This is one of my favorite episodes of Little House. Mr. Crabapple is a strict teacher and he instills fear into the poor innocent students of the Walnut Grove public school system, unlike the easy going Ms. Beetle. Laura is wrongly accused by the Olesons and as always justice and rightness prevails.
15 Reviews
One of the more memorable early episodes.
TOMASBBloodhound3 September 2008
Warning: Spoilers
This episode frightened me as a child. Mostly because I hated school, and feared that some day I might get stuck with a teacher like Mr. Applewood. In this episode, we see the school board of Walnut Grove decide to replace Miss Beadle since she is having trouble keeping some of the older students in line. It is thought by the board that a male teacher is just what the town needs to keep control over these young farm boys who stroll in late, throw books on the floor, and generally do as they please in the back row. Miss Beadle is replaced by an angry old man named, and I kid you not, Hannibal Applewood. This man is so strict, he'll even give you a failing grade if you turn in a paper with an eraser mark on it! And he is a believer in corporal punishment. While Miss Beadle is never seen doing anything more than making Willie Oleson stand in the corner, Mr. Applewood will smack you on the wrist for doing virtually nothing. His facial expressions range from rage to stone-faced concentration. Never once does the man come close to cracking a smile.
From day one, Laura Ingalls gets off on the wrong foot with this man. First, he catches her whispering in Mary's ear. Then, she is blamed for writing a derogatory note about him. Applewood punishes Laura by hitting her hand with a ruler, and making her do much more work than the others. One thing struck me once she gets home that night. She and Mary both explained how unfair the man was to Ma and Pa. But their parents both initially took the teacher's side! My mother would have been the same way, too! But now.... parents are so freaking over-protective of their kids that they probably would have filed a lawsuit! Anyway, Laura is blamed for virtually everything that goes wrong for Mr. Applewood. She is thought by him to have poured ink into his satchel, and then thrown it across the room or something. (Willie did that.) Finally Laura is expelled! Pa takes her back to school to appeal the next day. Applewood reluctantly agrees to allow her to return to school. She is even allowed to ring the bell! But no sooner does class begin, then Applewood is trying to punish her once again. Luckily, his tirade is so loud that Pa hears it, and comes to the rescue. Had Mr. Applewood been a younger man, Pa probably would have kicked his ass, but instead he just breaks the stick he uses to intimidate the children with over his knee. An emergency meeting is held to determine if they should keep Mr. Applewood. In a scene reminiscent of the Caine Mutiny, Applewood pretty much seals his own fate. Overall, this is a very strong episode. Directed by Victor French, as well. Also look for a young Cooper Huckabee as one of the rowdy students. He of course plays John Travolta's pal in Urban Cowboy a few years after this was made. 9 of 10 stars.
The Hound.
From day one, Laura Ingalls gets off on the wrong foot with this man. First, he catches her whispering in Mary's ear. Then, she is blamed for writing a derogatory note about him. Applewood punishes Laura by hitting her hand with a ruler, and making her do much more work than the others. One thing struck me once she gets home that night. She and Mary both explained how unfair the man was to Ma and Pa. But their parents both initially took the teacher's side! My mother would have been the same way, too! But now.... parents are so freaking over-protective of their kids that they probably would have filed a lawsuit! Anyway, Laura is blamed for virtually everything that goes wrong for Mr. Applewood. She is thought by him to have poured ink into his satchel, and then thrown it across the room or something. (Willie did that.) Finally Laura is expelled! Pa takes her back to school to appeal the next day. Applewood reluctantly agrees to allow her to return to school. She is even allowed to ring the bell! But no sooner does class begin, then Applewood is trying to punish her once again. Luckily, his tirade is so loud that Pa hears it, and comes to the rescue. Had Mr. Applewood been a younger man, Pa probably would have kicked his ass, but instead he just breaks the stick he uses to intimidate the children with over his knee. An emergency meeting is held to determine if they should keep Mr. Applewood. In a scene reminiscent of the Caine Mutiny, Applewood pretty much seals his own fate. Overall, this is a very strong episode. Directed by Victor French, as well. Also look for a young Cooper Huckabee as one of the rowdy students. He of course plays John Travolta's pal in Urban Cowboy a few years after this was made. 9 of 10 stars.
