I CAN’T WEAR WHAT??

Ben’s T-Shirt Trouble Watch to see what happened when Ben Brewer decided to wear his favorite band t-shirt to school—in violation of the new school rule! Clicking the picture takes you to a video describing the situation students will be exploring during the persuasive writing unit.

There should be a law against stupid rules like that! Maybe there is… Have students read and complete the “Ben’s T-Shirt Trouble” worksheet with students before advancing to the next slide. We now interrupt this exciting presentation to bring you the U.S. Supreme Court case, Tinker v. Des Moines. Read the case summary and do the exercises to find out whether Principal Carter’s rule is against the law!

What if? What would it take for the Supreme Court to decide the black armbands had been disruptive at school? Consider the following examples. Decide whether the Court would say they are evidence of disruption.

Evidence About Armbands What if… Someone wrote a threatening note during class to one of the students wearing an armband?  These are the same “What If…” questions from the reading worksheet. Use the power point slides to discuss and categorize each one after students have completed the exercise on the worksheet. Make sure to help the class understand that these aren’t really black and white—you can think of reasons why each one might be more or less of a problem. However, each one does tend one way or the other. Here, the Court hints that threats on school grounds would be considered disruptive.  Shows the armbands were disruptive  Does not show disruption

Evidence About Armbands Shows the armbands were disruptive Does NOT show disruption Writing a threatening note during class As you advance the slides, each “What If” situation will be added to the chart.

Evidence About Armbands What if… On the school bus, someone threatened to beat up one of the students wearing an armband?  The school bus is the school’s property, so it will probably count as “school grounds.”  Shows the armbands were disruptive  Does not show disruption

Evidence About Armbands Shows the armbands were disruptive Does NOT show disruption Writing a threatening note during class Threatening to beat up a student on the school bus As you advance the slides, each “What If” situation will be added to the chart.

Evidence About Armbands What if… At lunch, someone said the armbands were stupid? The Court said “nasty remarks” were not enough.  Shows the armbands were disruptive  Does not show disruption 

Evidence About Armbands Shows the armbands were disruptive Does NOT show disruption Writing a threatening note during class At lunch, someone says the armbands are stupid Threatening to beat up a student on the school bus As you advance the slides, each “What If” situation will be added to the chart.

Evidence About Armbands What if… During class, someone made a face at one of the students wearing an armband? Making a face may not even rise to the level of a nasty remark. Even though this happened in class, it is still probably not enough.  Shows the armbands were disruptive  Does not show disruption 

Evidence About Armbands Shows the armbands were disruptive Does NOT show disruption Writing a threatening note during class At lunch, someone says the armbands are stupid Threatening to beat up a student on the school bus Making a face during class As you advance the slides, each “What If” situation will be added to the chart.

Evidence About Armbands What if… Between classes, someone shoved one of the students wearing an armband into a locker?  The Court hinted strongly that an “act of violence” on school grounds would be enough.  Shows the armbands were disruptive  Does not show disruption

Evidence About Armbands Shows the armbands were disruptive Does NOT show disruption Writing a threatening note during class At lunch, someone says the armbands are stupid Threatening to beat up a student on the school bus Making a face during class Shoving a student into a locker between classes As you advance the slides, each “What If” situation will be added to the chart.

Evidence About Armbands What if… Students stopped arguing about armbands when the teacher said it was time to begin class? If the students did what they were asked, then they probably did not “disrupt class.”  Shows the armbands were disruptive  Does not show disruption 

Evidence About Armbands Shows the armbands were disruptive Does NOT show disruption Writing a threatening note during class At lunch, someone says the armbands are stupid Threatening to beat up a student on the school bus Making a face during class Shoving a student into a locker between classes Arguing stops when teacher says it’s time to begin class As you advance the slides, each “What If” situation will be added to the chart.

Evidence About Armbands What if… A student sang a song about how much he loved armbands, and people started arguing about whether he had a good voice? Here, it is the singing—not the armbands—that is causing the trouble. Therefore, this is not evidence about the armbands themselves.  Shows the armbands were disruptive  Does not show disruption 

Evidence About Armbands Shows the armbands were disruptive Does NOT show disruption Writing a threatening note during class At lunch, someone says the armbands are stupid Threatening to beat up a student on the school bus Making a face during class Shoving a student into a locker between classes Arguing stops when teacher says it’s time to begin class People arguing about singing, not about armbands As you advance the slides, each “What If” situation will be added to the chart.

Evidence About Armbands What if… Students were having fun debating about whether people should wear armbands? If students are having a fun, friendly debate, then the armbands are not causing trouble.  Shows the armbands were disruptive  Does not show disruption 

Evidence About Armbands Shows the armbands were disruptive Does NOT show disruption Writing a threatening note during class At lunch, someone says the armbands are stupid Threatening to beat up a student on the school bus Making a face during class Shoving a student into a locker between classes Arguing stops when teacher says it’s time to begin class People arguing about singing, not about armbands A fun debate about armbands As you advance the slides, each “What If” situation will be added to the chart.

Evidence About Armbands What if… Student arguments about armbands were starting to add up?  This may indicate that trouble is on the rise.  Shows the armbands were disruptive  Does not show disruption

Evidence About Armbands Shows the armbands were disruptive Does NOT show disruption Writing a threatening note during class At lunch, someone says the armbands are stupid Threatening to beat up a student on the school bus Making a face during class Shoving a student into a locker between classes Arguing stops when teacher says it’s time to begin class Arguments starting to add up People arguing about singing, not about armbands A fun debate about armbands As you advance the slides, each “What If” situation will be added to the chart.

Evidence About Armbands What if… The teacher had to tell students to stop arguing so she could begin class? This could be interpreted differently depending on which side you’re on. If you want to argue the armbands are not disruptive, you would probably say the teacher always has to ask for quiet, so the armbands did not cause that problem. If you want to argue that the armbands are disruptive, you would emphasize that because of an argument about armbands, the teacher had trouble starting class.  Shows the armbands were disruptive  Does not show disruption CLICK for a hint!

HINT: How would you use this evidence if you were trying to argue that the t-shirts ARE disruptive? What would you say? How would you use this evidence if you were trying to argue that the t-shirts are NOT disruptive? What would you say differently?

Evidence About Armbands Shows the armbands were disruptive Does NOT show disruption Writing a threatening note during class At lunch, someone says the armbands are stupid Threatening to beat up a student on the school bus Making a face during class Shoving a student into a locker between classes Arguing stops when teacher says it’s time to begin class Arguments starting to add up People arguing about singing, not about armbands Teacher tries to begin but can’t until she tells students to stop arguing about armbands A fun debate about armbands As usual, teacher must ask for quiet before she can begin As you advance the slides, each “What If” situation will be added to the chart.

Next Time: Did Principal Carter have any evidence that band t-shirts were being disruptive? In the next lesson, students will examine evidence about whether band t-shirts were disruptive at Ben’s school. This will give them the raw material for their persuasive essays.