A brilliant student with a good business - an auto body shop - wants to quit school. He challenges Novak to give him a good reason for continuing his education.
Julie Dean, a blind student at Jefferson High, develops a crush on Mr. Novak.
When Mr. Otis was conducting the English class, all the students were getting an A, but Novak can't seem to get the same caliber of work out of them.
Mike Daniels is being considered for an important science scholarship, but he's having problems in Novak's literature class. Dr. Frank Baxter, TV educator, appears as Dr. Gagan.
A black student, Marcy Desmond, is violently accosted by a gang of youths who let her know that she's not welcome at Jefferson High.
Novak helps a former teacher and mentor obtain a position at the school. The instructor is a recovering alcoholic, while his much-younger wife is still afflicted with the disease.
Maude Phipps, a teacher for some 40 years, is sharply outspoken and is the object of various complaints -- including those of irate parents who don't like the idea of her teaching social hygiene to their children.
Novak clashes with Holly Metcalfe, a rebellious senior who doesn't like to follow rules.
It's a hectic Friday and Novak is very pleased to get an invitation to spend the weekend at his former sweetheart's family estate.
A father holds Novak responsible for roughing up his son. It all happened when Novak broke up some student horseplay.
Novak, who's dating a teacher, has some competition from one of her students.
Novak and Vane prepare a hero's welcome for a new student, a Russian defector, who's quick to show that he's not easy to get along with.
Novak defends the members of an off-campus car club, who have run into trouble.
Novak is interested in Arnold Frazer, a new student who shows signs of brilliance and trouble adjusting to school life.
Novak invites a famous novelist to address the school's Literary Club - despite protests of Miss Pagano who feels that the writer's unorthodox views will be a bad influence.
An overly strict father takes the school, and Mr. Novak to task, when he finds the subject matter read aloud in class by his daughter to be highly erotic.
Charlie Payne, who dropped out three years ago, now has nothing better to do than spend his time hanging around the school grounds.
A member of Novak's debating club makes some anti-Semitic remarks during an intra-squad debate.
Campus clown Doug Morgan decides he can attract attention - and get excused from compulsory ROTC classes - by claiming to be a conscientious objector.
The death of a teacher brings forth a variety of reactions and emotions from the students and faculty at Jefferson High.
A student named Steve Acero tells Principal Vane that Mr. Novak is prejudiced against him because he is of Mexican extraction.
Novak's having problems with a literature class - until it's taken over by Margaret Mumsley, a 75-year old exchange teacher from England.
Novak tries to help shy, introverted Sue Johnson by encouraging her to develop her talent for caricature.
An inexperienced and frightened substitute teacher has trouble with her first class at Jefferson High.
After numerous complaints that an elderly geometry instructor is no longer an effective teacher, Vane is forced to retire her.
Novak finds himself attracted to Jenny Peterson, a former Jefferson High student.
A girl in Novak's homeroom collapses from an overdose of narcotics.
School grounds are quiet in the evening, and darkness was the accomplice of the unknown assailant who attacked assistant principal Jeanne Pagano.
Miss Cathy Williams is going to become a mother, but she wants to graduate with her senior class and she doesn't want to tell her parents about her condition.
The senior prom at Jefferson High is going to be a flop this year - unless student chairman Gail Andrews starts taking interest in the preparations.
After Mr. Vane arranges for Mr. Novak to suddenly fly to Pennsylvania to visit his ailing father, the good, but completely broke son returns with a pile of hospital bills to be paid off, somehow.
Industrial arts teacher Carl Green conducts classes like a shop foreman, which provokes student Lee Darragh into taking violent action.
An unorthodox substitute can control his class but not himself.
Novak entrusts a near-delinquent girl (Davey Davison) with the lead in a school play, but her jealous boy friend involves her in another plot: car theft.
Coach Lou Meyerson (Claude Akins) finds his life in turmoil after an accident during football practice---which killed his star quarterback.
To prove a point to two music-minded problem students, Novak (James Franciscus) forces a showdown trumpet duel between them.
Novak (James Franciscus) wages a losing battle against romance when a top student decides to marry---and give up a high-school diploma for a job.
Risking a baseball star's eligibility in a crucial play-off game, Novak (James Franciscus) refuses to let the young hero slip by his English course.
When Novak (James Franciscus) takes the debate team to an out-of-town competition, he is prepared for all emergencies except one---a student disappears.
Pushed far beyond her mental capacities by ambitious parents, one of Novak's students (June Harding) decides there is only one escape: suicide.
Novak (James Franciscus) is involved in a near-tragic hazing when he accepts temporary sponsorship of an off-campus club.
It's discovered that a young girl who has just transferred to Jefferson High was tried and acquitted of killing her parents. The other students ostracize her and she becomes the subject of a whispering campaign, even among some of the teachers.
Poison-pen letters accuse Novak (James Franciscus) of a clandestine romance with a married teacher (Geraldine Brooks).
Pre-teen Michael Brown is academically ready for high school but lacks the social skills of his fellow students. His classmates haze him including running his pants up the flag pole. Novak tries to help Michael's adjustment.
Chris Herrod returns to school a year after he was blinded. He faces many obstacles in readjusting to class and isn't helped my an overprotective mother.
Novak (James Franciscus) considers the practical potential of teaching machines---and risks a colleague's friendship.
When Mr. Novak uncovers a tight knit group of four male students secretly living together in an unusual arrangement, he must also take on the person enabling the minors.
Part 1. Novak (James Franciscus), trying to stage an all-teacher show, is blocked by a colleague who believes that "teachers should have more dignity."
Conclusion. Martin Woodridge (Burgess Meredith) is adamant about opposing the faculty follies---until an odd quirk of fate turns the tide in Novak's favor.
Novak (James Franciscus) is forced to take sides in a controversial issue: should a brilliant girl student give up a career for marriage?
Albert Vane (Dean Jagger) runs for office against a veteran politician (Howard Duff) whose tricks in the heated campaign bring Novak into the battle.
Novak is puzzled by the defiant attitude of his friend, teacher Bud Walker (Donald Harron)---who all but challenges Woodridge (Burgess Meredith) to fire him.
Novak falls for a champion sky diver (Lois Nettleton) and her highflying hobby. But he has a lesson to learn: girls with wings resist earthbound ties.
Novak and a fellow teacher (Harry Townes) become the center of a raging, city-wide controversy when they are accused of spreading Communist propaganda.
A student gets carried away with the traditional rivalry with a neighboring school. A violent riot results at a basketball game.
As a prank student Dick Sullivan invents the perfect student. The faculty all rave about the non-existent teenager giving the kids,a good laugh on their elders.
A nun (Vera Miles) accuses Novak of not counseling her nephew properly. The boy, a millionaire, feels he will be able to "buy" the brains of others.
Student Paul Ryder (Walter Koenig) stirs the pupils to protest for a bond issue---and finds that the fire lit in demonstrators is difficult to extinguish.
Novak goes out on a limb for a brilliant student (Tommy Sands) who turns down a scholarship to stay home and care for his irresponsible father.
The bitterness generated by failing a senior hits Novak when he tells class clown Hank Nelby (Don Grady) that he cannot graduate with his friends.