Cheburashka Goes to School

Cheburashka didn't meet Gena at the airport because he couldn't read the telegram that Gena had sent ahead to announce his arrival. Since Cheburashka never learned to read, he had no way of knowing when Gena was coming home, so he missed the meeting.

Cheburashka simply never learned to read. This lack of education is the central problem that drives Gena to suggest Cheburashka should attend school, making the plot revolve around his first day of classes.

September 1 is known as the Day of Knowledge in Russia, marking the official start of the school year. It's a widely celebrated holiday when children return to school after summer vacation, making it the natural day for Cheburashka to begin his education.

The calendar showing September 1 appears early in the film, setting up the educational theme.

The school was undergoing repairs that had been ongoing and seemed to stretch on indefinitely. This creates a problem for Cheburashka's plans to attend school, requiring Shapoklyak to intervene and speed up the work.

After deciding she wanted to start anew and getting her own school uniform, Shapoklyak took it upon herself to help get the school ready. She sent her pet rat Lariska to scare the lazy workers back to their jobs, showing her practical side despite her mischievous reputation.

When the school faced a shortage of teachers, Gena volunteered to teach natural science. This solution allowed Cheburashka to attend school as planned while also giving Gena a meaningful role in helping his friend receive an education.

With a shortage of teachers at the school, Shapoklyak offered to become the shop class instructor. This represents her genuine desire to start anew and contribute positively, using her skills in a constructive way rather than just causing mischief.

The shops didn't have clothing that would fit Cheburashka's small frame. Even Genia's size proved difficult to find, making the shopping trip a frustrating but humorous challenge as they tried to prepare for school.

Lariska, Shapoklyak's pet rat, was sent to frighten two workers who were lazily playing dominoes instead of fixing the school. The scare worked effectively, the workers returned to their duties and pushed the repairs forward toward completion.

The story resolves when the community comes together to solve each problem: Shapoklyak speeds up the repairs, Gena volunteers as a science teacher, and Shapoklyak becomes a shop class instructor. With all the pieces in place, Cheburashka can finally attend his first day of school on September 2.