Don’t Tinker With My Rights: The Case for School Responsibility and Student First Amendment Rights  ​​​​​​​

                                "The Tinkers: Mary Beth and her brother John display the black armbands that got them suspended from school."                                    (New York Times Upfront, January 7, 2019, pp. 18)

Harold Had a Black Arm Band

"Harold had a black arm band, As black as black could be.

Everywhere that Harold went, That band was there to see.

He wore it to his school one day, Which was against the rule.

It made the teachers jump and shout, To see it there at school. 

They said, 'My boy, that band must go, But you may gladly stay.'

Harold would not take it off, Nor let this issue lay.

Harold missed a week of school, Suspended for the sin

Of wanting war to end at last, And Peace to usher in.

Harold finally went to court, His rights were what he sought.

That children also might be free, Is that for which he fought.

He lost that case, but not in vain, For much was brought to light.

As Harold stuck by his beliefs, And still thinks he was right!"

- Christopher Eckhardt Poem, c.1966 (Johnson, The Struggle For Student Rights, 1997)

Braylynn Brase, Mykah Hall, Ellie Sudol, Emilie O'Neill, and Elizabeth Kalvig

Junior Group Website 

Group website word count: 1,200

Process paper word count: 500

Multimedia time: 2:57