The Hound.
Ambiguous title
gregorycanfield11 November 2021
Referring to this episode's title, who exactly was the "troublemaker"? Laura is perceived as a troublemaker by the new teacher, despite being innocent. The initial trouble was caused by two older male students. The new teacher is, himself, a troublemaker. Richard Basehart is quite unlikeable as the teacher hired to replace Miss Beadle. Mr Applewood immediately singles Laura out, based on circumstansial evidence. Ultimately, this teacher never actually teaches anything, but focuses on his own brand of discipline. However, this discipline is directed at the wrong child, not the punks that originally gave Miss Beadle a hard time. This episode is somewhat frustrating, because nobody really gets what's "coming to them." Charles' charges against Applewood were too little and too late. Applewood should have been fired, not given the choice of resigning. The story pushes the obvious buttons, but the presentation is ultimately unsatisfying.
Memorable Episode
cbest-3481324 January 2021
This is one of the BEST episodes of season 2. At this time, LOTP was gaining momentum in the ratings. Keep in mind, after Season one....the show was doing well and talk of cancellation was on the horizon....however, with a strong season 2.....LOTP rolled along for 8 more years! Thanks to episodes like these....
This episode has some memorable moments....Classic Harriet who will run out Mrs. Beadle. . A school bully who shaves and torments Mrs. Beadle. A washed up school master who to this day scared the H out of me. The show culminates with Charles confronting the schoolmaster and destroying his stick of power. In the end, the students all agree to support the beloved Mrs. B by ganging up against the bully......Mrs. Beadle is back!!!
This episode has some memorable moments....Classic Harriet who will run out Mrs. Beadle. . A school bully who shaves and torments Mrs. Beadle. A washed up school master who to this day scared the H out of me. The show culminates with Charles confronting the schoolmaster and destroying his stick of power. In the end, the students all agree to support the beloved Mrs. B by ganging up against the bully......Mrs. Beadle is back!!!
Response about Ms Beadle home
scoshicat22 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Miss Beadle lives and rents in one of the rooms in the hotel building above the post office. The same building is where Reverend Alden rents whenever he's in Walnut Grove to preach Sundays and Wednesdays.
I think The reason I think they did it is that way is ian affordable housing. Staying at the Hotel is better instead of living with a family like Whisper county and Sweet 16 episodes. Or I think the school board paid Ms Beadle for room and housing In order to have privacy m instead of having to live with a family. But Ms Beadle will have a home of her own once she meets and goes courting and then gets married to Mr. Adam Sims on the episode "here comes the brides."
I think The reason I think they did it is that way is ian affordable housing. Staying at the Hotel is better instead of living with a family like Whisper county and Sweet 16 episodes. Or I think the school board paid Ms Beadle for room and housing In order to have privacy m instead of having to live with a family. But Ms Beadle will have a home of her own once she meets and goes courting and then gets married to Mr. Adam Sims on the episode "here comes the brides."
troublemakers on the prairie.
RedRainbowUnicorn234 October 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This is also a good episode. The big boys after harvest season is coming to school.This means as the title suggest "trouble".Miss beadle is a good teacher but the big boys well as you can say their just big and can cause a lot of trouble. Mrs Oleson talks to Mr Hanson and like she is suggest that they must get a new teacher. On their way to the school house a fight between two of the older boys brakes loose and Harriet And Lars walks in on it. This was the tip of the iceberg. Miss beadle couldn't handle the boys so they are going to have to get a new stricter teacher. The man arrives and from the get go you can see that huge doent have a kind of friendly bone in his body.But it was all done to put some fear in those big boys. The first night Mrs Oleson invites this hooligan to supper and tells a good couple lies about Laura and Nellie joins in(like mother like daughter) So Mr applewood have everything in for Laura form the get go. Poor laura. He just blames her for everything This is a good episode and it shows what happens when a child is under abuse of a teacher. It can really brake and damage a child.
Now continue to episode 18
Now continue to episode 18
Goodbye Miss Beatle?
mitchrmp23 March 2013
When some older boys start to cause trouble, Miss Beatle is replaced by a man that most of the school board thought would do a better job at handling the disciple problem.
