Actually, I agree with Calvin, here. Public education should be mandatory only until eighth grade, and then—if a student wants to continue to high school or attend a trade school—it should be at their parents’ expense, not the taxpayers’. And if a student does not wish a secondary education, then he/she will have to work to help support the families. I believe that’s the way it was in the early years of this country’s history.
I learned languages in highschool. That took me where I am today. True, I never really learned French until the 90s and satellite TV. If Miterrand did one good thing it was make subtitles available for all TV films and series. Sadly I learned the hard way that if you buy a French language film on DVD there are no French subtitles for the hearing impaired, which seems odd to me.
I knew a family that lived on welfare, none went to school and quit when it was legal to. The 2nd to youngest one I met and proudly proclaimed he got his GED, joined the Army and did quite well, the youngest still lives in the dump and gets welfare for his many kids
Delusional that he can make it to grade 8. English had been accepted as a second language while we were an economic power. Traveling in France, Spain and Portugal last year I found that merchants almost always knew English. I fear that may not be true in the future.
Yesterday, someone said that Hobbes was clearly only present in Calvin’s imagination. I replied that we sometimes see Hobbes still with Calvin at the bus stop when Susie joins him there but we see him as the doll that Susie and other characters see him as. Today, Susie has joined Calvin but there is no sign of Hobbes. Either Calvin really was imagining Hobbes being present as in yesterday’s strip or Hobbes went back inside the house before Susie came.
I’m wondering why he picked 8th grade? You’re only about 14 years old at that time…not old enough to drive, not old enough to find a job and earn money to be on your own. I think the only thing that he’ll find that happens at that age is he’ll really begin to start liking girls….much to his consternation!
Calvin might end up one of those disaffected folks who dissed schooling, dropped out as soon as possible, took a menial job and blames the rest of the world, especially Democratic politicians, for his life stinking. While it is undeniably true that the system is unfair, it is also true that you get don’t back if you don’t put in.
Dad left grade school after 8th grade to learn a trade. Mom went thru Normal school to become a teacher. All of the four children went to school beyond high school.
There’s a chatter with Calvin’s attitude toward language in Dickens’ LITTLE DORRIT. He’s essentially one of the good guys- loyal and generous, and retired with a large home and loads of money, but he has some blind spots too. He’s one of those who thinks that the proper approach when dealing with foreign speakers is to simply speak English more loudly.
looks like Calvin did take some of his dad’s conservative lectures to heart after all…also has this comic ever been featured on “accidental racism” or something like that?
Calvin’s attitude reminds me of the time that I whined to one of my grammar school teachers, “I have to stay in school until I’m 18!” She replied, “Consider me, Carl. I have to stay here until I’m 65!”
Well Calvin is clearly being a tad unreasonable here. But while I normally have a lot of sympathy for Susie, in the first panel I’m not too fond of her either. People who are that perky that early in the morning are never my favorites, and even less so if it’s the first day back to the grind after a nice long stretch of leisure time.
I enjoyed school. I lived mostly in a 40-foot-house trailer, which moved every 18 months, with my parents and three brothers. School was where they kept all the interesting books and, in those days, I had plenty of elbow room. Today, I still buy interesting pens; however, I rarely use them, anymore.
My grandmother was forced to stop school when she finished eighth grade. Her father wanted her to stay home and care for her many younger siblings. So she moved out of state and got a factory job.
“You should maybe check the chemical content of your breakfast cereal.” That’s a good line to use on plenty of adults as well! Much better than the crude and overused line, “Who peed in your Cheerios?”
I have to say I’m not sure if I should laugh or cry in regards to the comment left by an earlier commenter. The comment about the current administration letting in millions of illegals seems interesting to say the least. Seeing as how Trump keeps harping on the fact that Biden and Harris have had 3 and a half years to fix it. Does that mean that he is saying that when he left office, the immigration problem was a mess and he didn’t fix it? Seems very hypocritical of him to blame others for the mess he admits he left when he left office.
Since this strip, they have added foreign languages to some grade schools’ curricula. Though there is some doubt it really is worth it at any level for everyone who studies them.
I would suggest that once they can drive and have a car, they should be able to drop out, they can navigate themselves and earn money to buy things, plus they’d have (depending on job) a few years to stay with their parents to save up, that sounds pretty good
dadthedawg Premium Member 3 months ago
Sounds like Calvin’s speaking a foreign language…..
codycab 3 months ago
The only language Calvin wants learn is foul language.
