2nd Grade Girl Permitted to Read Bible in School

The ACLJ represented a second-grade girl this week in Pennsylvania who wished to read a story from the Bible in her classroom as part of her special privileges for being named the classroom’s “special student” of the week. It was the customary practice in Morgan’s classroom that each week a new student be selected as the “special student.” The selected student is then given special privileges including the right to share pictures with the class, bring a show and tell item, and read from a book chosen by the student. Morgan’s teacher, however, upon realizing that Morgan’s favorite book was the Bible, instructed her that she would not be permitted to read a Bible story to the class because not every student in the class believed in the Bible.

The ACLJ immediately notified appropriate school officials of Morgan’s free speech rights as a student to read from the Bible as part of her special privileges. The school quickly responded to the ACLJ’s request and agreed to allow Morgan to exercise her First Amendment rights and read from the Bible – her favorite book.