The man was a monster and crazy, to say the least. He immediately deemed Laura a problem child and picked on her for everything. I thought Charles should have stepped in much earlier than he did, actually. The man was a monster and should have been fired immediately. Mrs. Olsen lost a lot of my respect in this episode as well (not that she had much of it to begin with). What she did to Laura was incomprehensible! She's done some mean and spiteful things, but that was a little much - even for her!
I won't give away the things that Laura was accused of or the punishments she got, but let me tell you that if my child had been treated like that, the teacher would have been getting what for really fast! Anyways, Charles stepped in and restored peace and order. Everything returned to normal.
As for Mr. Crabapple - or whatever his name was - I hope he never got another teaching job again!
The man was a monster and crazy, to say the least. He immediately deemed Laura a problem child and picked on her for everything. I thought Charles should have stepped in much earlier than he did, actually. The man was a monster and should have been fired immediately. Mrs. Olsen lost a lot of my respect in this episode as well (not that she had much of it to begin with). What she did to Laura was incomprehensible! She's done some mean and spiteful things, but that was a little much - even for her!
I won't give away the things that Laura was accused of or the punishments she got, but let me tell you that if my child had been treated like that, the teacher would have been getting what for really fast! Anyways, Charles stepped in and restored peace and order. Everything returned to normal.
As for Mr. Crabapple - or whatever his name was - I hope he never got another teaching job again!
Where did Miss Beadle live?
LaverneandShirleysucks4 November 2021
Whenever I watch this episode I rack my brains trying to figure out just where Miss. Beadle lived because it seems to be a hotel room. I'm guessing she lived on top of the Walnut Grove Post Office where there was a sign that said "ROOMS" above it.
Charles visits her twice in this episode and she opens the door in the same room with her bed and outside that door appears to be a hallway. I wish they had shown an outside shot so we would have a definitive answer.
Charles says to her that he saw her light on from outside when he visited, and he had just come from the school board meeting so it must be that rooming house over the Post Office.
I know this isn't a review of the episode, but everyone else pretty much covered that in depth so there isn't much more to add. I hope someone can give a definitive answer where Miss. Beadle lived because every time this episode comes around, I spend the whole time wondering if it's over the Post Office.
Charles visits her twice in this episode and she opens the door in the same room with her bed and outside that door appears to be a hallway. I wish they had shown an outside shot so we would have a definitive answer.
Charles says to her that he saw her light on from outside when he visited, and he had just come from the school board meeting so it must be that rooming house over the Post Office.
I know this isn't a review of the episode, but everyone else pretty much covered that in depth so there isn't much more to add. I hope someone can give a definitive answer where Miss. Beadle lived because every time this episode comes around, I spend the whole time wondering if it's over the Post Office.
Hmmm....?
jena_hardin21 July 2021
I love this episode, however, am I the only one who thought about how this was supposed to be in 1860's or 1870's and Charles was alone in a bedroom/cottage of Miss Beadles? I thought at that time that would have been highly inappropriate.
Teacher's Pet.
ExplorerDS67899 June 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Poor Miss Beadle was feeling weary these days. Teaching a mess of students on a weekly basis is no easy task, especially when a few of those students are little hellions. Today, two of said hellions, who are obviously being played by two twenty year olds, teasing Miss Beadle by "accidentally" dropping their books. Willie Oleson wasn't helping matters as he chucked a board eraser and threw spitballs at Laura for no reason. When she throws it back, the twenty-somethings get into a fight, just as Mr. Hanson and Mrs. Oleson came in to view how Miss Beadle handled her class. Hanson was able to break up the fight, but Harriet immediately pointed the finger at Miss Beadle (and you know which finger). Laura immediately claimed responsibility for the fight to protect her teacher. Harriet wanted this to go before the whole school board, claiming Miss Beadle couldn't properly discipline her students... who is Harriet to talk about someone being unable to discipline their children when she can't even punish her own! So at the board meeting that night, Harriet put Miss Beadle on the spot and criticized her ability to handle the bigger boys. Unfortunately, it looks like the fat bitch got her way, because they decided to elect a male teacher to replace Miss Beadle, and they let Charles deliver the news. Well, she wasn't TOO broke up about it. Charles assured her the vote wasn't unanimous. In other words: Charles and Nels voted for her, Harriet and Hanson voted against, and the old cow blackmailed her husband to change his vote. Why hasn't she been herded out of town yet?
