SCUSD Observer
Last week the Sacramento Bee printed an article about Beth Tinker, now a 57-year-old pediatric nurse, who as a teenager was one of the plaintiffs in a seminal United States Supreme Court case concerning schools and democratic speech.
While the Bee focused on the person and the politics, it is actually the language of the Court’s opinion that warranted attention. We talk a lot about what we want to transmit to children through education. Scholastic aptitude and academic achievement are foremost. But we also want our school system to impart certain skills and knowledge that will help our children grow and prosper throughout their lives.
Many education advocates discuss education in terms of the skills and knowledge that are relevant to the 21st century economy. And economic security and prosperity are essential goals of the system. But the Tinkercase highlights another important facet of our education system. Our schools train our children how to be active, participatory citizens in our local and national democratic communities. The court’s opinion realizes a schoolhouse that teaches youth the skills and knowledge to contribute to our democracy. And, this citizenship lesson is relevant still today.
The court finds three principles that our schools embody in teaching citizenship. First, students are an integral part of our collective political community. Children should engage in policy discussions. Political arguments about leadership and community values necessarily include youth and children. They can be taught
