Thursday, February 05, 2009

Principal's Office

As everyone knows, I watch a lot of TV. Just look at my avatar, and it's obvious I've been doing this for a while.

You could say I'm somewhat of a TV expert. So, when I find a new show, and give it a thumbs up, make sure you look for it. truTV has a show that is currently among my favorites. It is called the Principal's Office and is on Thursday at 10 p.m. EST. Check your guide for time. It is available at other times, too. Cable channels are like that.

The show is a reality based one, where various high school principals across the country are recorded dealing with their students discipline situations.

As expected, these are mostly funny problems. The sad part is, they are probably pretty typical. While watching the show, I thought about the Spawn's high school years, and I could see her in all these situations. One such episode was a student called into the office for leaving school grounds. Her excuse? It was just to get coffee. The sheer cluelessness of the students is what makes it so entertaining.

Kids had food delivered for lunch, rode bikes or skateboards through the school and engaged in what can only be described as dumbass shenanigans. And, when caught, could only make up lame excuses, or claim ignorance. How would one know it is inappropriate to scooter in the hallways if it isn't posted? That is a typical defense.

Give the show a watch. I'll bet it becomes one of your favorites, too.

http://www.humorbloggers.com/

23 comments:

Unknown said...

In other words, it is just like watching C-Span.

Unknown said...

We watch it every week, and you are right. Most of what the kids do to get in trouble is pretty minor. It is a good show.

ReformingGeek said...

It's sad when adults use the same excuses for their transgressions.

"You didn't tell me that I can't ride my motorcycle across your lawn. There ain't no sign....."

Hum...

Paul Eilers said...

I've taught school in the past, and let me tell ya, some kids, you wonder how they can walk upright and breathe at the same time.

I had a rule in my classroom. Ready?

You cannot ever, ever say, "I didn't know."

I got so TIRED of hearing that lame excuse, I had to make it a rule not to say it!

Unknown said...

That's a unique twist on the whole reality show idea. I recall some of the excuses when I was a kid. They were always creative.

A New Yorker said...

What's more sad is that the show is mostly nostalgia. The stuff that kids do today makes these kids look like a Disney show.

I've heard about kids peeing in the desks in NYC. :(

Kirsten said...

I'm so checking that show out! Just up my ally!

Donnie said...

I love that show! That coach/principal is badass, but can you believe the attitudes of those punks? They're all complete idiots. If you want to following them after high school graduation, just swing by McDonald's or Wal*Mart. You'll find those nimrods working there.

Petra a.k.a The Wise (*Young*) Mommy said...

haha, I HAVE to check this out. Maybe I should watch it with my children and point out to them all the things they are NOT supposed to do at school. You know, learn from others' mistakes? But I guess I don't want to give them any ideas either...

Da Old Man said...

@ FishHawk: Pretty much

@ Etta: I'm glad you like it.

@ Reforming: I know. Dumbasses never cease to amaze us.

@ Paul: Good idea.

@ Jenn: You can't imagine how creative some get.

@ Lauren: The schools seem to be pretty well run ones.

@ Kirsten: You'll love it

@ Don: He is my favorite. Everybody calls him "Coach."

@ Petra: Your kids are young enough that they can then start doing pranks on a high school level.

Sandee said...

Well, if I had television I might watch it, but we don't have television. Don't miss it one bit either.

Have a great day Crotchety. :)

Jormengrund said...

Crotchety, I probably wouldn't mind the show if it didn't remind me of the crap I deal with day in and day out here at work.

Since the couple of illustrations you gave were dead-on like the management I get to deal with, I don't think I'll want to watch, for the need to be able to unwind and relax at home.

But thanks for the attempt!

Anonymous said...

In defence of teenagers... most of them act like assholes because they're treated like assholes by much bigger assholes (usually high school teachers and principals). They're told to follow stupid rules that would never be asked of an adult and occasionally border on human rights infringement(in my high school, you would be suspended if you were caught wearing all black, or if you wore black nail polish or dressed in any other way that might make you look 'goth'). In many cases they're expected to act like responsible young adults, but treated like children (having to ask for permission to go to the bathroom, for instance - can you even imagine if your boss told your adult self that you had to ASK permission to go to the bathroom?). We're too quick to expect respect from children without SHOWING them what, exactly, respect is... and the only way to do that is to follow the advice we give them and 'treat them how we wish to be treated'.

Instead, we treat them like little animals their entire lives and then they hit university and are "uncaged" and end up act like wild idiots and wasting a year or two of their life learning how to deal with this new-found freedom.

Yeah, I think the show would be frustrating... unless they show both sides of the story.

Anonymous said...

Wow... sorry... I didn't realise that comment was so long. Perhaps I should have made it a post. ;-)

Swirl Girl said...

In my day - we just got busted for smokin' doobie in the C Hall girls room by our principal - Doris " the clitoris" Matheson.

Who says we didn't learn anything? We were only 14 and 15 and knew anatomy!

Patricia Rockwell said...

Well, as a lifelong teacher, I will definitely check this one out. They could certainly make a reality tv show out of any teacher's day.

Chat Blanc said...

any program that shows kids for the dumbass stuff they actually do, instead of being all falsely smarter than their parents like in the fictional shows about teens, I'm all for it! okay, so that sentence probably makes it clear that I should go back and spend more time in English class. :P

Matt said...

The only parts of this show that I've seen are the hilarious clips they show on the Soup. Maybe I'll give it a try.

Davida said...

I gotta check it out.

My newest fav is "True Beauty" on ABC. That show is a ridiculously guilty pleasure.

Davida

Da Old Man said...

@ Sandee: It's almost worth getting a TV just for that.

@ Jormen: It is like my old job, too.

@ Shadow: You need to blog about it. :)
Seriously, there is much validity to what you say.

@ Swirl: True dat

@ Patricia: I think you'd enjoy it.

@ Chat: It was fine

@ Matt: The entire show is Soup worthy

@ Davida: I'll have to check that out

Lin said...

Oh, I've seen that! It's so poorly acted though, which makes it kinda lame.

The Self-Deprechaun said...

I love TV and will dvr this on your rec. I recently ordered the reality tv network that plays all reality tv from past, present and cancelled like temptation island. my wife thinks i'm a perv and yes, i am.

Nicole said...

Man why didn't this show exist when I was in school? I would of been the star for sure. I had so many other important things to do than sitting in a class room. Sometimes I would leave and go shopping at the mall, or take the train to new york to see the tree or sometimes just because I really wanted McDonald's breakfast and of course once you've missed a couple classes you might as well just miss the rest of the day. Those really are legitimate reasons for skipping school.

Unfortunately I did have to go to credit completion every summer because I missed so much school, but thanks to good ol' dad-Crotchety I never missed a day of summer school!