According to this reference manual, the nation's courts offer public high school journalists the same constitutional protection for expression, free speech, and free press as adults. Part 1 traces the development of the First and Fourth Amendments and explains how these provisions apply to high school publications. Part 2 examines expression that can be regulated by public schools, including disruption of the school program; the time, place, and manner of distribution; and libel and obscenity. Courts generally approve stronger restrictions and regulations pertaining to high school publications than are permissible for adult or college student publications. Courts allow public school officials to request preliminary copies of high school publications and can forbid distribution of all publications posing a serious threat of danger or disruption or containing libelous or obscene material. The obscenity allowance has to do with teenagers' minority status. Part 3 covers other legal problems and constraints, including news gathering activities, confidentiality of news sources, advertizing, invasion of privacy, copyright, advisers, and printers and photographers. Part 4 offers conclusions and guidelines for students, advisers, and administrators. Included are an annotated bibliography with 22 references, an index of law cases, and a general index. (MLH)