HISET Social Studies Practice

What right did the U.S. Supreme Court affirm in Tinker v. Des Moines?

1. Students can be censored for political statements.

2. Students have the right to free speech in schools.

3. Schools can restrict political protests.

4. Students cannot express dissent in school.

The correct answer is: Students have the right to free speech in schools.

In Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that students have the right to free speech in schools, as long as their expression does not disrupt the educational process. This landmark case arose when students wore black armbands to school as a form of protest against the Vietnam War. The Court held that students do not "shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate." The decision emphasized that student expression is protected under the First Amendment, thereby reinforcing the concept that schools must allow students to express their views, even on controversial subjects, as long as it does not interfere with the school environment. This ruling clarified that students are entitled to their rights as citizens, which includes the ability to engage in meaningful speech.