What does it mean for public schools, and public institutions generally, to remain “neutral” on religion? That question is at the heart of two important legal battles currently shaping the boundaries of secular law. Stinson v. Fayetteville School District (2025)and St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond (2025), while arising in different states and contexts, both explore a core tension testing how far the government can go in engaging with religion before it crosses the line.
The dispute in Stinson arises due to an Arkansas Law (Act 573) requiring every public-school classroom and library to prominently display the Ten Commandments in a specific, state-approved format. The law didn’t just allow religious displays. It mandated that the posters be at least 16” x 20”, clearly visible from anywhere in the room, and be posted in every classroom, regardless of subject or age group. This meant kindergartners, high schoolers, math classes, and science classes would all be exposed to the same religious text throughout the school day.
