Did you know that Idaho public school students once heard the Bible read by their teachers at the beginning of each school day?

Early generations of Americans understood the importance of school-sponsored Bible reading. In fact, the U.S. Supreme Court endorsed the practice in the landmark case Vidal v. Girard’s Executors (1844):

“Why may not the Bible, and especially the New Testament, without note or comment, be read and taught as a divine revelation in the [schools]—its general precepts expounded, its evidences explained, and its glorious principles of morality inculcated?”

Likewise, our Idaho founding fathers wanted the Bible to be read in public schools—and they intentionally crafted our state constitution to allow the practice. As William H. Clagett (R-Shoshone), President of the Idaho Constitutional Convention, explained: 

“[T]o exclude the children of the state from access to this great reservoir of moral principles and political maxims of daily duty [found in Scripture would do] a great injustice to the state at large.”

Over the last fifty years, we’ve seen the devastating effects of removing the Bible from our public schools. That is why it’s critical—now more than ever—that the Idaho Legislature brings the Bible back into the classroom.

Want to help make this happen? Sign our petition to ask state lawmakers to allow school-sponsored Bible reading.