Opinion ID: 1147963
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: Barring Certain of the Religious from Again Teaching.

Text: Certain of the Religious were permanently barred as teachers in the public schools of New Mexico by virtue of the provisions of Sec. 55-1102, Supra, because they had taught sectarian religion in the public schools in which they were employed as teachers. It is first claimed the regular religious instruction was given either before or after regular school hours, and that such time has not until the rendition of the decree in this case been considered as a time when school is in session. It is further urged the statute is penal in nature and, therefore, requires a strict construction. We have already pointed out that under the system in operation the school day actually embraced the thirty minute period devoted to religious instruction, in addition to such time as was devoted to prayers in some of the schools. The practices prevailing in each of the schools where religion was taught were so uniform that we must conclude they were a part of a general plan and design to circumvent the constitutional and statutory provisions prohibiting the teaching of sectarian religion in the public schools. The Religious are intelligent people and the course they pursued proves they were aware of the laws on the subject and the penalty. Neither are we impressed by the facts that county boards of education encouraged such practices and that members of the State Board of Education and other public officials charged with the enforcement of our laws ignored and even encouraged the violations. Nor does the fact that such violations have continued for a long period of time justify us in refusing to give effect to a statutory penalty passed in aid of applicable constitutional provisions. Constitutional and statutory provisions are not amended or repealed by the failure of officials to enforce them. State ex rel. State Tax Commission v. San Luis Power & Water Co., 51 N.M. 294, 183 P.2d 605. The Religious by their actions having made the thirty minute period a part of the regular school day and had the buses operate in cooperation with such plan, and, in addition, utilizing the compulsory school attendance law, cannot be heard to say they were holding such religious classes only before or after school hours. Appellee teachers next contend the punitive decree forever barring them is in the nature of a criminal penalty for violation of a statute so vague and uncertain as to deny them due process of law. We agree with their contention that the relationship between them and their school boards is protected by the federal Constitution against arbitrary deprivation or impairment. State of Indiana ex rel. Anderson v. Brand, 303 U.S. 95, 58 S.Ct. 443, 82 L.Ed. 685, 113 A.L.R. 1482. We also agree that a penal statute so uncertain in meaning or capricious in application as to provide no intelligible standard is void. State v. Diamond, 27 N.M. 477, 202 P. 988, 20 A.L.R. 1527. We disagree, however, with their interpretation of the statute. It follows the prohibitions of Art. 12, Secs. 3 and 9 of our New Mexico Constitution, quoted supra, and need not be misunderstood by those who seek a reasonable interpretation. Neither do we agree that the trial judge arbitrarily or capriciously applied it. Conversely, it seems to us he was very charitable in its application. The Religious further urge that a specific intent on their part to violate Sec. 55-1102, supra, is a pre-requisite to its violation and constitutionality. To this we answer the record, in our opinion, clearly establishes such intent.