10x01 - Mister Rogers Talks with Parents About School

[bunniefuu]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-[SINGING] It's a beautiful
day in this neighborhood,

a beautiful day for a neighbor.

Would you be mine?

Could you be mine?

It's a neighborly day
in this beautywood,

a neighborly day for a beauty.

Would you be mine?

Could you be mine?

I have always wanted to have
a neighbor just like you.

I've always wanted to live
in a neighborhood with you.

So let's make the most
of this beautiful day.

Since we're together, we might
as well say, would you be mine?

Could you be mine?

Won't you be my neighbor?

Won't you please, won't
you please, please

won't you be my neighbor?

Hi, neighbor.

I'm glad to be with you.

You know those model
cars that we sometimes

use at the beginning and
end of our TV visits?

Well, I thought I'd
bring some with me today.

So many people have
asked me about them.

Here's a little one.

It's sort of a
little station wagon.

But look at this one.

This is a model school bus.

I wanted you to see
that school bus today.

I have a model house and a
model school in the kitchen.

So let's just take
them out there.

The fish.

This is a little
play school, and this

is a little play house.

You know, a car has wheels,
and so does a school bus.

This school bus has
places for people to sit,

and a place for the driver
to sit with a steering wheel,

and so does a car.

And both things take people
places and bring them back

to places.

And the school has rooms.

And it has a bathroom.

And it has a kitchen.

Another school room there.

Just like houses have
rooms, bathrooms, kitchens.

Some of our young
friends are going

to be starting school for
the first time this year,

and that's why I wanted to have
this school and this school bus

to show you.

Going to school is like
discovering a whole new place.

In fact, each time
you go back, you

have the chance of discovering
something else-- something

you didn't know before.

We have a real school
in our neighborhood,

and I know the
kindergarten teacher there.

Her named is Mrs.
Hartmann, and she told me

that I could bring you
over there to see it.

So I'll just call her to see
if this is a good time to come.

May I speak with Mrs.
Hartmann, please?

She's been teaching
kindergarten a good many years.

So she knows a lot about--
Hello, Mrs. Hartmann?

It's Fred Rogers.

Yes, I wondered if this
might be a good time

to come to see the kindergarten.

Oh, well, the first grade we
can save for another time.

Very good.

Thanks.

We'll be over in
just a little bit.

All right.

Thank you very much.

Bye-bye.

She said this was a
good time to come.

So let's just go over to
the neighborhood school.

And I can show you more
about kindergarten.

Come along.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Well, this is the
neighborhood school,

so we might as well
just go right in.

MRS. HARTMANN
[OFFSCREEN]: I'm so

glad you could come to
see our kindergarten.

-Well, thank you for showing us.

-Oh, you're quite welcome.

And Tracy, we're
certainly looking forward

to seeing you soon.

-Bye.

-Bye-bye.

-Bye.

[DOOR HINGES CREAKING]

-Hi, Mrs. Hartmann.

-Well, hello, Mr. Rogers.

How are you?

-Good.

Thanks for agreeing to
show us the kindergarten.

Oh, I'm so glad you could come.

I'm sorry you can't go
to first grade today,

but they're having
a meeting in there.

So maybe tomorrow.

-Sure, we'll do that tomorrow.

-All right.

-Hey, this is a
beautiful school.

-Isn't it pretty?

-We're very proud of it.

-You must be.

It's fairly new, isn't it?

-Yes, it's just seven years old.

MR. ROGERS [OFFSCREEN]:
Boy, is this big.

MRS. HARTMANN [OFFSCREEN]:
Yes, it is big.

But after a while, when
it fills up with children

and they get used to
it, it doesn't really

seem that big at all.

It's more like
another home for them.

This is where the
boys and girls hang

their jackets and their coats.

In the winter, they put
their boots down there.

MR. ROGERS [OFFSCREEN]:
It's like a closet.

MRS. HARTMANN [OFFSCREEN]:
It is a closet,

just like they have at home.

-There's lots like at home.

MRS. HARTMANN [OFFSCREEN]:
And here we have kindergarten.

MR. ROGERS [OFFSCREEN]: Oh,
this is what I want to see.

