This episode is pretty good and on my favorite list for season 2. Mary is chosen to represent Walnutgrove in a special Math test.the letter was delivered this evening. When Mary gets the news she was overjoyed. She burst into the house and couldn't wait to tell ma and pa. She tells them that they would go on a train .stay in a hotel etc. Charles later looks at the letter and figures that they are goinbg to gave to pay everything out of their own pockets. They can't afford it. The news disappoints Mary but she stays brave. Laura Tells miss beadle of the problem,she then asks the town too pitch In.Late that night she comes with the news that the town will cover all expenses. The next day Mary and Caroline is of to tihier destination. Once their Mary's nerves are gone. She stresses out. Tune in to see how she handles it. The episode gives the most important lesson of all.That in everything you do all you have to do is do your best and know one would expect anything more from you. This episode is a 8/10 bc its good and bc of this amazing life lesson.
Little House on the Prairie (TV Series)
The Pride of Walnut Grove (1976)
User Reviews
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The glass may appear half empty, but it is actually half full.
ExplorerDS67892 April 2012
Warning: Spoilers
It's not whether you win or lose, or pass or fail, what matters is how much effort you've put into whatever it is you've set out to do. Mary Ingalls would learn this lesson the hard way when she scored the highest on a district math test and was chosen to go to Minneapolis and take the statewide exam against students in every other district. She was so excited she could hardly deliver the news distinctly, and Charles and Caroline were equally ecstatic. But like so many other good things in life, there was a catch: this invitation did not include transportation and hotels, and unfortunately it was out of their price range. A guilt-ridden Charles had to break the news to Mary, and although she put on a brave front, she was heartbroken. She also chose not to tell Miss Beadle the truth, but instead make it look as though she was copping out. Laura spilled the beans anyway, and that night the Ingallses received a visit from Miss Beadle and Mr. Hanson, who just came from a school board meeting where they had voted unanimously (that includes Mrs. Oleson) that they would pay Mary's way to Minneapolis. After all, she would be representing the pride of Walnut Grove.
Mary and Caroline boarded the train, this being Mary's first time and she was flabbergasted at the accommodations, however the noise of the city was something she could have done without when trying to sleep. So as Mary tried to rest up for the big test tomorrow, Laura was finding it difficult filling her mother's shoes. Cooking, cleaning, chores and what have you proved very exhausting. So while Laura bumbled and stumbled through making breakfast, the big day of the test had arrived and of course, Mary was nervous, she had the faith and pride of an entire community resting on her shoulders. That's a pretty big burden for a 13-year-old. The testing session seemed to take forever and each problem seemed to get tougher and tougher. Finally, after what seemed like days, the test was over. Now came the long, torturous period of waiting. As Mary worried over how she faired on the test, Laura began experiencing the homemaker blues. She was unhappy that she couldn't live up to her mother's standards and felt she wasn't good at anything. Charles begged to differ, however. The very next day, the results of the test were finally announced. It was Mary versus all the other eggheads in Minnesota. Who would emerge the victor? And so they announced the first place winner, Mary... "This is it," she thought, "I did it." ...O'Donnell! Huh? In second place, Mary...Ingalls! I guess to get a high mark on this test, you just needed to be named Mary. Well, she was disappointed that she didn't win first place and was worried how the rest of the town might react, but when that stage came through Walnut Grove, there was a big gathering of folks waiting to welcome home Mary. They knew she came in second place, but they didn't care. She went out and took one for the team, and that's all that mattered.
I think we can all relate to Mary and Laura in this episode. We've all been in situations where we want to be the best at whatever we set out to do, and then realize we didn't succeed in the way we would have liked, but at least we tried hard and that's really all that matters. Melissa Sue Anderson carried this episode nicely. I don't know why she complained about her tenure on Little House when the fictional Mary Ingalls had a much better life than the real one. Arthur Heinemann turned in a good script and of course, Bill Claxton did a fine job directing. This episode includes many great scenes, including Laura trying to make breakfast and of course wheeling and dealing those eggs to Harriet. Caroline would've been proud. I definitely recommend The Pride of Walnut Grove, it will give you a really good life lesson.
