OF, BY AND FOR THE CHILDREN : New ‘CBS Schoolbreak’ shows a wicked kind of teen-age love

Cassie McBride, the main character in the new CBS Schoolbreak Special “But He Loves Me,” is an ordinary teen-age girl. She’s slightly insecure and in love with Charlie Taylor, the most popular boy in school. When she manages to catch his attention, the two become boyfriend and girlfriend. A happy ending--she thinks.

But when Charlie begins to play upon Cassie’s insecurity in an attempt to control her, she realizes that Charlie’s good looks and pleasant demeanor cover up a dangerous secret--he’s jealous, subject to violent outbursts and physically abusive. When Cassie tries to end the relationship, Charlie’s response proves nearly fatal.

Kelli Williams and Donovan Leitch (who is the son of the 1960s singer Donovan) star as Cassie and Charlie; Doug Barr and Season Hubley play Cassie’s parents, who at first think Charlie is the perfect boyfriend.

“CBS Schoolbreak Special,” Tuesday 3-4 p.m. CBS; for 12- to 18-year-olds.

MORE KIDS’ SHOWS

In the 1963 movie Lassie: The Disappearance (Sunday 2-4 p.m. Nickelodeon), the loyal collie, separated from her owners while the family is on vacation, travels the West in search of her home. For 6- to 12-year-olds.

In the Wonderworks Family Movie “Lantern Hill” (Sunday 5-7:20 p.m. KCET), a 12-year-old girl who was told her father died when she was a baby, finds out he’s alive--and tries to reunite him with her mom. Mairon Bennett, Colleen Dewhurst and Zoe Caldwell star. For 8- to 13-year-olds.

Spunky, red-haired Madeline returns in a new animated special, Madeline and the Bad Hat (Sunday 6:30-7 p.m., Monday 7-7:30 p.m., Thursday 6-6:30 p.m. the Family Channel). In the episode, French orphan Madeline is introduced to her mischievous new neighbor, Pepito. For 5- to 11-year-olds.

Here’s the one time when trashy TV is good for kids: KIDS-TV presents an episode on garbage (Monday 4-4:30 p.m. Showtime), including segments on waste management and the effects of pollution. For 4- to 8-year-olds.

Set your VCR for Heidi (early Thursday 3-5 a.m. KTTV), a 1967 film version of Johanna Spyri’s classic novel set in the Swiss Alps. For ages 7 and up.

OWL-TV (it stands for Outdoor Wildlife Television) is a new nature and science magazine show using live-action and animated footage to educate kids about the environment. Cast members include three children who shrink to microscopic size; Bonapart, the talking skeleton who performs an environmental rap during the first episode (Thursday 4-4:30 p.m. Showtime), and scientific expert Dr. Zed. For 5- to 12-year-olds.

It’s the real thing: Fox Broadcasting’s new reality series Yearbook (Thursday 8:30-9 p.m., premiere; Saturdays 8:30-9 p.m., regular time slot) features real students at a real high school. For ages 13 and up. (For more on “Yearbook,” see Page 79.)

In the rebroadcast ABC Afterschool Special “The Perfect Date” (Thursday 3-4 p.m. ABC), a 16-year-old looks forward to the night of his life with the school prom queen, only to discover that things aren’t going exactly as planned. For 12- to 18-year-olds.

Drunken driving has tragic consequences for four students in “The Last Prom,” a Young People’s Special (Saturday 6-6:30 a.m. KNBC). For 10- to 15-year-olds.

Spring is on the way--time to start thinking of baseball. To help get kids in that frame of mind, Spring Training Super Saturday (9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nickelodeon) features a lineup of baseball-themed reruns of classic sitcoms such as “Lassie,” “Mr. Ed” and “Donna Reed.” For all ages.

Most cats seem pretty intelligent, but the 1965 Disney movie That Darn Cat (Saturday 6-8 p.m. KTLA) features a smarter-than-your-average-feline who helps the FBI uncover a kidnapping case! For ages 6 and up.