Pete Dixon encourages his students in operating a school radio station. But a feud with school board member Morris Henry takes a nasty turn with threats of censorship and to Mr. Kaufman's job as the students play damaging recordings.
Student Ben has a terrible stutter and although most are sympathetic he encounters occasional ridicule. Mr. Dixon tries to help but the arrival of an audio machine has Ben the subject of a prank and he wants payback.
Attractive, athletic student Tom causes a stir when he transfers to Walt Whitman. He's immediately popular but is used to coasting on his grades and now Helen is writing his papers. Mr. Dixon steps in to change things.
Principal Kaufman rehires Diana Brown who is returning to teaching after a bitter divorce. The guys in her class feel she has it in for them and Pete Dixon tries to remedy the problem. Diana soon has a serious crush on her co-worker.
Student Toby learns that he is adopted, upsetting him and leaving him with a desire to find his biological parents. Due to coincidence and wild speculation he decides Pete Dixon is his father. Pete must disillusion him.
Whitman High has a problem in Herbie, who's always looking to make a fast buck primarily by using shortcuts. When a fundraiser turns into disaster because of double ticketing, he's willing to let treasurer Bonnie take the blame.
Vice principal Casey seems to know who's responsible for misbehavior with Jason, Larry, and Bernie often in detention. A little detective work by the trio puts the focus on Victor and Jason wants to know why.
Raymond is a frequent and popular substitute at Whitman High with students responding to his entertaining teaching. He keeps students at a distance as he pursues other careers, disappointing Denny and angering Mr. Dixon.
Mr. Dixon gives his students an assignment to evaluate the school's departments. Most turn out positive but Larry finds discrepancies in the cafteria budget putting popular dietician Miss Beemer in a tough spot.
Howard is a non-athletic student who is assigned a woman's part in a play by Miss Johnson. Some students start to harass him for being gay and his friend Bernie distances himself. Mr. Dixon and Miss McIntyre try to help the troubled teenager.
Mr. Dixon is having his students participate in a mock trial and Val is excellent in his role as prosecutor. But when his father is in the headlines due to criminal charges Val becomes a target of derision by his classmates.
Alice Johnson is feeling teaching is glorified babysitting and wants to believe she's truly helping people. Pete connects her to a charity where she becomes overly involved in the problems of the Patterson family who start resenting her.
Billie is a Native American student, new to Whitman High, befriended by Jason. Mr. Dixon's class is studying Indian treatment and Billie is sensitive to anything calling attention to his heritage, lashing out at classmates.
Liz McIntyre has two students needing guidance. Craig feels unable to live up to his family's academic achievements and become a minister while Judy acts out in anger over her home life. A chance meeting cutting class helps both of them.
Teacher, Pete Dixon, invites a young student (Champion) into the ring to test his boxing skills. If he can beat his teacher (Dixon), then he will drop out of school to pursue a boxing career.
Alice Johnson meets an older man who is a new American citizen and has firm ideas concerning the display of the US flag. When a student art exhibit uses the flag, he vandalizes it then tries to explain why.
Veteran teacher Vivian Higgins answers student Joe Bob honestly when he has questions regarding sexually transmitted diseases. That angers his father and is against school policy which could cost Miss Higgins her job.
Andrea has moved around as a student and she immediately stands out at Whitman by claiming mystical powers. Her classmates are either intrigued or bothered and Miss Johnson tries to convince her that she doesn't need a gimmick.
Donnie is the outstanding swimmer at Whitman's but decides to quit because he wants time for other things. His father Sid reacts badly and blames Pete. Donnie joins too many groups and finds new pressures.
Pete is concerned about the number of students who smoke and decides to do something about it. He gets a clinic started to get the kids to kick the habit but none of them are interested in attending.