What are bad reasons to protest in school for example Tinker v. Des Moines?

Answer 1

The take-away lesson is not that "protesting in school" is bad, but that the school can't punish students for expressing their opinions, even if the opinion is unpopular. Protests are acceptable as long as they aren't disruptive and don't interfere with other people's rights. The school can't preemptively infringe students' rights simply because they fear a peaceful expression of protest might cause problems.

Background

Tinker v. Des Moines involved three students who were suspended from school for wearing black armbands as a passive protest against the United States' involvement in Viet Nam. The students weren't disruptive, and their behavior didn't interfere with the school's educational mission or interfere with other people's rights. They were punished simply because the school disapproved of their expression of opinion. (Oddly, the same school permitted students to wear jewelry displaying Nazi symbols.)

The Court held that First Amendment protection adhered in school because the Fourteenth Amendment selectively applied the Bill of Rights to the states, and were not abandoned in the school environment. "First Amendment rights, applied in light of the special characteristics of the school environment, are available to teachers and students. It can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate."

The Supreme Court supported students' right to the expression of opinion, even controversial opinion, in the school environment, but did not abrogate the school's right to maintain appropriate order and discipline.

Case Citation:

Tinker v. Des Moines, 393 US 503 (1969)

For more information about Tinker v. Des Moines, see Related Questions, below.