The Calvinosaurus That Calvin Wanted To Discover 3 months ago
Don’t worry Calvin, it’s the same 1st grade curriculum you’ve had for years now.
Baarorso 3 months ago
Suzie is Bill Watterson’s answer to The Big Bang Theory’s Sheldon Cooper – a know it all and a brianiac.;-D
snsurone76 3 months ago
Actually, I agree with Calvin, here. Public education should be mandatory only until eighth grade, and then—if a student wants to continue to high school or attend a trade school—it should be at their parents’ expense, not the taxpayers’. And if a student does not wish a secondary education, then he/she will have to work to help support the families. I believe that’s the way it was in the early years of this country’s history.
hariseldon59 3 months ago
Those Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs are no doubt loaded with chemicals.
SHIVA 3 months ago
Wait until he’s introduced to algebra and geometry!!!
Bilan 3 months ago
They can make me go until grade eight …
I’ll take the bet that he doesn’t even make it that far.
orinoco womble 3 months ago
I learned languages in highschool. That took me where I am today. True, I never really learned French until the 90s and satellite TV. If Miterrand did one good thing it was make subtitles available for all TV films and series. Sadly I learned the hard way that if you buy a French language film on DVD there are no French subtitles for the hearing impaired, which seems odd to me.
enigmamz 3 months ago
Que? (I can’t find my notes on how to make a Spanish question mark (the upside-down one), so this will have to do.
The dude from FL Premium Member 3 months ago
I knew a family that lived on welfare, none went to school and quit when it was legal to. The 2nd to youngest one I met and proudly proclaimed he got his GED, joined the Army and did quite well, the youngest still lives in the dump and gets welfare for his many kids
jmworacle 3 months ago
Well Calvin, repeat this phrase: “Would you like to supersize your meal?”
Jayalexander 3 months ago
Delusional that he can make it to grade 8. English had been accepted as a second language while we were an economic power. Traveling in France, Spain and Portugal last year I found that merchants almost always knew English. I fear that may not be true in the future.
Reds Kevin 3 months ago
What till he learns where his numbers come from.
markkahler52 3 months ago
Go for the GED, then? I would’ve…
Calvinist1966 3 months ago
Yesterday, someone said that Hobbes was clearly only present in Calvin’s imagination. I replied that we sometimes see Hobbes still with Calvin at the bus stop when Susie joins him there but we see him as the doll that Susie and other characters see him as. Today, Susie has joined Calvin but there is no sign of Hobbes. Either Calvin really was imagining Hobbes being present as in yesterday’s strip or Hobbes went back inside the house before Susie came.
nsr60 3 months ago
Grade eight? Or age sixteen, whichever comes first.
bignatefantic2.0 3 months ago
Calvin’s gonna have a hard time finding a job with an 8th grade education
MS72 3 months ago
Talk Mom and Dad into home schooling!
colddonkey 3 months ago
Eight grade only? I wasn’t aware that Calvin was Amish.
Superhawk 3 months ago
By the time Calvin reaches eighth grade, he will be too old to attend high school.
pixiekitten Premium Member 3 months ago
I was always Susie in this first panel. I loved getting new books, notebooks, school supplies, etc. :)
BJDucer 3 months ago
I’m wondering why he picked 8th grade? You’re only about 14 years old at that time…not old enough to drive, not old enough to find a job and earn money to be on your own. I think the only thing that he’ll find that happens at that age is he’ll really begin to start liking girls….much to his consternation!
gantech 3 months ago
He gets more Trump-like every day…
Watchdog 3 months ago
SquidGamerGal 3 months ago
¡La escuela puede ser divertida!
bbenoit 3 months ago
Calvin might end up one of those disaffected folks who dissed schooling, dropped out as soon as possible, took a menial job and blames the rest of the world, especially Democratic politicians, for his life stinking. While it is undeniably true that the system is unfair, it is also true that you get don’t back if you don’t put in.
rockyridge1977 3 months ago
Very expressive…..don’t you think?
Gent 3 months ago
Excited about going to school? She gots to be kidding me. Ain’t nobody is excited to goes to steenky school.
sandpiper 3 months ago
Cal’s has a very vivid imagination, but sometimes shows very little ability to deal with the ‘real’ world.
baskate_2000 3 months ago
Susie, you are so right!
