Tennessee's Cannon County REACH after-school program reportedly told a 9-year-old boy he was not allowed to read his Bible at school after he recited his first amendment rights, claiming if they let him they ran the risk of being shut down by the state.

Young boy Austin Grayson's is receiving legal help after being told he couldn't read his Bible during the after-school program.

"He had pulled his Bible out and he was told to put it away," 9-year-old boy'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," Grayson told his teacher.

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

Koepfgen told the station, 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 of Tennessee (ACLU-TN) stepped in when the student's mother contacted them. They sent a letter to the Cannon County REACH after-school program.

"Tennessee public school students cannot be denied the right to engage in religious activities," a part of the letter read.

The ACLU-TN letter says it desires that the program instruct its employees on their "obligation under the law" to protect students religious liberties. Adding, "The First Amendment exists to protect religious freedom. While this means that schools may not impose or promote religion, it also means that students can engage in religious activities that they initiate, provided they do not cause a disruption or interfere with the education of other students." It also asks that the boy 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."

According to REACH director Linda Bewell, this is a non-issue. "Our mission is to continue to ensure that we treat every child justly and fairly in everything," Bedwell told HuffPost. "As for discriminating against the Bible, that couldn't be further from the truth."
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