U.S. Supreme Court to Weigh In on Playground Dispute

Trinity Lutheran v. Comer is a court case with humble origins. It started with officials at Trinity Lutheran School in Columbia, Missouri, who wanted to replace the gravel surface of the school’s playground with something more forgiving. Accordingly, Trinity applied to a state-run program whereby organizations can be reimbursed for the purchase of recycled tires that can be used to make a softer playground surface. If you think this story sounds simple, think again. On April 19, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case that involves the separation of church and state as well as the ways in which the government and groups with a religious affiliation can cooperate for the public good. This surprisingly complicated and potentially far-reaching case is the topic of a new essay by Show-Me Institute Director of Education Policy Michael McShane, which you can read here.