Grandma Gertie was the 1920’s version of Helga when she was in school.
Tish was like Helga and Grandma, as she reveals in "Best Man".
This episode reveals that Arnold's grandma's first name is "Gertrude" (or "Gertie" for short).
The map that Mr. Simmons pulls for the History class show five territories: Oregon Country, Spanish Territory, Louisiana Purchase, British Territory and United States.
When Phoebe mentions her favorite Shoshone is Sacagawea, pronouncing the name "Suh-KAH-gah-way-uh" Gerald says, "I could have sworn it was Sacagawea," pronouncing it Sack-uh-joo-WEE-uh. This could be a call back to the episodePartners where Don Reynolds pronounces it "Sack-uh-joo-WEE-uh" when reading Gerald lyrics he wrote.
The groups for the History diorama projects are set as follows:
Arnold, Gerald, Helga and Phoebe
Rhonda, Nadine, Sheena and Brainy
Curly, Stinky, Iggy and Harold
In the scene where Helga is seen using the classroom's pencil sharpener, as she looks back at Arnold, another Helga appears sitting in the background.
At the second day in the diorama projects, the board reads "Lewis and Clark", "Sacagawea" and "1803".
Continuity[]
In the black and white flashback/photo of Phil's class, you can see a girl standing next to him who looks like an early version of young Mitzi from "Grandpa's Sister"; the same dress, the same facial features as Phil, but curly hair instead of the spiky hair she has in Grandpa's Sister. This is possibly just a coincidence, but the dress looks identical.
Due to Helga getting Arnold in trouble for what she did in the end, this episode gives out a bad moral showing it is okay to get away with your bad actions, which got repeated in the most hated season 6 Thomas & Friends episode "Middle Engine".
Morals[]
"Violence is never the answer"
Grandma herself delivers this line as a warning to Arnold after he talks about Helga behavior
Never let mean people get the best of you and/or sink to their level, ignore them.
Even though Arnold could justify his actions on the basis that Helga started it all, or that she didn't get punished as he did, he still did apologize for his actions and offered peace at the end.