What a colorful room.

MRS. HARTMANN [OFFSCREEN]:
Isn't this nice?

MR. ROGERS [OFFSCREEN]:
There's so much

to see all at once,
Mrs. Hartmann.

MRS. HARTMANN [OFFSCREEN]:
Yes, there is.

-A little chair.

MRS. HARTMANN [OFFSCREEN]:
And little tables.

Everything's just the
right size for the boys

and girls that come here.

-There's a big
rocking chair there.

MRS. HARTMANN [OFFSCREEN]:
That's my chair.

Would you like to try it?

MR. ROGERS [OFFSCREEN]: Sure.

I'd be glad to
sit in your chair.

That's a nice pillow.

MRS. HARTMANN [OFFSCREEN]: Yes.

My mother made that
just for kindergarten.

-She did?

It's soft.

MRS. HARTMANN [OFFSCREEN]: This
is where I read the stories

and tell stories to
the boys and girls.

-And what do they do,
just sit all around here?

MRS. HARTMANN [OFFSCREEN]:
They sit all around,

either on their rocking
chairs or on the floor.

-Lots of books.

MRS. HARTMANN [OFFSCREEN]:
Oh, there's many, many books.

-Here's one about wheels.

MRS. HARTMANN [OFFSCREEN]:
That's one of the favorites.

-70 things that move on wheels.

MRS. HARTMANN
[OFFSCREEN]: Did you

realize there were that
many things on wheels?

-No, I really didn't.

Lots to learn.

Mrs. Hartmann, when the
children come at first,

are they always
excited and happy?

-Well, most of them are, but I'm
afraid they're not all happy.

Some of them are rather sad.

-Do they

MRS. HARTMANN [OFFSCREEN]:
Some of them do.

-And what do you do
when the children cry?

Well, I try to
comfort them, just

like I comforted
my own little girl

when she cried her
first day of school.

MR. ROGERS
[OFFSCREEN]: So you're

not only a teacher,
but a mother?

-Oh, yes.

I've got four children.

MR. ROGERS [OFFSCREEN]: Do
the children in your class

ever call you "mother"?

Yes, they do.

They call me "grandmother,"
too, sometimes.

MR. ROGERS [OFFSCREEN]:
Well, they're

mighty fortunate to have
you as their teacher.

-Well, thank you.

I enjoy teaching.

There's just so many things
to do, to look at, to say,

and to learn, just like
this block I'm sitting on.

-Is that something that
you use for teaching?

-Yes.

That's a learning block.

Would you like to put
it up on the table?

-Sure.

Oh, that's a zipper there.

MRS. HARTMANN
[OFFSCREEN]: That's right.

They learn how to zip.

They all have coats and
jackets that have zippers,

but most of them don't know
how to use that zipper.

And that helps them.

MR. ROGERS [OFFSCREEN]:
I use zippers a lot.

MRS. HARTMANN
[OFFSCREEN]: Yes, I know.

MR. ROGERS [OFFSCREEN]: And
this for tying, I guess.

MRS. HARTMANN
[OFFSCREEN]: Right.

All the boys and girls have
shoes at some time or another

that have shoelaces,
but they don't usually

know how to tie them.

So this helps them.

MR. ROGERS
[OFFSCREEN]: It took me

a long time to learn how to tie.

MRS. HARTMANN
[OFFSCREEN]: Do you

know the little girl
and her mother that

were leaving the building
just as you came in?

-I did see.

MRS. HARTMANN [OFFSCREEN]:
Well, that little girl's

coming to school in a
few days, and her mother

said she had just bought
her a new pair of shoes.

But they were slip ons, because
she didn't know how to buckle.

That's what this is for.
MR. ROGERS [OFFSCREEN]: I see.

MRS. HARTMANN
[OFFSCREEN]: And I'm

going to make sure she
knows how to buckle

before she leaves kindergarten.

MR. ROGERS [OFFSCREEN]:
So buckling

is something else that
you learn in kindergarten.

MRS. HARTMANN
[OFFSCREEN]: Oh, yes.

One of the many things.

MR. ROGERS [OFFSCREEN]:
I like these things.

They turn, and then
you pull it out.