Well a few days later, the new teacher arrived: Hannibal Applewood... great name. But don't let that fool you, for Mr. Applewood was the meanest, scariest, sternest school teacher you could imagine. Right away he caught Laura passing notes, or rather it was passed to her by Nellie. Did she tell this to Applewood? For some reason, no. Thus she was whipped with a ruler and forced to stay after school writing on the board. When Charles and Caroline heard, you'd think they would be mad as hell at that lunatic, right? Nope, they sided with him, although in their defense Laura didn't go into too great detail. However, the twenty-something boys hatch a plan to get even with Mr. Wormwood...er, Applewood. He attempts to whip one with a ruler, but finds they're immune, so he takes it out on Laura for no reason...I'm starting not to like this Applewood guy. He seems to hate Laura for NO reason. Want proof? Here it is: Applewood discovers blue ink spilled in his bag. He blamed Laura for it, expelled her and sent her home. Maybe Ma and Pa will believe her now. Yep. So Charles civilly confronted Applewood, who agreed to let Laura come back. So after another "incident", this time by Willie Oleson, Applewood prepared to whip Laura again... why didn't she say it was Willie?? Why is she constantly holding her tongue? Anyway, this time Charles caught him in the act. The school board would be hearing of this and to top it off, Charles broke his whoopin' stick. Ingalls, you da man! So they bring the evil bastard before the board, as he acted completely nonchalant about the situation. That's when Charles presented Applewood with his resume, detailing past teaching jobs he left mysteriously, and he wanted to request references.... wait, why didn't they do this BEFORE hiring the guy? They didn't do a background check FIRST? This guy could have been a mass murderer and they wouldn't have known? Way to run a school board, you highfalutin jackasses. Anyway, Applewood carried on and preached about discipline and how it was sorely lacking, allowing the board to realize just what a psycho he really was. He left quietly soon after, and so Eva Beadle was rightfully reinstated as the school teacher, and things were better from then on, as the twenty-something students learned to behave themselves.
"Troublemaker" may prove to be a very frustrating episode to watch. For one thing, Applewood has no clear motivation other than he likes to discipline children, and he hates Laura right off the bat for no reason. Harriet was biased as hell, against Miss Beadle for lack of discipline when she never shows any herself. It is also unclear why Laura doesn't point out the guilty parties. Why? Why would she want to protect them? Harriet, Nellie and Willie will make you sick, and Mr. Applewood is a monster who only got his position because the school board didn't bother checking his background first, showing negligence on their part. The main point of this episode is irresponsibility, and everybody shows it. Anyway, Richard Basehart gave a very good performance as the world's meanest teacher. Katherine MacGregor as Hateful Harriet, also stellar in her performances. Melissa Gilbert, Michael Landon and particularly Charlotte Stewart all played very well. I wouldn't really recommend this one due to its content, but if you're a die-hard Prairie fan, then you should check it out.
Well a few days later, the new teacher arrived: Hannibal Applewood... great name. But don't let that fool you, for Mr. Applewood was the meanest, scariest, sternest school teacher you could imagine. Right away he caught Laura passing notes, or rather it was passed to her by Nellie. Did she tell this to Applewood? For some reason, no. Thus she was whipped with a ruler and forced to stay after school writing on the board. When Charles and Caroline heard, you'd think they would be mad as hell at that lunatic, right? Nope, they sided with him, although in their defense Laura didn't go into too great detail. However, the twenty-something boys hatch a plan to get even with Mr. Wormwood...er, Applewood. He attempts to whip one with a ruler, but finds they're immune, so he takes it out on Laura for no reason...I'm starting not to like this Applewood guy. He seems to hate Laura for NO reason. Want proof? Here it is: Applewood discovers blue ink spilled in his bag. He blamed Laura for it, expelled her and sent her home. Maybe Ma and Pa will believe her now. Yep. So Charles civilly confronted Applewood, who agreed to let Laura come back. So after another "incident", this time by Willie Oleson, Applewood prepared to whip Laura again... why didn't she say it was Willie?? Why is she constantly holding her tongue? Anyway, this time Charles caught him in the act. The school board would be hearing of this and to top it off, Charles broke his whoopin' stick. Ingalls, you da man! So they bring the evil bastard before the board, as he acted completely nonchalant about the situation. That's when Charles presented Applewood with his resume, detailing past teaching jobs he left mysteriously, and he wanted to request references.... wait, why didn't they do this BEFORE hiring the guy? They didn't do a background check FIRST? This guy could have been a mass murderer and they wouldn't have known? Way to run a school board, you highfalutin jackasses. Anyway, Applewood carried on and preached about discipline and how it was sorely lacking, allowing the board to realize just what a psycho he really was. He left quietly soon after, and so Eva Beadle was rightfully reinstated as the school teacher, and things were better from then on, as the twenty-something students learned to behave themselves.
