Preview

Wearing Armbands In Public Schools Case Brief

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
448 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Wearing Armbands In Public Schools Case Brief
Facts
In December of 1965 fifteen year old Mary Beth Tinker, sixteen year old Christopher Eckhardt, and a group of other adults and students gathered at the house of the Eckhardts’ to hold a meeting. At the meeting the group of people decided to support their truce to what happened during the Vietnam War by wearing black armbands during the holiday season. The principle of Des Monies School (the defendant) found out about the plan and held a meeting to that created a policy that any student wearing armbands would be asked to take them off, refusal to do so would result in suspension. On December 16, 1965 Mary Beth Tinker (the plaintiff) and Christopher Eckhardt wore black armbands to school, and were sent home. The next day Mary Beth Tinkers brother, John Tinker, did the same thing and was sent home. The students did not return until after New Year Day, the planned end to the protest. With their parents help the student sued the school for violating the students’ right for expression.
Issue Presented
Is there are rule against wearing armbands to a public school as a symbolic protest? Does taking the right for students to wear armbands to a public school violate students’ freedom of speech protections from the First Amendment? Did the
…show more content…
Although this policy was created two days before the protest because the principle found out about the protest and held a meeting to create a policy against wearing armbands. Yes, telling students that they can not wear armbands for protest purposes does violate students’ freedom of speech protections from the First Amendment. The First Amendment states that without evidence that the rule against wearing armbands to avoid interference, than the rule is not permissible. Yes, and no because learning was able to proceed but students were distracted by the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    This case all started with a meeting at Christopher Echardt’s house to do a silent protest of the Vietnam war. The “Tinker kids” decided the wear two-inch-wide black armbands to school for the protest. Before the students could wear their armbands, the principals of the Des Moines School District found out about what they were planning and fearing that the armbands would provoke disturbances, they resolved that all students…

    • 329 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Petitioners, three public school pupils, in Des Moines, Iowa were suspended from school for violating a school board (respondents) policy of banning the wearing of armbands. The armbands represented the protest of Government policy in Vietnam. The District Court dismissed the complaint. On appeal, the Eight Circuit Court was equally divided, therefore affirmed the decision of the District Court. Writ of certiorari was granted and reversed and remanded the decision of the Eight Circuit Court.…

    • 307 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Tinker vs Des Moines case is a land-mark case in upholding the rights of school children, and their freedom to express their opinions and views. Many have heard of the case, while others are unaware of its existence. The real conflict however is whether the defendants, John and Mary Beth Tinker were right or wrong. In December of 1965, the Tinker siblings decided to wear black armbands with peace signs on them to protest America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. After getting suspended from school, The Tinkers brought the case to the U.S. District Court, which raised the question: Were their rights violated? The answer is obvious. The school was incorrect in their actions, and the Tinkers rights were impeded upon because they did not cause…

    • 136 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Bethel V Fraser

    • 663 Words
    • 3 Pages

    -Does the First Amendment prevent a school district from disciplining a student for giving a lewd speech at an assembly?/Do certain rights of student’s stop once they cross the threshold of the school building?…

    • 663 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    I, _______, agree that school officials should be able to remove student publications when they believe material is unsuitable for younger students, or for reasons it could possibly disrupt the educational curriculum. If students are allowed "freedom of speech" other students could be slandered indirectly such as what occured in this case or fights may ensue due to disagreements. Yes, we as Americans have rights to speak our minds freely, but most students are minors and are under the supervision of the school. The school has the right to control what is allowed within its walls and must moniter students' doings in order to ensure the safety and eduaction of all students.…

    • 254 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Tinker vs. Des Moine

    • 1106 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Before Tinker v. Des Moines the opinions students could and couldn’t voice was decided on by the schools. This changed when three students, John Tinker, Mary Beth Tinker and, Christopher Eckhardt decided to voice their opinions on the Vietnam War by wearing black arm bands (“Tinker V. Des Moines”1). The School system demanded the students to take off their arm bands or they would be suspended. The students refused to take them off didn’t attend school till after their winter break (“Tinker v. Des Moines” 1). John Tinker’s father thought this was unfair that their children were singled out for wearing armbands while other students were allowed to wear other…