So much to know.

What about these?

MRS. HARTMANN [OFFSCREEN]:
Well, these are name tags.

The boys and girls wear
these around their neck

for the first few
weeks of school.

And then I can learn their name.

They learn my name quickly,
because there's only one of me,

but there's many of them.

MR. ROGERS [OFFSCREEN]: And
you have construction paper?

MRS. HARTMANN [OFFSCREEN]:
And crayons and puzzles.

We have many things
to do in kindergarten.

MR. ROGERS [OFFSCREEN]: Puzzles.

I used to like to do puzzles
when I came to school.

MRS. HARTMANN
[OFFSCREEN]: They're fun.

Do you know what
this is back here?

MR. ROGERS [OFFSCREEN]: It
looks like a little kitchen.

MRS. HARTMANN [OFFSCREEN]:
Well, that's exactly what it is.

It's our housekeeping area.

We've got a cupboard, and
a sink, and a refrigerator,

and a stove, just like the
boys and girls have at home.

I think it makes them feel
that they are more at home.

They have things
like mother's here.

-So that they can
play in this area.

-Yes.

They can play here and
make believe and pretend

they're at home.

-Do you have bathrooms?

-Oh, we certainly do.

-I'd like to see them.

-Right over here.

MR. ROGERS [OFFSCREEN]:
It seems like a long way

to the bathroom, Mrs Hartmann.

MRS. HARTMANN
[OFFSCREEN]: Yes, it is.

MR. ROGERS [OFFSCREEN]:
Do the children ever run?

MRS. HARTMANN
[OFFSCREEN]: Sometimes.

Here's the boys' room.

MRS. HARTMANN
[OFFSCREEN]: You can

see where we have Raggedy Andy.

That's the boys' room.

They don't know how to read yet,
so we put Raggedy Andy there

for the boys.

MR. ROGERS [OFFSCREEN]:
Could we look in here?

MRS. HARTMANN [OFFSCREEN]: Sure.
Go right ahead.

[KNOCKS ON DOOR]

MR. ROGERS [OFFSCREEN]:
Just the right size.

A toilet and a sink.

MRS. HARTMANN [OFFSCREEN]: Yes.

Everything here is
just the right size

for the boys and
girls who come here.

MR. ROGERS [OFFSCREEN]:
Could we see the girls' room?

MRS. HARTMANN [OFFSCREEN]:
It's right here

where we have Raggedy Ann.

-Raggedy Ann.

[KNOCKS ON DOOR]

MR. ROGERS
[OFFSCREEN]: It's just

like the boys' room, isn't it?

MRS. HARTMANN [OFFSCREEN]: Yes.

And then there are
other bathrooms

in the hall for the
older boys and girls.

-I see.

Well, it's mighty important
to see all these things.

-Yes, it is.

-What's this?

-Oh, this is our special cake.

Every boy and girl
has a birthday,

and on their special day
they wear a crown all day.

And then at milk time, we
light the candles and sing--

MR. ROGERS [OFFSCREEN]:
Oh, this isn't real.

MRS. HARTMANN
[OFFSCREEN]: Oh, no.

This is make-believe.

MR. ROGERS [OFFSCREEN]: But
you light the candles for them?

MRS. HARTMANN [OFFSCREEN]:
And sing Happy Birthday.

We do this at their snack time.

-So you do have things
to eat in kindergarten.

-Oh, yes.

We have snacks.

And on their special day,
sometimes the mothers

bring something in for them.

But we make things
also in the cafeteria.

Would you like to
go and see that?

-I'd like to.
-All right.

Right this way.

-I want to see as much as
I can here in this school.

-And this is our
lunchroom, where

the older boys and
girls eat their lunches.

-Looks dark in here.

-Well, it is, because
school hasn't opened yet,

and the cafeteria workers
aren't here yet either.

-I see.

-This is the kitchen.

-Oh, this is beautiful.

MRS. HARTMANN
[OFFSCREEN]: It is nice

MR. ROGERS [OFFSCREEN]:
Is that a stove there?

MRS. HARTMANN
[OFFSCREEN]: That's

the stove, cabinets, sinks,
parts and pans, just like home.

