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School boardproblemisblackarm band like a Go Ridersrpin:DES MOINES (UPI) — Par-nts of two students who were ent home from school for wear-lg black arm bands said to-ay they will try to persuade ie school board to allow stu-ents to wear the bands.Chris Eckhardt, 15, son of Mr. nd Mrs. William Eckhardt, and 1ary Beth Tinker, 13, daughter f the Rev. and Mrs. Leonard inker, were sent home from )es Moines schools Thursday j fter they attended classesrearing a black arm band. iRev. Tinker said the students ;ot the idea from college stu-lents who were mourning the leaths of those killed in Viet 'lam and in support of a C'nrist-nats truce.Craig Sawyer, a law professor it Drake University and a tiember of the American Civil liberties Union, will represent he group at a meeting with he Des Moines School Board lext Tuesday.Sawyer also r e p res e n t s Stephen Smith, the University of Iowa student accused of burning his draft card at a school“We want to hear the school only an eighth grader, yet she board’s position on this matter has gone to some degree to in-before we take another step,” form herself about the war in he said. “So far only an official Viet Nam. I think that’s just of the school board had made great. When 1 was in the eightna decision.”Board Head Issued OrderOra Niffenegger, school boardpresident, issued an administragrade, I never had such thoughts.”Sawyer met with about 25 students and parents Th u r sdaytive order prohibiting the lt;vear- night to discuss the coming ing of black arm bands. Nif- meeting with the school board, fenegger said he feared students He said the group took no ic-wearing the arm bands would; tion as to whether or not thecreate a disturbance.children should take off theirHe said he was opposed to arm bands and return to school.any type of demonstraM )r.” within the schools.“That decision will be left up to the individual students,”Sawyer, however, argues 'hat Sawyer said. “1 would guess the wearing of an arm band by. that some students will snow a student is not a demonstra- j up at the schools today with tion. “We allow our kids to tilack arm bands. After all, a wear pom poms and big three person who rs wil'ing to get inch pins that say ’Go Riders’! kicked out of school simply be-I can’t see why they shouldn’t cause he is wearing an a r m be allowed to wear arm bands.”; band isn’t likely to take it off Sawyer said he was in sym- just because a school officialpathy with the studen's’ posi tells him to.” tion. Why should we punish Will Study At Honwthem for being concerned about William Eckhardt, a clinical something bigger than basket-j psychologist, said his son was ball or football,” he said. ' indefinitely suspended from“I think it’s wonderul t h a t i school. He said his son wasabsence from class, he will be studying at home,” Eckhardt said.Rev. Tinker, a Methodist m.n-ister and peace education director for the American Friends Service Committee, said he supports his daughter’s decision towear the arm band. Her action didn’t involve a demonstration of any kind,” he said. “I don’t believe wearing a black arm band has any connection with the educational process.Sawyer said he agreed to a«t as counsel for the students after one of them called him u p last week and outlined their position, “1 guess I have a low boiling point. 1 think it’s terrible if the school board won’t let these students wear their arm bands. I was very disturbed abou' it when I first heard the students complaints.”If the school board refuses to permit the wearing of arm bands, Sawyer said he may consider legal action. “Right off hand, I would have to say mat we probably don’t have a ver\
Newspaper Details
Ames Daily Tribune
Ames, Iowa, US
Fri, Dec 17, 1965
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Henderson S.
Ar, USA 28 Feb 2019
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