In new season of "Arthur," students cheer at Mr. Ratburn's gay wedding By Washington Post, adapted by Newsela staff on 05.23.19 Word Count 620 Level 710L

In the season premiere of "Arthur," Nigel Ratburn (right) walks down the aisle with his soon-to-be husband. Photo by: WGBH/PBS Kids

Many people are talking about a TV show called "Game of Thrones." However, consider turning your attention to another TV series. Try watching the 22nd season of "Arthur." The show is about the adventures of the aardvark Arthur Read and his family and friends.

The season's first show aired May 13. Arthur and the rest of his classmates learn that their third- grade teacher, Nigel Ratburn, is getting married. They are happy for him.

The show quickly got attention online among grown "Arthur" fans. People had two major reactions. First, some were surprised the PBS station was still airing new shows. More importantly, fans joined the Lakewood Elementary School kids in being pleasantly surprised by whom Mr. Ratburn had chosen to marry. It was an aardvark named Patrick.

A Man Married Another Man

Some people were pleased that it showed gay marriage. A man married another man.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. The kids had heard Mr. Ratburn talking about flowers for the wedding. They worried that he planned to marry someone named Patty. To them, she was a bossy stranger.

They spend part of the show planning to help him meet someone else. At the wedding, they find that he is not marrying Patty. She is his sister. Arthur's classmate Muffy asks the question on all of our minds. "If Patty's his sister, then who is Mr. Ratburn marrying?"

In comes Mr. Ratburn, walking arm in arm with Patrick, a local chocolate maker. It is like a scene from a movie. Then we see the dance floor. There, Arthur's rabbit friend Buster walks up with a plate of cake. He says it is the best cake he has ever had. Mr. Ratburn, a rat, is known for loving the dessert.

Spreading The Message Of Acceptance

After Arthur exclaims, "Mr. Ratburn is married! I still can't believe it," Francine responds that it is "a brand-new world." Francine is a monkey classmate. There is no direct reference made to Patrick being male, spreading the message of accepting their wedding.

GLAAD is a group that works to get everyone to accept people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. It is called LGBT for short. The group congratulated the teacher with a message online. Several other people also congratulated him.

Patrick is referred to as "the Special Someone" in the show's name. He and Mr. Ratburn join a small group of LGBT figures to appear in the "Arthur" shows.

In 2005, PBS dropped a show of the related series, "Postcards From Buster." The show followed Buster as he visited cities across North America. Margaret Spellings was a school leader for former president George W. Bush. She was against the show. It showed the children of two lesbians living in Vermont. She opposed it because she believed many parents would not want their children to see two women as a couple, a New York Times article said then.

Supporting Children Who Are Not Often Seen

Marc Brown is the writer of the "Arthur" books. He created both television series. "I am disappointed by PBS's decision" to drop that show, he said. He added that "Postcards From Buster" was to "connect kids with other kids by reflecting their lives." In some episodes, like the Vermont one, they are supporting children who are not seen often, he said.

The only uneasy moment in "Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone" comes from Francine. It has nothing to do with her teacher's choice of partner. She looks to the other end of the dance floor. Francine says with wide eyes, "There's one thing that teachers should never, ever do."

"What?" Buster asks.

"Dance," Francine says. She points to Mr. Ratburn and Patrick as they show the crowd their dance moves.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Quiz

1 Read the paragraph below from the section "Spreading The Message Of Acceptance."

In 2005, PBS dropped a show of the related series, "Postcards From Buster." The show followed Buster as he visited cities across North America. Margaret Spellings was a school leader for former president George W. Bush. She was against the show. It showed the children of two lesbians living in Vermont. She opposed it because she believed many parents would not want their children to see two women as a couple, a New York Times article said then.

What inference can the reader make based on this paragraph?

(A) Some people are uncomfortable with people marrying the same gender.

(B) "Postcards From Buster" is less popular than "Arthur."

(C) More people accept gay marriage today than did in 2005.

(D) People have the right to marry whoever they want.

2 Which sentence from the article helps the reader understand that this episode of "Arthur" was surprising?

(A) However, consider turning your attention to another TV series.

(B) Arthur and the rest of his classmates learn that their third-grade teacher, Nigel Ratburn, is getting married.

(C) In comes Mr. Ratburn, walking arm in arm with Patrick, a local chocolate maker.

(D) She points to Mr. Ratburn and Patrick as they show the crowd their dance moves.

3 Why does GLAAD think Mr. Ratburn and Patrick's marriage is a good thing?

(A) because they thought Patty was not a good partner for Mr. Ratburn

(B) because they helped write this special episode of "Arthur"

(C) because they work to get all people to accept the LGBT community

(D) because they are worried some parents are offended by the show

4 How did Arthur, Buster and Francine get to know Mr. Ratburn?

(A) Mr. Ratburn was from the same town as the kids.

(B) Mr. Ratburn is Arthur's uncle.

(C) Mr. Ratburn married their third-grade teacher.

(D) Mr. Ratburn was their third-grade teacher.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.