes out a lollipop and a tissue] Really, Mrs. Baxter. It's not as bad as always is serious, very serious, but nothing that a little elbow grease, a lot of elbow grease, can't fix. Sit down, Buster.
• [Mr. Ratburn sets a chair in the middle of the office for Buster]

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• Buster: Mr. Ratburn said I have to get a "B" on the next test or else, (impersonates Mr. Ratburn) "You won't have the pleasure of joining your friends in the fourth grade."

• Francine: What? That's terrible Buster.

• Arthur: How can we possibly go to the fourth grade without you?

• Buster: Well, how am I going to get a "B?" I can barley name all the thirty states of America.

• Muffy: Buster, there are fifty states.

• Buster: See how dumb I am? Oh, it's hopeless!

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• Buster: If we hurry, we can get to the park before the game starts. (He grabs his game gear and is about to head out the window, when Arthur closes it.)

• Arthur: We're not going to the park today, Buster.
• Buster: What?!
• Arthur: Get your books. We're gonna study!

• Buster: Study!?

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• (Arthur and Buster are studying at the park)

• Arthur: Buster, you're not paying attention!

• Buster: Sure I am! He was safe!

• Arthur: Pay attention to the BOOK, Buster!
• Buster: Oh yeah. It's hard to keep putting my eyes on the page.

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• (Buster solves a Math problem on the blackboard. Muffy and Francine clap for him)

• Buster: Thank you! Thank you! It was nothing! (calculator drops) Oops!
• Muffy and Francine: Buster!

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• (At Buster's house, Buster is sleeping)

• Bitzi: Buster, wake up! Your English tutor is there!