Editor,

In 1965, John Tinker, his sister Mary Beth and a friend were sent home from school for wearing black armbands to protest the Vietnam War.

In a 7-2 decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the students had the right to wear armbands to school.

Justice Abe Fortas wrote for the majority, “It can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.”

Still, violations of the constitutional rights of students are far too common in public schools across the country.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, speech and articles written for student newspapers are censored.

Lockers, backpacks and even students are searched without reasonable suspicion.

Further, it’s a First Amendment right to voice any opinion, doing so quietly and without curse words.

I would encourage the students and teachers of Oak Harbor and Coupeville to talk openly in class about their God and his creation.

If you want to rebel against the established norms, legally, this is a good way to do so. Most of what passes for rebellion is simply running with the pack.

Take a stand against established authority.

Scott Vanderlinden
Oak Harbor