INTRODUCTION

Since September 11, 2001 the United States has been at war against terrorists. Part of this armed conflict includes the war in Iraq launched by President Bush in March 2003. Although a great majority of Americans considered the war in Iraq just and necessary a year ago, it is now the most controversial issue of the Bush administration. Some members of Congress are considering bringing back the military draft, so the burden of war can be shared equally by all Americans. The draft will have a profound effect on your life. You may be drafted and may have to fight in Iraq if the conflict continues. As a high school student, you organize a protest against the war by encouraging students to walk out of class on 12:00 noon. The principal suspends you for disrupting the school day. You then ask your Government teacher for advice. He tells you to read the Tinker v. Des Moines case, and asks you to compare your situation with that of Marybeth and John Tinker.

TASK

You are a reporter for the school paper and you want to research an article on student protest and the First Amendment right to freedom of expression. You will use Compulegal and write an article in which you will discuss the majority opinion of the Tinker case and the dissenting opinion. Explain which opinion you find most agreeable. Your article will be between 2-3 typewritten pages using MS Word. You will use the Internet resources along with the TIPS ConLaw web site to complete the task. The task will be graded by the Rubric below.

Use the VISUAL below to understand the facts in the case before beginning the process

Section of the web quest.

PROCESS

You will complete the task using the following process:

Read the Supreme Court decision: Tinker v. Des Moines on CompuLegal.
Complete the FACTS & ISSUE QUESTUION, RESONING GUIDE and review the DECISION State the facts of the case. Complete the worksheets. You may also ask FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS to enhance your task.
State the Supreme Court decision.
State the dissenting opinion of Justice Black. You can use the PRECEDENTS in your discussion

IN ADDITON: YOU SHOULD ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

Do you think that the school policy banning armbands was fair? Why or why not?
The students knew they would be suspended if they wore armbands to school and chose to do so anyway. Why do you think they ignored the rule?
Do you believe other people (teachers, administrators) inside the school are covered by the Tinker decision? Why or why not?
What if students wore clothing with offensive messages? What is the limit as to what students can wear?

RESOURCES

EVALUATION

Grade A:

1. Shows a thorough understanding of the topic

2.Addresses all aspects of the task.

3.Shows ability to analyze, evaluate, compare, contrast issues.

4.Supports topic with relevant facts, examples

5.Submits a strong and well-organized article.

Grade B:

1.Shows a good understanding of the topic

2.Addresses all aspects of the task.

3. Shows ability to analyze, evaluate issues.

4. Includes relevant facts, examples and details but does not support all aspects of the case.

5. Submits an organized article.

Grade C:

1. Presents a satisfactory understanding of the topic.

2.Addresses most aspects of the task

3. Able to analyze issues and events but not in depth.

4. Uses some relevant facts, explains in detail.

5. Submits article but it is not well organized.

Grade D:

1. Attempts to address topic, but uses vague and/or inaccurate language.

2. Uses little facts, examples or details.

3. Does not present an acceptable article.

STANDARDS

Social Studies

Standard 1: History of the United States and New York

Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of major ideas, eras, themes, developments, and turning points in the history of the United States and New York.

Standard 5: Civics, Citizenship, and Government

Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of the necessity for establishing governments; the governmental system of the United States and other nations; the United States Constitution; the basic civic values of American constitutional democracy; and the roles, rights, and responsibilities of citizenship, including avenues of participation.

ELA Standards

Standard 1: Language for Information and Understanding

Students will listen, speak, read, and write for information and understanding. As listeners and readers, students will collect data, facts, and ideas; discover relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and use knowledge generated from oral, written, and electronically produced texts. As speakers and writers, they will use oral and written language that follows the accepted conventions of the English language to acquire, interpret, apply, and transmit information.

Standard 2: Language for Literary Response and Expression

Students will read and listen to oral, written, and electronically produced texts and performances from American and world literature; relate texts and performances to their own lives; and develop an understanding of the diverse social, historical, and cultural dimensions the texts and performances represent. As speakers and writers, students will use oral and written language that follows the accepted conventions of the English language for self-expression and artistic creation.

Standard 3: Language for Critical Analysis and Evaluation

Students will listen, speak, read, and write for critical analysis and evaluation. As listeners and readers, students will analyze experiences, ideas, information, and issues presented by others using a variety of established criteria. As speakers and writers, they will use oral and written language that follows the accepted conventions of the English language to present, from a variety of perspectives, their opinions and judgments on experiences, ideas, information and issues.

CONCLUSION

By completing this Webquest on Tinker v. Des Moines, you have sharpened your computer skills and your research abilities. The computer is a powerful tool, which can help you retrieve a wealth of information. Use it to help you learn. However, you must be able to distinguish between valid information and biased information. You have also witnessed the American judicial system at work. You have seen the testing of the First amendment through the process based on the American Constitution. You have learned that Freedoms of Speech extends into the public school system so long as the educational process is not disrupted.

Our next web quest will investigate freedom of religion as part of the First Amendment. I’ll bet you can’t wait!