,
JOHN MOSCHETTI
AMERICAN HISTORY INSTRUCTOR
INTRODUCTION:
In December, 1965, John and Mary Beth Tinker
attended a meeting with their parents to discuss ways of protesting the Vietnam
War. The group decided to publicly wear black armbands as a symbol of their
protest.
When the school principals heard about the
decision at the meeting, they passed a rule that prohibited the wearing of an
armband in school; those who would refuse to remove an armband would be
suspended from school until it was removed. The principals stated that they
hoped that this rule would prevent any disorder. The Tinkers were aware of the new rule but
wore their armbands to school. Who will prevail- the Tinker’s or the School
Board of De Moines?
It will be your job to analyze the case and the issues
that evolved from the decision. This is a “landmark case”. It has affected
thousands of students and has had a huge impact the limitations to speech and
protest. It will be your job to take the role an attorney. You will decide the proper
interpretation. You findings will be published and may influence the decision
of later Supreme Courts. You have a daunting task. Your findings may create
history.
TASK:
1: You are the attorney who will try the
case. You must write a two page
opening argument (legal argument), supporting the defense or plaintiff. You
will choose the side of the case you prefer. The legal argument report should
be: two-page, double spaced, and font twelve, with an APA format reference
page
2: You will use the “CONLAW” on the TIPS web
page to collect data and to analyze the case. This will be shown to you in the
process.
3: You will create a
“ROLE PLAY” that will be performed in front of the class. You will pick the
participants and create dialogue for the role play. This could be a court
scene, a Supreme Court judge deliberation, a motion picture scene or a
university debate on the issues. You decide. The role play should last a
minimum of 10 minutes.
PROCESS:
IN
GROUPS OF THREE:
1.
Read the facts of the case from Compulegal
2.
Go the case VISUAL1 and
VISUAL 2
3.
Complete “Facts &
Issues” worksheet
4.
Utilize the Instructional
page
5.
Complete the REASONING
guide
6.
Optional
look at the decision
7.
Identify the
legal issues and competing values
8.
List five facts in the case that the group
considers the most important.
9.
Rank these facts in order of importance from
“most” to “least”
10. Discuss facts
of case and choose a position for plaintiff or defense.
11. Your project is
to write a one to two page persuasive argument with an APA reference page. It should include an Introduction, body and
conclusion.
12. Your group will then choose a ROLE PLAY scenario they would like to present to the
class. You will construct a dialogue using the CompuLegal worksheets. You will
use the Con Law worksheets to complete the task.
13. You will use the internet sites below as additional
information to help complete the Con Law worksheets
.
Resources:
EVALUATION:
Students will be evaluated
using the following rubric for both the two page report and the role play scenario:
You grade will be an accumulation of the role play and the written report. The
maximum total will be 10 points
Grade of 5
·
Shows thorough understanding of the topic
· Addresses all aspects of
the tasks
·
Shows ability to analyze, evaluate, compare/contrast issues
·
Supports topic with relevant facts, examples and details
·
Submits a strong and well organized paper
Grade of 4
·
Shows a good understanding of the topic
·
Addresses all aspects of all the tasks
·
Shows ability to analyze, evaluate issues
·
Includes relevant facts, examples, and details, but not support all
aspects of the
Case
·
Submits an organized paper
Grade of 3
·
Presents satisfactory understanding of the topic
·
Addresses most aspects of the tasks
·
Able to analyze issues and events, but not in depth
·
Uses some relevant facts, examples and details
·
Submits article, but not very organized
Grade of 2
·
Shows little understanding of topic
·
Attempts to address topic, but
uses vague and/or inaccurate
information
·
Uses little facts, examples, or details
·
Cannot present an acceptable paper
Grade of 1or 0
·
Does not address any aspect of the task and/or fails to turn in a paper.
GRADING: A=8-10 B=6-7
C=3-5 F=BELOW 3
Standards addressed in this
web quest:
ENGLISH LANGUAGE STANDRDS
ELA- 1,
2a, 3b, 3c, 4
SOCIAL STUDIES:
SS # 4 # 5
CONCLUSION
You have learned about a landmark
case that has had great historic significance for students’ nation wide. This case was argued before the Supreme Court
of the
We thank you for your
participation. You can make a difference!