Mary and Caroline boarded the train, this being Mary's first time and she was flabbergasted at the accommodations, however the noise of the city was something she could have done without when trying to sleep. So as Mary tried to rest up for the big test tomorrow, Laura was finding it difficult filling her mother's shoes. Cooking, cleaning, chores and what have you proved very exhausting. So while Laura bumbled and stumbled through making breakfast, the big day of the test had arrived and of course, Mary was nervous, she had the faith and pride of an entire community resting on her shoulders. That's a pretty big burden for a 13-year-old. The testing session seemed to take forever and each problem seemed to get tougher and tougher. Finally, after what seemed like days, the test was over. Now came the long, torturous period of waiting. As Mary worried over how she faired on the test, Laura began experiencing the homemaker blues. She was unhappy that she couldn't live up to her mother's standards and felt she wasn't good at anything. Charles begged to differ, however. The very next day, the results of the test were finally announced. It was Mary versus all the other eggheads in Minnesota. Who would emerge the victor? And so they announced the first place winner, Mary... "This is it," she thought, "I did it." ...O'Donnell! Huh? In second place, Mary...Ingalls! I guess to get a high mark on this test, you just needed to be named Mary. Well, she was disappointed that she didn't win first place and was worried how the rest of the town might react, but when that stage came through Walnut Grove, there was a big gathering of folks waiting to welcome home Mary. They knew she came in second place, but they didn't care. She went out and took one for the team, and that's all that mattered.
I think we can all relate to Mary and Laura in this episode. We've all been in situations where we want to be the best at whatever we set out to do, and then realize we didn't succeed in the way we would have liked, but at least we tried hard and that's really all that matters. Melissa Sue Anderson carried this episode nicely. I don't know why she complained about her tenure on Little House when the fictional Mary Ingalls had a much better life than the real one. Arthur Heinemann turned in a good script and of course, Bill Claxton did a fine job directing. This episode includes many great scenes, including Laura trying to make breakfast and of course wheeling and dealing those eggs to Harriet. Caroline would've been proud. I definitely recommend The Pride of Walnut Grove, it will give you a really good life lesson.
Let's Go Mary!
cbest-3481324 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Mary represents her town in a math competition. However, she places second. She feels she has let down her entire town. Partly, because they all supported her trip to the big city....with a financial support. The pressure is on!
Good episode with a simple message: It's all about trying! Do your best, and we will be proud of you!
Math
mitchrmp16 March 2013
Warning: Spoilers
The highest grade on a math test is going to send Mary to the state finals. She's very happy when she gets the news, but her father informs her that they just cannot afford to send her. Mary is ashamed and doesn't want Miss Beadle to know the truth. Laura, however, blabs and tells Mary's reason. The school board gets together and offers to pay Mary's tuition. Surprisingly, Charles swallows his pride and allows it to happen.
There's not really much to this story. Parts of it are a bit lame, though the Laura/Charles story line is pretty cute. I always laugh when I watch the part where Mary is registering and they ask her for her last name. The woman looks it up on a piece of paper then tells her to get in Isle A-I for Ingalls...I think they could have figured that one out for themselves, especially since they did make it to a final testing competition.
Though some may be disappointed at the ending, I think it's just what was called for. We don't always get what we want in this life, but as long as we do our best, we are winners.
There's not really much to this story. Parts of it are a bit lame, though the Laura/Charles story line is pretty cute. I always laugh when I watch the part where Mary is registering and they ask her for her last name. The woman looks it up on a piece of paper then tells her to get in Isle A-I for Ingalls...I think they could have figured that one out for themselves, especially since they did make it to a final testing competition.
Though some may be disappointed at the ending, I think it's just what was called for. We don't always get what we want in this life, but as long as we do our best, we are winners.
So much for a math test?
drfernandogil18 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Of course it is a novel, but it seems to me that excessive importance is given to a very small thing like a mathematics contest. Not only the humble Ingalls family, but any middle or even upper class family would consider it unnecessary to spend on travel and accommodation just to take a math test... It is clear that whoever organizes the contest must take care of all expenses from the start. . Who is going to spend money on travel and hotel just to say that they did well on a test in a math contest? The title is also exaggerated. Is the pride of a town that a girl has a high score in a mathematics contest? Well... Like I said, it's a novel.
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