Knoxville, USA - A 10-year-old boy and his parents are suing the youngster's school after the principal would not let him hold a Bible study during recess.
Samuel and Tina Whitson and their fourth-grade son Luke are seeking an injunction to stop school officials from "banning or threatening to ban religious expression in the form of Bible reading and discussion at Karns Elementary School during recess."
The school board, school superintendent Charles Lindsey and Karns Elementary School principal Cathy Summa are named in the lawsuit.
School officials declined comment. But last month the Knox County Board of Education said that while reading the Bible is acceptable during free time, recess is not considered free time.
The Whitsons' attorney, Charles Pope, argued it should be.
"Our position is the Constitution says yes to Bible reading and discussion outside class time," he said.
Luke Whitson and some of his friends began a Bible study at recess during the school year, and the family said in the lawsuit that another parent complained to the principal.
The Whitsons said the principal interrupted the Bible study and "demanded that they stop their activity at once, put their Bibles away and, from that point forward, cease from bringing their Bibles to school."