Count Olaf Premium Member 3 months ago
Wow! If Our Be❤️ed Count had said that there would be more red flags than May Day in Moscow, boy howdy.
eced52 3 months ago
Not the nineteenth century, Calvin.
notjimothy 3 months ago
Dad left grade school after 8th grade to learn a trade. Mom went thru Normal school to become a teacher. All of the four children went to school beyond high school.
LKrueger41 3 months ago
Thirty years ago, Susie opened RGK Jr.’s eyes to the problems he continues to fight to this day.
Thomas Scott Roberts creator 3 months ago
There’s a chatter with Calvin’s attitude toward language in Dickens’ LITTLE DORRIT. He’s essentially one of the good guys- loyal and generous, and retired with a large home and loads of money, but he has some blind spots too. He’s one of those who thinks that the proper approach when dealing with foreign speakers is to simply speak English more loudly.
rshive 3 months ago
Calvin’s bad days seem to last forever.
smsrt 3 months ago
That’s it, Jethro. You tell ’em!
yangeldf 3 months ago
looks like Calvin did take some of his dad’s conservative lectures to heart after all…also has this comic ever been featured on “accidental racism” or something like that?
Carl Rennhack Premium Member 3 months ago
Calvin’s attitude reminds me of the time that I whined to one of my grammar school teachers, “I have to stay in school until I’m 18!” She replied, “Consider me, Carl. I have to stay here until I’m 65!”
mindjob 3 months ago
All I remember from grade school French is la garçon, la mason and la petite fe
FireComic's 3 months ago
yo, clavin English or Spanish?
farnhazenbrep 3 months ago
Susie Derkins is my favorite character, even though I love Calvin and Hobbes. I knew a girl like her when I was in elementary school.
John Jorgensen 3 months ago
Well Calvin is clearly being a tad unreasonable here. But while I normally have a lot of sympathy for Susie, in the first panel I’m not too fond of her either. People who are that perky that early in the morning are never my favorites, and even less so if it’s the first day back to the grind after a nice long stretch of leisure time.
SofaKing Premium Member 3 months ago
Calvin grew up to be a Trumper.
kathleenhicks62 3 months ago
Where is Hobbes? I agree with Calvin basically. English/American!
mistercatworks 3 months ago
I enjoyed school. I lived mostly in a 40-foot-house trailer, which moved every 18 months, with my parents and three brothers. School was where they kept all the interesting books and, in those days, I had plenty of elbow room. Today, I still buy interesting pens; however, I rarely use them, anymore.
hagarthehorrible 3 months ago
Both the kids show the stark contrast which is prevalent between school lovers and haters on the occasion of school opening.
wiley207 3 months ago
Go until grade eight? Does Calvin go to a K-8 school or something? Because he’d still need to go to high school after that.
Doctor Go 3 months ago
Yup, Calvin still tracks…
Glib Sporgen 3 months ago
“Grade eight”. Mr. Watterson are you Canadian?
jbarnes 3 months ago
My grandmother was forced to stop school when she finished eighth grade. Her father wanted her to stay home and care for her many younger siblings. So she moved out of state and got a factory job.
JoeMartinFan Premium Member 3 months ago
“You should maybe check the chemical content of your breakfast cereal.” That’s a good line to use on plenty of adults as well! Much better than the crude and overused line, “Who peed in your Cheerios?”
royburcham 3 months ago
I have to say I’m not sure if I should laugh or cry in regards to the comment left by an earlier commenter. The comment about the current administration letting in millions of illegals seems interesting to say the least. Seeing as how Trump keeps harping on the fact that Biden and Harris have had 3 and a half years to fix it. Does that mean that he is saying that when he left office, the immigration problem was a mess and he didn’t fix it? Seems very hypocritical of him to blame others for the mess he admits he left when he left office.
KennethPrice2 3 months ago
I knew it. Calvin is a republican.
Otis Rufus Driftwood 3 months ago
Since this strip, they have added foreign languages to some grade schools’ curricula. Though there is some doubt it really is worth it at any level for everyone who studies them.
Gamerkillss 3 months ago
I would suggest that once they can drive and have a car, they should be able to drop out, they can navigate themselves and earn money to buy things, plus they’d have (depending on job) a few years to stay with their parents to save up, that sounds pretty good
hagarthehorrible 3 months ago
209 comments till now and counting. This makes the strip cult-like.
BWR 3 months ago
Schools should be publicly FUNDED, but privately RUN. Let schools compete for student dollars.