The PTA Disbands

"The PTA Disbands" is the twenty-first episode of the sixth season of the American animated television series, The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on April 16, 1995. In the episode, Bart Simpson manipulates Edna Krabappel into organizing a strike of Springfield Elementary's teachers union to protest Principal Skinner's miserly school spending. The episode was written by Jennifer Crittenden and directed by Swinton O. Scott III, with David Mirkin serving as show-runner. It received favorable mention in books on The Simpsons and media reviews, and was cited by academicians, who analyzed portions of the episode from physics and psychology perspectives. Plot Principal Skinner and Edna Krabappel oversee a school field trip to Fort Springfield. Upon arriving, Skinner learns admission is no longer free due to new management. Unable to afford tickets, he has the students watch a Civil War reenactment by peering over the fort's fence. Outraged by the students' attempt to "learn for free", the actors charge at the teachers and students, most of whom barely manage to escape in Otto's dilapidated bus (although Üter is left behind and assaulted). Later, Bart manipulates Edna into calling a teachers' union strike to protest Skinner's miserly spending. While school is closed, students cope in their own ways: Lisa grows increasingly obsessive in her desire to be graded, Milhouse's work ethic improves after his parents hire a private tutor, and Jimbo finds himself immersed in the intricate plots of his mother's soap operas. Bart revels in his newfound freedom to Marge's annoyance, and continues to manipulate the conflict between Skinner and the teachers' union. When the two sides reach an impasse, Marge demands that the PTA meet to devise a compromise. Skinner insists that even with his penny-pinching, government budget cuts have squeezed the school dry and the only way to increase spending on staff salaries and school supplies is to raise taxes.