Father Knows Best

Betty's boyfriend Ralph asks Jim for permission to propose to Betty. Jim says a cautious comment that Ralph is a great guy. Betty & Ralph talk about marriage and think it is a great idea - until they start seeing the reality of marriage.

Betty has to write a report of a literary figure who benefited from the help of a sibling. This gets Betty to wondering if she should be kinder and friendlier to Bud. Bud figures something is up.

Kathy makes a big announcement - she has a boyfriend named Burgess. Of course, he does not know he is the boyfriend yet. Kathy invites Burgess over, but he seems more interested in Jim than Kathy.

Bud is nominated for the decorating committee for homecoming week. He wants a new approach from other years. Jim warns him not to be disrespectful. Bud finds Jim's old school yearbook and sees Jim played pranks when he was in school.

The Anderson's gardener, Fronk, says he has no family to visit, so he spends his vacation working on the Anderson's yard. Kathy feels sorry he has no one in his life. Fronk does not want her to feel bad, so he makes up a family.

Weary of their children's last minute crises from poor planning, Jim and Margaret cook up a scheme to return the favor.

Having learned they were originally married at home, Betty prods her parents into having a second wedding but this time in a church.

Bud is given charge of watching a neighbor's car while he is out of town. Bud is only to start the car every few days and not drive it around town. Alas, he drives it and the car gets scratched.

As part of Springfield's Founder's Day celebration, Betty volunteers to accompany and assist chauvinistic Tom Wentworth on a difficult 12-mile trek pulling a heavy cart.

Chanthini, an exchange student from India, spends a weekend at the Anderson home with her classmate Betty. The children struggle to make her welcome, but succeed only in making her feel like an outsider.

The show is told in flashbacks to when Bud was really shy around girls. Bud's classmates thought he was a snob. Jim talked Bud into having a masquerade party to show he is not a snob.

Margaret buys a raffle ticket to help for the local orphanage, and wins a car. When publicity shots are taken, the orphanage director reprimands Margaret for having so much and not giving more to the orphanage.

Jim attends a meeting where the speaker's topic is to get more out of life and find out what is going on in their world. Jim becomes enthused and tries to pass this philosophy on to his family - who still have routine items to do.

The Anderson's are preparing for the holidays. As they decorate the tree, they recall the story of how they managed to get that particular tree.

Bud and his friends are excited because they have a sponsor for their recreational basketball team, and they have a coach lined up. But the coach gets sick and Jim has to step in and be temporary coach.

Bud wants to form his own company for a lawn mower service. Jim and Margaret agree, but put Kathy in charge of the operation.

Bud has a school assignment to do a good deed for someone unknown. As he finds someone to help, he either gets rejected or his good deeds backfire on him. When one deed turns to disaster, his father finds a way to turn it around.

The Andersons get their kitchen repainted. Also, Jim purchases items for the children they have been wanting, but the next day they all forget his birthday. Margaret gets upset at their alternative plans and asking for more favors.

Margaret does a favor for Bud and he wants to give her a thank you gift. He buys perfume using Sunday School money because he knew his boss will pay him later that day. However the boss is out of town and Bud needs the money in the morning.

Jim's cousin Leo visits so he can look for a job in Springfield. Leo is known as Hard Luck Leo. Despite job and apartment leads from the family, it seems nothing works out. Betty soon realizes Leo does not want anything to work out.

While at the malt shop, Bud overhears three girls talking about him, all wanting to ask him to the Girls Ask Dance. He starts thinking he is a real catch and wants to play the odds.

As Bud comes home from a date, he sees one of Betty's boyfriends trying to kiss Betty against her wishes. He comes to the rescue, but Betty really did not want to be rescued. Bud tries to be the romantic man with his date.

Kathy is tired of being treated as a child. She tries including herself on dates with her brother and sister. Betty and her boyfriend agree to take Kathy and her friend to dinner with them, but the plans fall through and Kathy is crushed.

Jim hears he may be awarded the Hall of Merit. He is excited and starts preparing his acceptance speech. Margaret hears the same information and starts making celebration plans. In the evening, everyone waits for word of his being selected.