And then we have
the refrigerator.

-Well, that's a
fancy refrigerator.

-It's a nice big
one to hold lots

of things, lots of
good things to eat.

We have fruit and milk,
fruit juice in there.

I bet you drink a lot of
milk in this school, huh?

-Yes, we certainly
do, because there's

a lot of hungry boys and girls
and thirsty boys and girls.

-Oranges and bananas.

-For the snacks.

-Well, I've never seen a
refrigerator like that.

-Well, it's a little different.

Each school has a different
cafeteria, different things

about it, just like every
home's a little bit different.

-But every school has
teachers who care.

-Yes, we certainly do.

MR. ROGERS
[OFFSCREEN]: Well, I'm

glad to have been
able to see this.

MRS. HARTMANN
[OFFSCREEN]: Well, we're

certainly glad you could too.

-There's a lot to see in
a big building like this.

-Well, I think you've
seen everything

that a kindergarten
child would see.

-I hope I can come back tomorrow
and see the first grade then.

-Well, I hope you
will come back,

and I'll introduce you to
the first grade teacher.

I'll meet you right here.

-Good.

Thanks, Mrs. Hartmann.

-Thank you very much for coming.

-See you tomorrow.

-Bye, now.

-Goodbye.

Looks like everybody's
getting ready for school.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-If you know anybody who's
going to kindergarten,

you can tell them
about what we just saw.

And tomorrow we'll
go back and see

what the first grade is like.

Right now, I'd like to
have some make believe.

Look at the trolley.

Hey, trolley.

[CHIME]

[WHISTLE]

[CHIME]

-Why don't we just pretend that
the trolley is a school bus?

That would be good.

In fact, I made these
out of cardboard.

See?

Just some windows and an
engine up in the front.

I made two of them so
that we could put them

on either side of the trolley
with a string in between.

You could change some of
your toys like that, too.

Just put a cover
on them like that.

OK, now, if there's a school
bus in the Neighborhood of Make

Believe, what do
you think the people

there will want to build?

[WHISTLE]

-Neighborhood of Make Believe.

[CHIME]

[WHISTLE]

-And the king went
on many adventures

because he liked to
do many, many things.

-I like stories about kings.

-You'll be one
yourself some day.

[WHISTLE AND CHIMES]

-Why, Trolley--

[WHISTLE]

-Is that you?

[WHISTLES AND CHIMES]

-Trolley's pretending
to be a school bus.

-Oh, that's a good
costume, Trolley.

-I want Mom and Dad to see this.

-You want to go get them?

-Sure.

Please wait here, Trolley.

[WHISTLES AND CHIMES]

-Hi, Handyman Negri.

-Hi, Lady Aberlin.

Say, what's this on
the trolley track?

-Take a good look.

-It looks like the trolley
dressed up like a school bus.

-Prince Tuesday
liked it so much he

went to get his dad and mother.

[FANFARE]

-And here they come.

-Ladies and gentlemen,
Trolley-- school bus.

-See what I mean, Dad?

-You're absolutely right, son.

Who authorized this to
run on the trolley track?

-Oh, Uncle Friday,
it's just the trolley

with a school bus costume on it.

-But if there's a school bus,
there needs to be a school.

-Could we have a school, Daddy?

Could we please?

-That would be great idea!

-And all the children
could go to it.

-You could learn to read
books for yourself, Tuesday.

-Oh, I'd like that.

-I remember my
school in Westwood.

We learned so many
wonderful things.

-Are you ready for a
commission, Lady Aberlin

and Handyman Negri?

-Of course, Your Majesty.

-I hereby commission you both
to build an appropriate school

for the children
of this vicinity.

-Oh, that's a great
idea, Your Majesty.

-In three days.

[MUSICAL STING]

-In three days?

Build a whole school
in three days?

-That's the commission.

-But we don't even
know where to build it.

-You may build it any
place, just so long

as it's the best place.

-Well, we'd better get moving.

-My part is over.

I shall look for
the results, then.

Farewell.

-Thanks, Dad!

-You're welcome, son.

I trust that you will be
a credit to your line.

Farewell.

LADY ABERLIN [OFFSCREEN]:
Farewell, Uncle Friday.

-Oh, my.

There's lots to be done.

-In three days!

-Well, the first thing is to
find a place for the school.

-Yes, well you can call us
if we can be of help to you.

-Oh, we will, Aunt
Sara, we will.

-And I'll get ready
for school now.

-Yes.

I want to tell you more
about my school days, son.

-Oh, good, good.

Bye, Lady Aberlin.

-Bye-bye, Tuesday.

-Goodbye, Handyman Negri.

-Bye, Prince Tuesday.

Bye, Aunt Sara.

-Thank you, my dear.

Come along, Prince Tuesday.

Well, Trolley, we
started something.

[CHIMES,_WHISTLES]

-Something good-- in three days.

-Let's check out sites
right around here first.

-Why don't we just interview
anyone we can find at home?

-Good.

I'll go first to
Corny at the factory.

-And I'll go over
to see Lady Elaine.

-And suppose we meet
later by the tree.

-Good idea.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Corny?

Cornflake S. Pecially?

-Why, Lady Aberlin,
you're looking mighty fit.

-Oh, I hope so, Corny.

Handyman Negri and I have to
build a school in three days.

-You want to build it here?

-Well, we don't know where
the best place would be.

-Well, there's lots
to learn in a factory.

I could teach the people
had to make rocking chairs.

That would always come in handy.

-That's true.

My only concern about
having the school

here all the time
is that I just don't

see enough space
for a playground.

-Well, you're right.

A school needs a playground.

I remember my days at school.

I loved playing
in the playground.

Of course, I loved the
rocking chairs, too.

Always have.

-Well, wherever we
have the schooL,

I'm sure that the
teacher will want

you to come sometime and talk
about making rocking chairs.

-Oh, that will be just fine.

I'm always glad to pass the
rocking chair word along.

LADY ELAINE [OFFSCREEN]:
Well, this museum

is certainly the best
place for a school.

After all, look at all the
displays I have inside.

I've got dinosaurs and bones,
and antique telephones,

and bells, and headrests,
and radiator covers.

I mean, what more could you ask?

I even have a Television
studio in here.

-Well, I'm just concerned about
the space for the playground.

-Nonsense.

Who needs a playground
anymore at school?

There are too many
important things to learn.

Phooey with play.

-Well, that may be
your idea, Lady Elaine.

-I've got the best ideas of all.

I mean, this will
be the best place--

-OK, well, we'll let you know
where we decide to put it.

-OK, but this is it.

I mean, I think this is--

DR. BILL PLATYPUS: Och,
it's a wonderful idea.

And we'd all be so happy
for Anna to have a school.

-Do you have any suggestions
as to the best place

to have the school?

-Well, maybe some other
place than right around here.

Children often like
to go off to school.

It makes them much
more like they're

going off to work
like their parents do.

-You're a wise person, Dr. Bill.

-Well, I just try my best
to understand children.

Elsie Jean and I are
so pleased with the way

that Ana is growing.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-I think I would like to go
to school if I'm not too shy.

-Where do you think would
be a good place to build it?

-Oh, I guess you need a
lot of space, don't you?

-I think so.

-I'll give it some thought.

-Thanks, Daniel.

-Did you hear about plans
for building a school?

-Meow.

Meow meow meow meow
meow build it, meow?

-Oh, I don't know.

I'm just not sure.

-Hi.

-Oh, hi.

-Did you hear about the
plans for the new school?

-Oh, yeah, but where's
it going to be?

-We're trying to
decide that right now.

-Meow welcome meow meow
meow meow meow house.

-Why, Henrietta, that's
awfully kind of you.

It sure is.

-Oh, hi, Handy.

-Hi, how are you doing?

-Any good ideas?

-Lots of them.

But I think we ought
to try Someplace Else.

-Perfect.

-Someplace Else?

-Meow.

-There's plenty
of room out there

if Harry Elizabeth
Cow and Donkey

Hodie aren't using
it all for the farm.

-You just let us
know if we can help.

I mean, I'll be glad to teach
about Benjamin Franklin.

I know lots of things.

-Meow meow, too.

-Oh, you two are so helpful.

