History Main / PuttingThePalInPrincipal

* In the ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'' episode "Principal Simmons", Mr. Simmons says the name of the trope when he became the new principal of PS 118, when Principal Wartz resigned. Unfortunately, his attempts to reform aspects of the school for the students' benefits like making the lunches healthier go unappreciated get rejected by said students, and his inability to properly discipline the troublemakers causes the school to descend into chaos.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'' episode "Principal Simmons", Mr. Simmons says the name of the trope when he became the new principal of PS 118, when Principal Wartz resigned.

Compare BadassTeacher, CoolTeacher, and PsychologistTeacher as similar, but lower in the system's hierarchy. Contrast with DeanBitterman and the EvilPrincipal. Put those two characters together, and you can have a CaptainSmoothAndSergeantRough dynamic.

* ''Film/MeanGirls'': Principal Duvall is a very kind and hardworking member of the school faculty, as well as a ReasonableAuthorityFigure. Even when he's understandably appalled by some of the antics pulled by his students, he does try to reason with them and get them to shape up without having to resort to punitive measures. However, when push comes to shove, he ''will'' [[BewareTheNiceOnes break out the baseball bat]] when he has to, such as when the entire female student body starts brawling in the hallway... [[PapaWolf or when he finds out the gym teacher has been screwing around with teenage girls]].

* Professor Albus Dumbledore from ''Literature/HarryPotter'' was the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for the entirety of Harry Potter's stay there. He has had a long and eventful life in the wizarding world, including defeating infamous EvilSorcerer Gellert Grindelwald. He is generally well-liked among the forces of good, his approval rating much higher than Cornelius Fudge when he was running for the position of Minister (despite not running himself), is the only person that Lord Voldemort ever feared and is generally accepted as being the BigGood of the series. As Headmaster, he comes off as a bit of a {{Cloudcuckoolander}} but is all-around a loved and respected member of the staff.

** In "Sweet Seymour Skinner's Badassssss Song", after Skinner is fired, TropeNamer Ned Flanders, interim principal of Springfield Elementary, states this trope as his goal at the assembly that announces his appointment. Unfortunately, he's too much "pal" and not enough "principal" and he lets the school become a lawless hellhole with his hands-off approach (when Bart gets sent to his office a dozen times a day so he can eat the Reese's Pieces that Ned freely hands over to guests, Ned is [[SkewedPriorities more concerned]] about being a good host than the fact Bart does principal's-office-worthy offenses ''a dozen times a day'').

* In ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', Principal Flutie is a bumbling but nice guy. Unfortunately, just after Buffy makes a real connection with him in "The Pack", he is killed and eaten by a group of school bullies possessed by animal spirits. He is replaced by the outright-villainous [[SadistTeacher Principal Snyder]].

** Dean Peterson from the episode "Homer Goes to College" is laidback and friendly, and used to play bass for the Music/{{Pretenders}}. Homer, however, is convinced that he has to be a [[DeanBitterman "crusty old dean"]] like the ones in the college movies he sees.
** In "Sweet Seymour Skinner's Badassssss Song", after Skinner is fired, TropeNamer Ned Flanders, interim principal of Springfield Elementary, states this trope as his goal at the assembly that announces his appointment. Unfortunately he's too much "pal" and not enough "principal" and he lets the school become a lawless hellhole with his hands-off approach (when Bart gets sent to his office a dozen times a day so he can eat the Reese's Pieces that Ned freely hands over to guests, Ned is more concerned about being a good host than the fact Bart does principal's-office-worthy offenses ''a dozen times a day'').

* Mayor Jones seems to become this in ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated'', [[spoiler: after Nibiru is defeated and consequently their timeline is rebooted.]]

For some reason in fiction, the school principal is seen as the most likable guy in the school. Could it be that the position of high authority has granted them wisdom and understanding of the plights of adolescents, or is it because he doesn't have to actually deal with the little brats directly day-in and day-out? You decide!

** Dean Peterson from the episode "Homer Goes to College" is laidback and friendly, and used to play bass for [[Music/{{Pretenders}} The Pretenders]]. Homer, however, is convinced that he has to be a [[DeanBitterman "crusty old dean"]] like the ones in the college movies he sees.

** This trope gets {{Deconstructed}} after Voldemort's return in [[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire Book 4]]. While very much on the side of good, Dumbledore becomes less of a principal and more of a ''general'', being the [[RebelLeader leader]] of the [[MenOfSherwood Order of the Phoenix]] leading the fight against Voldemort [[spoiler: and knowing full well that Harry is instrumental in killing Voldemort and being fully prepared to sacrifice him when the time comes, for the greater good of the world]].
--> '''Snape:''' "[[spoiler:You've been raising him like a pig for slaughter!]]"

* ''Series/AbbottElementary'': Ava is the school's self-centered and social media obsessed principal, who got the job not because she's a qualified educator but because she blackmailed someone. She's fun and overly casual with the students at the cost of them viewing her as an authority figure. This attitude is explored in "The Principal's Office", where Gregory (a qualified educator who wanted her job) takes issue with the fact that Ava's office is a fun hangout spot and not a place of discipline. Ava counters by saying getting sent to the principal's office is humiliating enough and she wants to make it easier on the kids.

** In "Sweet Seymour Skinner's Badassssss Song", after Skinner is fired,TropeNamer Ned Flanders, interim principal of Springfield Elementary, states this trope as his goal at the assembly that announces his appointment. Unfortunately he's too much "pal" and not enough "principal" and he lets the school become a lawless hellhole with his hands-off approach (when Bart gets sent to his office a dozen times a day so he can eat the Reese's Pieces that Ned freely hands over to guests, Ned is more concerned about being a good host than the fact Bart does principal's-office-worthy offenses ''a dozen times a day'').