Alani Gauthier

Mr. Williams
H American Lit
January 13, 2015

Tinker v. Des Moines

High school students John F. Tinker and Christopher Eckhardt, middle school student
Mary Beth Tinker, and elementary school students Hope Tinker and Paul Tinker of Des Moines,
Iowa, wore black armbands to their public school as a symbol of protest against American
involvement in the Vietnam War. Neither one of these students agreed with the fighting in the
war, so they figured that the silent protest was the best way to go. The principles of the Des
Moines public schools found out about the students plan, so they decided to meet. The principles
met on December 14, 1965 to create a policy that stated that any school children wearing
armbands would be asked to remove them immediately. If the students did not remove their
armbands they would have the consequence of getting suspended from school. Come to find out,
all of the students refused to remove their armbands and just as promised, they were suspended
from school. While the children were suspended, the parents sued the schools for violating their
childrens freedom of speech. The A.U.S district court agreed with the schools, ruling that the
armbands could disrupt learning in the classroom and encourage other students to join. The
students took their problem to the next level. They appealed the ruling to a U.S. Court of
Appeals, but unfortunately they lost the case to the United States Supreme Court. In the year of

1969 the United States Supreme Court ruled in a 7-2 decision in favor of the Tinker children. The
high court agreed that students free rights should be protected and said students dont shed their
constitutional rights at the school house gates.
The Tinker v. Des Moines case is highly significant because it showed that not only do
adults have opinions, but children have a voice. There are plenty of ties when children have
things they want to say, but because they are kids they are easily overlooked. Children yearn for
attention of many. Actions do speak louder than words and in this case it did literally. The fact
that the students were suspended from school was outrageous because all they wanted to do was
be heard. What people fail to realize is that young people actually have an abundant amount of
opinions on what goes on around them. There was indeed nothing wrong with those students
wearing armbands to support what they believe in. The first amendment to the United States
Constitution is the right to freedom of speech and freedom to protest. Because of this
amendment, the court ruled in the students favor. Im glad that I chose to learn more about this
court case because it has certainly opened my eyes. This case reminded me that I have the right
to freedom of speech and the right to stand up for what I believe in. Now every time Im in a
situation where I disagree and feel another way, I will think about the Tinker kids and remember
that my voice courts and my actions matter in the world.