RTNDF Podcast: Students' Right to Free Speech
Sept. 14, 2006
Washington
In 1965 Mary Beth Tinker, her brother John and a friend, Christopher Eckhardt, wore black arm bands to their schools to honor the dead on both sides in the Vietnam War. They were suspended under a policy banning armbands at school. Lower courts supported the schools, ruling the policy was reasonable to prevent the disruption of education. The U.S. Supreme Court, however, ruled in favor of the students. Although later rulings defined students' rights more narrowly, the Tinker case has stood as a model for free speech for young people.
On September 14, 2006, The National Archives and the Newseum partnered to conduct "Students' Right to Free Speech," a special program to honor Constitution Day at the United States Navy Memorial in Washington, DC.
RTNDF covered the event. Special guests included Former Student Activist, Mary Beth Tinker, Mark Goodman from SPLC, Francisco Negron from the National School Boards Association and high school news editor, Isaac Arnsdorf.
Mary Beth Tinker Podcast
Podcast #1: Intro
Podcast #2: Mary Beth Tinker
Podcast #3: Mary Beth Tinker
Podcast #4: Mary Beth Tinker (cont.)
Podcast #5: Isaac Arnsdorf
Podcast #6: Isaac Arnsdorf (cont.)
Podcast #7: Mark Goodman
Podcast #8: Francisco Negron