What did the Supreme Court decide in Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)?

The Supreme Court's ruling in Tinker v. Des Moines (1969) established a significant precedent regarding the free speech rights of students in public schools. The Court determined that students do not "shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate." In this case, the wearing of black armbands by students to protest the Vietnam War was recognized as a form of symbolic speech, which is protected under the First Amendment.

The ruling highlighted that students are entitled to express their political views, as long as such expression does not materially and substantially disrupt the operation of the school. This decision reinforced the notion that freedom of expression is a fundamental right that extends into educational settings, provided it is expressed in a manner that is non-disruptive. The Tinker decision continues to be a foundational case in discussions about the limits and protections of student speech in schools.