    • 1106 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Morse V. Frederick

    • 305 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Personally as a Supreme Court judge and after taking a fairly through look at the cases, I’d have to rule in favor of Frederick. While the banner that Mr. Frederick had up during the school event does make a reference to drugs, the message is pretty vague as even I can’t really interpret the true absolute definition of the banner. Judge Steven even states “Justice John Paul Stevens took the position that the school 's interest in protecting students from speech that can be reasonably regarded as promoting drug use does not justify Frederick 's punishment for his attempt to make an ambiguous statement simply because it refers to drugs.” ( n/a, 2012). Another important reason why I am following this ruling is because while yes Mr. Frederick had a 14 foot banner held high it didn’t exactly disrupt the school event itself and it was the principals own interpretation of the message that caused a disruption that escalated into Frederick’s unjustified punishment. This statement from the ACLU even states that Fredericks actions were done off school campus, “As the ACLU and Mertz noted, the sign caused no disruption, was displayed at the Olympic Torch Relay - a public event on public streets - and Frederick had not yet arrived at school for the day.” (N/a, 2007 ). Just by this alone I believe that the principal had no justification in asking to take the banner down because of the cryptic message let alone punish Mr. Frederick just because of her own intrepertation.…

    • 305 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    December 1965, a group of students met at Christopher Eckhardt's home and discussed that they wanted to show support for the truce in the vietnam war. They decided they would wear armbands to school to support it, but the principles of the Des Moines school found out about their plan. A new rule in school was passed. That all students wearing any armband would be asked to remove it, and if they refused, they would be suspended. On the 16th of December, Mary Beth Tinker and Christopher Eckhardt both wore armbands to school, were asked to remove the armbands, and when they refused, they were send home. The next day, John Tinker had the same situation and and resulted the same way. In response to the suspension, the students sued the school district…

    • 209 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Was Bill's freedom of expression rights violated in this case? Why or why not? Bill's freedom of expression rights was not violated in this case because the school had already initiated a policy prohibiting the wearing of any gang symbols, which included earrings. "Gang members tend to wear specific apparel or colors to convey gang affiliation" (Essex, 2012, p. 114).…

    • 742 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The First Amendment, Freedom of Speech could probably be considered one of the most powerful amendments of the Constitution. It is very important to distinguish the suitability of Freedom of Speech and its’ position under the First Amendment. The essay “Protecting Freedom of Expression on the Campus” presented by Derek Bok gives an example as to why this should be. In his essay Derek Bok responded to the presentation of the Confederate flag and the swastika by students at Harvard, with the expectation that the readers already have an understanding of what the phrase “freedom of speech” means to them as well as other people universally. “The right to freedom of speech allows individuals to express themselves without interference or constraint by the government. The Supreme Court requires the government to provide substantial justification for the…

    • 1039 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    armbands was a silent form of expression and that students do not have to give…

    • 1037 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    2. In favor of the Tinker children, it could be argued that of course since they were American citizens attending an American school, they are entitled to their rights to the same extent that a non-minor not in school is. Because it has been ruled the picketing, a form of protest, is a form of symbolic speech, and wearing these black armbands is also a form of protest, that it should be protected under the First Amendment as well. This is compounded by the Fourteenth Amendment, which extends Freedom of Speech to governments, such as school systems.…

    • 261 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The majority of public school students believe uniforms interfere with their first amendment rights. When wearing uniforms, students feel their creativity and ability to express themselves are being affected, when in fact uniforms may curb negative behavior associated with student dressing. This allows the student to focus on school work instead of being distracted by the clothing.…

    • 480 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The basis of this court case was to determine whether or not wearing armbands in an educational setting is protected under Freedom of Speech. Justice Abe Fortas was against the prohibiting of armbands in school because it was protected by the First Amendment. However, Justice Hugo Black was for the prohibiting of armbands because he did not believe that people could express their opinions or beliefs anywhere or any time.…

    • 403 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    There are a lot of discussion as to whether students should bring handphone in the school or not. Is it important for students on bringing handphone when they study in the school or disturbing students in learning activities.…

    • 262 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays