tinker v. des moines
Case name: John F. Tinker and Mary Beth Tinker, minors, by their father, Leonard Tinker and Christopher Eckhardt, minor, by his father, William Eckhardt v. The Des Moines Independent Community School District, et al.
Year decided: 1969
Result: 7-2, in favor of Tinker
Related constitutional issue/amendment: First Amendment (freedom of speech)
Civil rights or civil liberties: civil liberties
Significance/precedent: The Court ruled that students do not lose their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech when they entered school and school officials must prove that the students' speech would have a significant effect on the education of other students before taking administrative measures. In the case of Tinker v. Des Moines, the school district obviously feared a possible disturbance rather than an actual disruptance. The justices also noted that students are not guaranteed full protection of their First Amendment rights and some restrictions do apply.
Quote from majority opinion: "If a regulation were adopted by school officials forbidding discussion of the Vietnam conflict, or the expression by any student of opposition to it anywhere on school property except as part of a prescribed classroom exercise, it would be obvious that the regulation would violate the constitutional rights of students, at least if it could not be justified by a showing that the students' activities would materially and substantially disrupt the work and discipline of the school."
Summary of the dissent: The First Amendment does not allow individuals to say what they want when they want and the armbands distracted other students from their school work, which is enough cause for school administrators to discipline the students. Furthermore, school officials should be allowed a wide range of authority to maintain order unless the school's motivation for its actions originates from some reason other than accepted school interest.
Six-word summary: Students' right to free speech protected.
Year decided: 1969
Result: 7-2, in favor of Tinker
Related constitutional issue/amendment: First Amendment (freedom of speech)
Civil rights or civil liberties: civil liberties
Significance/precedent: The Court ruled that students do not lose their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech when they entered school and school officials must prove that the students' speech would have a significant effect on the education of other students before taking administrative measures. In the case of Tinker v. Des Moines, the school district obviously feared a possible disturbance rather than an actual disruptance. The justices also noted that students are not guaranteed full protection of their First Amendment rights and some restrictions do apply.
Quote from majority opinion: "If a regulation were adopted by school officials forbidding discussion of the Vietnam conflict, or the expression by any student of opposition to it anywhere on school property except as part of a prescribed classroom exercise, it would be obvious that the regulation would violate the constitutional rights of students, at least if it could not be justified by a showing that the students' activities would materially and substantially disrupt the work and discipline of the school."
Summary of the dissent: The First Amendment does not allow individuals to say what they want when they want and the armbands distracted other students from their school work, which is enough cause for school administrators to discipline the students. Furthermore, school officials should be allowed a wide range of authority to maintain order unless the school's motivation for its actions originates from some reason other than accepted school interest.
Six-word summary: Students' right to free speech protected.