© 2025 | Jefferson Public Radio
Southern Oregon University
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520
541.552.6301 | 800.782.6191
Listen | Discover | Engage a service of Southern Oregon University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

West Virginia County Public Schools Sued On Bible Classes

The Mercer County Public Schools in West Virginia are being sued by a mother known as Jane Doe, along with the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The plaintiffs say the school system’s 75-year-old “ Bible in the Schools” program violates the First Amendment’s separation between church and state.

The Bible classes are designed for elementary and middle school students and are voluntary. But the plaintiff says her child would be ostracized by opting out.

Annie Laurie Gaylor ( @algaylor), co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, explains the basis of the lawsuit to Here & Now‘s Robin Young.

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Congress and the President have spoken. While this is a devastating result, JPR's commitment to its mission and values and our resolve to achieve them remain stronger than ever. Together with NPR, we’ll continue to bring you rigorous journalism, local news, courageous storytelling, and inspired music – every day. Help us increase listener support by 25% to make up for lost federal funding.