This article, written for speech educators, explores some of the concepts of communication theory as they relate to teaching speech communication in the high school. Suggestions for curriculum study, change, and development are given in (1) a rationale for a communication theory approach to high school speech, (2) a description of the learning-teaching environment which is compatible with communication theory and what is known about learning, (3) a description of the intra-personal and inter-personal functions of human communication and the problems deriving from those functions, (4) an outline of suggested learning experiences for speech communication curricula, and (5) a topical bibliography for teachers of speech communication. (Author/JM)