"Troublemaker" may prove to be a very frustrating episode to watch. For one thing, Applewood has no clear motivation other than he likes to discipline children, and he hates Laura right off the bat for no reason. Harriet was biased as hell, against Miss Beadle for lack of discipline when she never shows any herself. It is also unclear why Laura doesn't point out the guilty parties. Why? Why would she want to protect them? Harriet, Nellie and Willie will make you sick, and Mr. Applewood is a monster who only got his position because the school board didn't bother checking his background first, showing negligence on their part. The main point of this episode is irresponsibility, and everybody shows it. Anyway, Richard Basehart gave a very good performance as the world's meanest teacher. Katherine MacGregor as Hateful Harriet, also stellar in her performances. Melissa Gilbert, Michael Landon and particularly Charlotte Stewart all played very well. I wouldn't really recommend this one due to its content, but if you're a die-hard Prairie fan, then you should check it out.
Stacked deck
lrldoit9 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Miss Beadle is loved but not respected. She never disciplines the children. Back in this time corporal punishment was the norm.
She is replaced with a tough male disciplinarian, however they made him an out of control lunatic, who doesn't know how to teach or make judgments.
Naturally he is forced to resign.
What if the show had a good teacher and disciplinarian? Nellie and Willie would have stopped acting up and the students would all be better off.
Too much of this episode reflects the time and values of when the episode was filmed.
No proper assessment was made when the old teacher was replaced and Laura didn't do anything o help her case and didn't tell her parents what was going on.
She is replaced with a tough male disciplinarian, however they made him an out of control lunatic, who doesn't know how to teach or make judgments.
Naturally he is forced to resign.
What if the show had a good teacher and disciplinarian? Nellie and Willie would have stopped acting up and the students would all be better off.
Too much of this episode reflects the time and values of when the episode was filmed.
No proper assessment was made when the old teacher was replaced and Laura didn't do anything o help her case and didn't tell her parents what was going on.
The Mean Hot Head Of A School Master
emenon12 March 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Miss Eva Beadle is replaced all because of Harriet Oleson. She is the one to blame Laura and calling her a troublemaker. When Hannibal Applewood showed up, it's obvious he had it in for Laura. First Smacked her hand with a ruler, write on the chalkboard, detained her after school and not to mention loaded her down with lots of homework. This man had no business being a teacher. Harriet Oleson had Applewood over for dinner and gossip She told Applewood that Laura was a troublemaker. Nells Oleson tried to shut her up. Finally in the end Applewood resigned and Eva Beadle was reinstated as teacher. Parents need to get behind the teacher. Parents are suppose to be accountable for their kids actions. Hannibal Applewood wasn't the answer.
Frustrating episode
jeffgerman-1587822 March 2023
I still have no idea why Laura would not say who did all the things she got blamed for. Sure, you don't want to be a snitch but if faced with being expelled or corporal punishment, most people would say something. Also, why are there only 4 people on the school board. Does Mr. Hansen even have a kid?? Where was Caroline? Her kid was almost beat up by the school teacher and she is no where to be found. This could have been a much better episode and could have even been a 2 part episode. Lucky for them Miss Beadle was just sitting around doing nothing and didnt get another job. A very frustrating episode.
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