"The Foundation of Learning" is the sixth episode of the first season of the American dark comedy television series Vice Principals.
The series follows the co-vice principals of North Jackson High School, Neal Gamby and Lee Russell, both of which are disliked for their personalities.
In the episode, Gamby asks Snodgrass for help in learning motocross, while Russell schemes a plan to build distrust towards Brown.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.854 million household viewers and gained a 0.4 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
Many books at North Jackson have been reported missing, with Russell (Walton Goggins) telling Brown (Kimberly Hébert Gregory) that a teacher, Octavia LeBlanc (Robin Bartlett), may be responsible.
Snodgrass visits Gamby at his office, seeing pictures of Janelle (Maya G. Love) engaging in motocross activities.
She asks for shifting her schedule, which Gamby grants, although he mentions that it can only happen at the end of the ongoing quarter due to school policy, disappointing her.
The next day, Russell accompanies Brown to a hearing with Superintendent Haas (Brian Howe), where she argues with LeBlanc.
Club gave the episode a "B+" grade and wrote, "With the characters more firmly established, 'The Foundation Of Learning' sees Vice Principals switching gears a bit, going for a more low-stakes, low-key approach to the story its telling, and the show is better off for it.
"[5] Nick Harley of Den of Geek gave the episode a 3.5 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Gamby's exposure of his real self to Snodgrass isn't the only shared reveal of the episode, because Russell mistakenly shows his true colors to Dr. Brown, when she shockingly finds him spitting into her coffee, exposing himself as the snake as he is.