Principal Seymour Skinner

Principal Seymour Skinner is a fictional character who appears on The Simpsons and is voiced by Harry Shearer. He is the principal of Springfield Elementary School, which he struggles to control, and is constantly at odds with its inadequate resources, apathetic and bitter teachers, and frequently rowdy and unenthusiastic students, with Bart Simpson serving as a standout example. Skinner attempts to impose discipline at the school, despite his uptight, militaristic attitude, which stems from his years as a Green Beret in the United States Army, including service in the Vietnam War, where he was captured and held as a prisoner of war. He is quick to obey his superiors, particularly his mother, Agnes, and Superintendent Chalmers.

Most of Skinner's actions revolve around ensuring the school has adequate funding out of genuine concern for the quality of education provided to its students. One of Skinner's distinguishing characteristics is that he served as a Green Beret sergeant during the Vietnam War, where he was captured by the Viet Cong at the Battle of Khe Sanh and held as a prisoner of war for three years. One of the many events that contributed to the development of his post-traumatic stress disorder was witnessing his entire platoon being devoured by an elephant. He is also enraged by the treatment he and other Vietnam veterans received upon their return from the war. Skinner is a highly skilled combatant, particularly hand-to-hand, and demonstrates his abilities in several episodes. Skinner often seems weak-willed and easily suppressed, but often will use his military command experience gained in the Vietnam War to get real respect and discipline. When he and the students are snowed in at the school, he treats them like his squad to control the chaos temporarily, before they mutiny.

First appearance: Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire (1989)