Opinion ID: 1147963
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Failure of Decree to Enjoin All Religious Teachers.

Text: The first point raised by the appellants respects the refusal of the trial court to enjoin all of the Religious defendants from thereafter teaching in the public schools of New Mexico who the record shows violated the provisions of Sec. 55-1102, N.M.S.A. 1941 Comp., supra. It is true the findings and record show that many of the Religious who had taught religion and used sectarian books, such as the Baltimore Edition of the Catechism, in the public schools while employed as teachers were not enjoined. However, a study of the record reveals that violations were in different degrees and there were more violations by some teachers than by others. It is difficult to determine where the trial judge drew the line and an opinion by him revealing his mental process in this case (where he did a remarkably fine job) would have been of considerable assistance to us. However, as the granting or denial of an injunction is to a great degree a matter resting in the conscience of the Chancellor, we will accept his decision on this point and decline to direct an injunction against the Religious he did not enjoin for violating this statute. In reaching this decision we are not unmindful that members of the Religious have served as teachers in the communities involved for many years and have in the past rendered fine service in the cause of education in remote communities. The fact they were teaching religion in the public schools in violation of the state and federal Constitutions was well known to the school authorities, both local and state, by them condoned and in many cases encouraged.