I CAN’T WEAR WHAT??

G OALS You will be able to… Identify a freedom of speech issue in a fictional scenario Construct the rule about freedom of speech in schools by reading an excerpt from the Supreme Court Case Tinker v Des Moines Apply the rule to a variety of hypothetical scenarios

B EN ’ S T-S HIRT T ROUBLE Watch to see what happened when Ben Brewer decided to wear his favorite band t-shirt to school—in violation of the new school rule!

There should be a law against stupid rules like that! Maybe there is… We now interrupt this exciting presentation to bring you the U.S. Supreme Court case, Tinker v. Des Moines. Read the case summary and do the exercises to find out whether Principal Carter’s rule is against the law!

W HAT IF ? What would it take for the Supreme Court to decide the black armbands had been disruptive at school? Consider the following examples. Decide whether the Court would say they are evidence of disruption.

E VIDENCE A BOUT A RMBANDS Someone wrote a threatening note during class to one of the students wearing an armband? What if…  Shows the armbands were disruptive  Does not show disruption

E VIDENCE A BOUT A RMBANDS Shows the armbands were disruptive Does NOT show disruption Writing a threatening note during class

E VIDENCE A BOUT A RMBANDS On the school bus, someone threatened to beat up one of the students wearing an armband? What if…  Shows the armbands were disruptive  Does not show disruption

E VIDENCE A BOUT A RMBANDS Shows the armbands were disruptive Does NOT show disruption Writing a threatening note during class Threatening to beat up a student on the school bus

E VIDENCE A BOUT A RMBANDS At lunch, someone said the armbands were stupid? What if…  Shows the armbands were disruptive  Does not show disruption

E VIDENCE A BOUT A RMBANDS Shows the armbands were disruptive Does NOT show disruption Writing a threatening note during class At lunch, someone says the armbands are stupid Threatening to beat up a student on the school bus

E VIDENCE A BOUT A RMBANDS During class, someone made a face at one of the students wearing an armband? What if…  Shows the armbands were disruptive  Does not show disruption

E VIDENCE A BOUT A RMBANDS Shows the armbands were disruptive Does NOT show disruption Writing a threatening note during class At lunch, someone says the armbands are stupid Threatening to beat up a student on the school bus Making a face during class

E VIDENCE A BOUT A RMBANDS Between classes, someone shoved one of the students wearing an armband into a locker? What if…  Shows the armbands were disruptive  Does not show disruption

E VIDENCE A BOUT A RMBANDS Shows the armbands were disruptive Does NOT show disruption Writing a threatening note during class At lunch, someone says the armbands are stupid Threatening to beat up a student on the school bus Making a face during class Shoving a student into a locker between classes

E VIDENCE A BOUT A RMBANDS Students stopped arguing about armbands when the teacher said it was time to begin class? What if…  Shows the armbands were disruptive  Does not show disruption

E VIDENCE A BOUT A RMBANDS Shows the armbands were disruptive Does NOT show disruption Writing a threatening note during class At lunch, someone says the armbands are stupid Threatening to beat up a student on the school bus Making a face during class Shoving a student into a locker between classes Arguing stops when teacher says it’s time to begin class

E VIDENCE A BOUT A RMBANDS A student sang a song about how much he loved armbands, and people started arguing about whether he had a good voice? What if…  Shows the armbands were disruptive  Does not show disruption

E VIDENCE A BOUT A RMBANDS Shows the armbands were disruptive Does NOT show disruption Writing a threatening note during class At lunch, someone says the armbands are stupid Threatening to beat up a student on the school bus Making a face during class Shoving a student into a locker between classes Arguing stops when teacher says it’s time to begin class People arguing about singing, not about armbands

E VIDENCE A BOUT A RMBANDS Students were having fun debating about whether people should wear armbands? What if…  Shows the armbands were disruptive  Does not show disruption

E VIDENCE A BOUT A RMBANDS Shows the armbands were disruptive Does NOT show disruption Writing a threatening note during class At lunch, someone says the armbands are stupid Threatening to beat up a student on the school bus Making a face during class Shoving a student into a locker between classes Arguing stops when teacher says it’s time to begin class People arguing about singing, not about armbands A fun debate about armbands

E VIDENCE A BOUT A RMBANDS Student arguments about armbands were starting to add up? What if…  Shows the armbands were disruptive  Does not show disruption

E VIDENCE A BOUT A RMBANDS Shows the armbands were disruptive Does NOT show disruption Writing a threatening note during class At lunch, someone says the armbands are stupid Threatening to beat up a student on the school bus Making a face during class Shoving a student into a locker between classes Arguing stops when teacher says it’s time to begin class Arguments starting to add up People arguing about singing, not about armbands A fun debate about armbands

E VIDENCE A BOUT A RMBANDS The teacher had to tell students to stop arguing so she could begin class? What if…  Shows the armbands were disruptive  Does not show disruption CLICK for a hint!

How would you use this evidence if you were trying to argue that the t-shirts ARE disruptive? What would you say? HINT: How would you use this evidence if you were trying to argue that the t-shirts are NOT disruptive? What would you say differently?

E VIDENCE A BOUT A RMBANDS Shows the armbands were disruptive Does NOT show disruption Writing a threatening note during class At lunch, someone says the armbands are stupid Threatening to beat up a student on the school bus Making a face during class Shoving a student into a locker between classes Arguing stops when teacher says it’s time to begin class Arguments starting to add up People arguing about singing, not about armbands Teacher tries to begin but can’t until she tells students to stop arguing about armbands A fun debate about armbands As usual, teacher must ask for quiet before she can begin

N EXT T IME : Did Principal Carter have any evidence that band t-shirts were being disruptive?