Television is a large part of growing up in America, and a part that meshes in various ways with other influences. Teachers should understand it, and as the occasion requires, confront, correct, or take advantage of it. Research on television viewing yields five lessons. Television experience is an individual one, although there are definite patterns related to sex, age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Viewing often serves quite specific needs, including information and escapism. The role of television and other mass media changes as children grow. There is evidence that television can influence behavior; and television's influence is at least partly contingent on other communication reaching the young viewer. The weight of evidence is that television is one of many factors that influence the child, and a teacher cannot ignore it. Needed now is research concerning the ways in which teachers might intervene more effectively in the communication between the child and the medium to turn its teachings to constructive ends. (WBC)