TINKER VS. DES MOINES

An illumination of the issues raised in an important 1965 case testing students' civil liberties. Carefully setting the stage in a Vietnam-era high school, Rappaport tells how seven students who wore black armbands to mourn the war dead were suspended. Three sued the school board for violating their right of free speech; seven letters from a local newspaper illustrate the breadth and depth of community reaction. Rappaport quotes extensively from trial transcripts, adding commentary to clarify issues and show how the courts addressed them. Only after giving readers three chances to play judge does she present the Supreme Court's decision. Interviews with some of the participants, 27 years later, show how the results strengthened or changed their views. There are a few minor inconsistencies, but the author's objectivity and accessible style make the issues clear, while well-chosen photos add important information. A valuable resource that will also interest students who want to know how the legal system may affect them in school. Bibliography. (Nonfiction, 11+)