Trash Can Day has been a tradition for 3 years by the time of the episode.
This is the second time that Stinky was in a trash can. The first time that he was in a trash can was in “The Little Pink Book” when Helga pushed him into it when she was exhausted from trying to get her diary back from Arnold and slept in his closet after he made a comment about how terrible she looked.
It is currently unknown if Wolfgang and his friends ever got suspended or detention for putting the fourth graders in trash.
Production Notes[]
Wolfgang is voiced by Toran Caudell, who voiced Arnold in the first season only. The reason for that is because Caudell went through puberty, causing him to lose his "Arnold" voice.
Cultural References[]
The episode derives its name from Cornelius Ryan's book The Longest Day, a chronicle of D-Day which was later made it a film.
Trash Can Day is a reference to real-life hazing in school districts in which the senior class do rather humiliating or despicable acts to the younger class (such as Freshman Fridays or Hell Week).
Story Analysis[]
It's revealed that Helga and Phoebe were the only 4th graders that managed to escape getting thrown in a trashcan. Phoebe locked herself in her locker, though how she'd manage to get out is never shown. Helga isn't seen being thrown in a trashcan in the beginning and managed to escape when the 5th graders found the secret hideout and wasn't seen afterwards. As it seems that they only did it to the boys and not any of the girls. Even Stinky manages to escape because he hid in practically empty trashcans. It can also be implied that Park and Robert managed to escape as well since they weren't seen thrown in the trash cans.
Neither the faculty nor the authorities stopped the fifth graders from putting the fourth graders in trash cans.
Wolfgang says the proper way to pick up 4th graders was to grab them under their armpits. However, when he puts Arnold and Gerald in the garbage, he grabs them by the backs of their shirts.
Wolfgang and the 5th grade class throwing younger kids in trash cans is not only mean it is also a form of public humiliation. It is also illegal. Performing humiliating acts like throwing younger generations in trash cans is wrong and inhumane action. It can cause long term mental and psychological problems to the victim.
There is something misleading about this episode. This episode begins with Arnold and his classmates still in school on the first Monday of June. In most schools in the United States, school is already out by the first week of June beginning summer vacation (although some schools do have year-round activity). So, this episode assumes that school in P.S 118 goes to school year-round.
Morals[]
Bullying is wrong and sometimes it’s hard to change a person’s mind and look before you leap.