We'll keep you posted.

-Good idea.

-Off to Someplace Else.

-Someplace Else.

-Meow meow meow meow meow
meow wonderful idea, meow.

DONKEY HODIE [OFFSCREEN]:
I just never thought

about that myself.

I mean, you never know what
ideas you'll come up with,

Harriet.

-Well, sometimes you have to.

-Oh, I think it's wonderful.

I mean, do you think anybody
would want to come, though?

-Well, you never
know unless you ask.

I mean, if there's a
school bus, there certainly

should be something--

LADY ABERLIN
[OFFSCREEN]: Hi, Harriet.

HANDYMAN NEGRI [OFFSCREEN: Hi.

-Look who's here!

-What a pleasant surprise.

-I'll say!

I'm really glad you two are
here, because I need your help.

-What for?

-Well, you've seen the trolley
all decked out as a school bus,

haven't you?

LADY ABERLIN [OFFSCREEN]:
Oh, we certainly have.

-Well, I thought if there's
a school bus around here,

we ought to have a school.

HANDYMAN NEGRI [OFFSCREEN:
Guess what, Harriet?

-What, dear?

-King Friday has
already commissioned

Lady Aberlin and me to build
a school anywhere we choose.

HARRIET ELIZABETH
COW [OFFSCREEN]:

Are you being serious?

-Very serious.

-And I think this would be the
best place to have the school.

I mean, plenty of
place for a playground.

Well, if you think
it's all right,

we'll just go tell the king.

-What about that.

Well, it's certainly
fine with me.

-Yes.

Well, um, [CLEARS THROAT]
I'm a teacher, you know.

LADY ABERLIN [OFFSCREEN]:
A real teacher?

-Certified.

-Oh, what a great day.

Let's go tell the others, Handy.

-OK.

Incidentally, we only have
three days to build it.

-Just three days?

-Oh, wow.

-Boy, that's a lot
to do in three days.

-Hey, listen.

Anything's possible in
Someplace Else, Donkey.

DONKEY HODIE [OFFSCREEN]:
That's for sure.

-Where are those workers?

The king needs a report.

Oh, so there you are.

-Yes, Uncle Friday.

We have some very
good news for you.

-Oh, you've decided to
build the school right here

at the castle.

-No, sire.

As a matter of
fact, I think you're

going to be in for quite
a surprise, King Friday.

-Will it be at the factory,
or the museum, or the clock,

or the tree?

-None of those, Uncle Friday.

-None?

-We've decided to build the
school at Someplace Else.

-Someplace Else?

-Yes, sire.

-You mean my son will have to
go Someplace Else to school?

-Well, you said we could build
it any place, King Friday.

-And Someplace Else seemed
like the very best place.

In fact, Harriet Elizabeth
Cow is a real teacher,

and she was going to build
a school there anyway.

And now we can just
all do it together.

-Well, this will have to
take some getting used to.

All this because Trolley got
dressed up as a school bus.

-Yes.

Let's get to work.

-I'll say.

-Someplace Else.

Well, well, well.

-I think we'll just leave this
school bus cover on this week.

Yeah.

I like there to be a school
bus in the Neighborhood of Make

Believe.

It'd be fun to
have a school, too.

OK, Trolley.

You can pretend about
lots of different things

and make up lots of
different stories.

Sure.

About cars, buses,
schools, houses.

Maybe you'd like to think about
the things that are different

and the things that are the same
in schools and homes and buses

and cars.

What about fish?

They're all fish.

They're all different.

Each one is different.

And what about people?

Each one of us is different.

Each one of us is a person.

I like to show you things.

And I like to tell you things.

I guess you know that
that's what school

is-- showing and telling
and learning things.

It is.

I have lots of good
feelings about that, too.

[SINGING] It's such a good
feeling to know you're alive.

It's such a happy feeling.

You're growing inside.

And when you wake
up ready to say,

I think I'll make
a snappy new day,

it's such a good feeling,
a very good feeling,

a feeling you know
that we're friends.

It is a good feeling to
know that we're friends.

And you know I like you
just the way you are.

I'll be back tomorrow.

[MUSIC PLAYING]