Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for September 10, 2020

I think that’s how Edvard Munch got started.

What’s wrong with being extra creative?

Just Calvin drawing who he really is…a monster!

I wonder what Susie’s self portrait was like (assuming Mr. or Mrs. Derkins was also at the PT conference).

True genius is so seldom recognized in its own time…

There’s a “downhill from there”?

It makes me wonder how much Ms. Wormwoood hits the bottle after every school day (heck, she may even have been “dry” before Calvin came along ;D).

It did it’s job, you identified Calvin’s desk.

If Calvin is supposed to be 6 years old, and if I remember my drawings at that age of people that were called stick figures at the time, a round circle for a head, a straight line for the body and straight lines sticking out an an angle for arms and legs, I would imagine the parents would have a very difficult time finding their children’s desk!

Nobody appreciates a great artist until after they die. That should happen any minute now!

I’d say he nailed the self-portrait! :-)

She looks defeated. When life hands you lemons, OFF WITH THEIR HEADS…or something like that. It was in Cul-de-Sac.

Cheer up Mom, at least Calvin doesn’t need an exorcism ritual performed on him.

The child has great creativity!

Wine…bring the bottle…

In P2, Mom’s demeanor does not match what she reveals in panels 3&4.

The babysitter decides to use all her Calvin babysitting money to go to college and become a shrink. She then sends her kids to college treating Calvin as an adult.

Conformity to society, always out to stifle individual creativity.

An artist is rarely appreciated in his own time.

Hey Mom, it’s not that bad. At least his drawing had both ears intact.

Hey hey!!!! That’s my boy!!!!

Sounds right for Calvin, why the creator wants Calvin strip.

That sounds more like open house night than parent/teacher conferences, which should be private.

I remember this as one of the first ever C&H strips I ever read, in a compilation book at an estate sale. (I wanted to but it, but my parents wouldn’t let me.)

Oh, and don’t forget to mention the part about Calvin having reassured mom that he was doing so great, Ms. Wormwood said she didn’t need to bother coming in. That adds texture to the narrative, too…

Possibly Calvin grew from a cartoon character into a cartoonist. It’s been known to happen. :)

God help the parent with a “Calvin” at home. They need the strength to guide that imagination and “I’ll do it my way” attitude. <3

I remember those kind of parent-teacher conference sessions when I was in elementary school. They would be conducted on Thursday and Friday, and we’d have a half-day of school on those mornings so that the rest of the afternoon and evening could be used for the conferences. I remember how usually my my parents would actually take my brother and I with us to go speaking with our teachers, since we usually wouldn’t be able to get a babysitter handy.

Sounds awesome and creative to me

Progression of Mom’s expressions from panel one to four is exactly my SO’s means of indicating “you must help more with out little (monster) darling”.

And why didn’t dad go too? He is just sitting around reading a magazine.

why then is she smiling when she came in the door?

Wow! Calvin’s mom has amazing self control going from cheerful to exhausted in 30 seconds.

He needs to go to a school that would develop his creativity.

Hmm,Green,fangs,six eyes..Sounds like my 1st wife!

Before funny face modifying phone apps were around…

This is not going to end well…

Why wasn’t his dad there?

First parent-teacher meeting ended with, “But then, he is very small and the youngest in the class. I’m sure he’ll be ok.”

That was an Open House she attended since other parents were there. Dad should have been there too. Teachers do not talk about each individual child at open house.

Ruuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnn!!!!!

I thought there wud be his trademark snowmen on the desk lol

Miss Wormwood should have had Calvin redo his; to check with ‘encouraging creativity’.

Yes, Calvin is a handful, but sometimes I think his parents need to unclench, and this is one of them.