This study describes the role of the ninth grade English teacher and the use of classroom resources in promoting recreational reading. The range of recreational reading and the reading interests of 2,255 ninth grade pupils in nine high schools near Albany, New York, were identified, and the factors which appear to be associated with pupils' recreational reading were inferred. Thirty-four ninth grade English teachers participated in structured interviews and responded to a questionnaire. A jury of experts on literature for young adults and on methods of teaching English teachers rated the teachers on their encouragement of recreational reading. A major finding of the study was that elements of pupil background (sex and father's education and occupation) appear to exert more influence on pupil interest in reading than does the teacher. When the interest in reading does exist, however, the teacher does promote increased recreational reading. Other findings were that recreational reading ranks last among leisure time pursuits for boys and next to last for girls and that the books which pupils read for class did not make them want to read more of the same kind of book for pleasure. (Author/TS)