In the 1920s, a Nebraska law made teaching German to children illegal. Soon after the law went into effect, Robert Meyer was arrested, charged and convicted. Rather than paying a fine, he fought. Meyer’s defiance rippled through the United States legal system for years to come.
He challenged the ruling, taking it all the way to the United States Supreme Court. This decision sparked conversation about which liberties in America should be guaranteed. Meyer v. Nebraska has been cited in some of the most consequential court decisions of the past 50 years. Nebraska Public Media’s Bill Kelly dives into the research to explain how the actions of a school teacher in a small Nebraska town over 100 years ago are echoing through society, once again.
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“Once Again” is a new history podcast from Nebraska Public Media where the past meets the present. Senior Producer Bill Kelly is on a mission: digging through archives, dusting off documents and uncovering compelling stories that matter – once again. Devoted history hunters and those who are casually curious about history will all find that each episode of “Once Again” revisits a fascinating chapter from recent Nebraska and Great Plains history and draws stunning parallels from the past to the present. The new Nebraska Public Media podcast features rich sound effects, music that is specific to the history of each episode and voice actors who make the stories come alive and create a picture for the podcast listener, much like a throwback to radio theater. The “Once Again” history podcast is a production of Nebraska Public Media News.
Nebraska Public Media has been dedicated to connecting Nebraskans through news, sports, education, and entertainment since 1954. Providing global news and compelling stories from PBS and NPR, Nebraska Public Media also produces award-winning original content.