Opinion ID: 1147963
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Applicable Constitutional Provisions.

Text: Many of the assignments of error made by the plaintiffs relate to the right of the Religious to teach in the public schools, wear religious garb while teaching, draw public money for acting as such teachers, and further urge that payment of tax money to such members is, in fact, an aid to a religious order in aid of its particular religion (as the Religious all take vows of poverty and turn their earnings over to their respective orders) all in violation of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, provisions of our Enabling Act and certain sections of our state Constitution. Therefore, we quote hereafter various constitutional and statutory provisions relative to the separation of church and state and to our schools. The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States reads: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. This provision is made applicable to the states by the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, Everson v. Board of Education, 330 U.S. 1, 67 S.Ct. 504, 91 L.Ed. 711, 168 A.L.R. 1392. Section 2 of the Enabling Act for New Mexico, Act of June 20, 1910, 36 Statutes at Large 557, Ch. 310, reads in part: And said convention (meaning our constitutional convention) shall provide, by an ordinance irrevocable without the consent of the United States and the people of said State  First. That perfect toleration of religious sentiment shall be secured, and that no inhabitant of said State shall ever be molested in person or property on account of his or her mode of religious worship;   . Fourth. That provision shall be made for the establishment and maintenance of a system of public schools, which shall be open to all the children of said State and free from sectarian control, and that said schools shall always be conducted in English.    All of which ordinance described in this section shall, by proper reference, be made a part of any constitution that shall be formed hereunder, in such terms as shall positively preclude the making by any future constitutional amendment of any change or abrogation of the said ordinance in whole or in part without the consent of Congress. The following are quotations from our New Mexico Constitution: Every man shall be free to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, and no person shall ever be molested or denied any civil or political right or privilege on account of his religious opinion or mode of religious worship. No person shall be required to attend any place of worship or support any religious sect or denomination; nor shall any preference be given by law to any religious denomination or mode of worship. Art. 2, Sec. 11. Neither the state, nor any county, school district, or municipality, except as otherwise provided in this constitution, shall directly or indirectly lend or pledge its credit, or make any donation to or in aid of any person, association or public or private corporation,   . Art. 9, Sec. 14. A uniform system of free public schools sufficient for the education of, and open to, all the children of school age in the state shall be established and maintained. Art. 12, Sec. 1. The schools, colleges, universities and other educational institutions provided for by this constitution shall forever remain under the exclusive control of the state, and no part of the proceeds arising from the sale or disposal of any lands granted to the state by congress, or any other funds appropriated, levied or collected for educational purposes, shall be used for the support of any sectarian, denominational or private school, college or university. Art. 12, Sec. 3. See also Sec. 8, Enabling Act, supra. Every child of school age and of sufficient physical and mental ability shall be required to attend a public or other school during such period and for such time as may be prescribed by law. Art. 12, Sec. 5. No religious test shall ever be required as a condition of admission into the public schools or any educational institution of this state, either as a teacher or student, and no teacher or student of such school or institution shall ever be required to attend or participate in any religious service whatsoever. Art. 12, Sec. 9. Provision shall be made for the establishment and maintenance of a system of public schools which shall be open to all the children of the state and free from sectarian control, and said school shall always be conducted in English. Art. 21, Sec. 4. Section 55-1102, N.M.S.A. 1941 Comp., reads: No teacher shall use any sectarian or denominational books in the schools or teach sectarian doctrine in the schools, and any teacher violating the provisions of this section shall be immediately discharged, his certificate to teach school revoked, and be forever barred from receiving any school moneys and employment in the public schools in the state. Provided, that this section shall not be construed to interfere with the use of school buildings for other purposes authorized by the county board after school hours. This statute, substantially as above, has been in effect in New Mexico for many years. Money for the support of our public school system comes from taxation and the income from lands granted the state by the Congress of the United States. Without further prefatory material, we will now proceed with the determination of the issues in this controversy.