ACLU Defends Boy's Right to Read Bible at School

A Tennessee boy is receiving legal help after being told he couldn't read his Bible during an after-school program.

"He had pulled his Bible out and he was told to put it away," 9-year-old Austin Grayson's mother, Lisa Koepfgen, told Nashville television station WTVF. "When he was told to put it away, he recited the First Amendment."

"Free country, free religion," Austin told his teacher.

"Apparently they didn't like that," his mother said. "They saw it to be disrespectful."

Koepfgen said the school told her that her son couldn't read religious material because the after school program, REACH, was funded by public money.

The American Civil Liberties Union stepped in to defend Austin.

They sent  letter to the Cannon County REACH after-school program that read in part, "Tennessee public school students cannot be denied the right to engage in religious activities.

The ACLU letter requests that the after-school program train its employees on their "obligation under the law" to protect students religious liberties.

It also asks that Austin be allowed to read his Bible during free time and activity time.

"I am so thankful that the law has been clarified," Koepfgen said. "You know not only for REACH, but for everyone this story has touched."