MCREYNOLDS, J., Opinion of the Court SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES 262 U.S. 390 Meyer v.

State of Nebraska ERROR TO THE SUPREME. COURT OF THE STATE OF NE RAS!A No. 325 Argued: February 23, 1923 --- Decided: June 4, 1923 MR. JUSTICE M REYNOLDS !e"i#ere! the opinion of the Court. P"$intiff in error %$& trie! $n! on#i te! in the Di&tri t Court for H$'i"ton Count(, Ne)r$&*$, un!er $n infor'$tion %hi h h$r+e! th$t, on M$( ,-, ./,0, %hi"e $n in&tru tor in 1ion P$ro hi$" S hoo", he un"$%fu""( t$u+ht the &u)2e t of re$!in+ in the 3er'$n "$n+u$+e to R$('on! P$rp$rt, $ hi"! of ten (e$r&, %ho h$! not $tt$ine! 4p5/67 $n! &u e&&fu""( p$&&e! the ei+hth +r$!e. The infor'$tion i& )$&e! upon 8An $ t re"$tin+ to the te$ hin+ of forei+n "$n+u$+e& in the St$te of Ne)r$&*$,8 $ppro#e! Apri" /, ././, %hi h fo""o%& 4L$%& ././, . ,9/.7: Se tion .. No per&on, in!i#i!u$""( or $& $ te$ her, &h$"", in $n( pri#$te, !eno'in$tion$", p$ro hi$" or pu)"i & hoo", te$ h $n( &u)2e t to $n( per&on in $n( "$n+u$+e other th$n the En+"i&h "$n+u$+e. Se . ,. L$n+u$+e&, other th$n the En+"i&h "$n+u$+e, '$( )e t$u+ht $& "$n+u$+e& on"( $fter $ pupi" &h$"" h$#e $tt$ine! $n! &u e&&fu""( p$&&e! the ei+hth +r$!e $& e#i!en e! )( $ ertifi $te of +r$!u$tion i&&ue! )( the ount( &uperinten!ent of the ount( in %hi h the hi"! re&i!e&. Se . 5. An( per&on %ho #io"$te& $n( of the pro#i&ion& of thi& $ t &h$"" )e !ee'e! +ui"t( of $ 'i&!e'e$nor $n! upon on#i tion, &h$"" )e &u)2e t to $ fine of not "e&& th$n t%ent(;fi#e !o""$r& <=,->, nor 'ore th$n one hun!re! !o""$r& <=.00> or )e onfine! in the ount( 2$i" for $n( perio! not e? ee!in+ thirt( !$(& for e$ h offen&e. Se . 9. @here$&, $n e'er+en ( e?i&t&, thi& $ t &h$"" )e in for e fro' $n! $fter it& p$&&$+e $n! $ppro#$". The Supre'e Court of the St$te $ffir'e! the 2u!+'ent of on#i tion. .06 Ne). A-6. It !e "$re! the offen&e h$r+e! $n! e&t$)"i&he! %$& 8the !ire t $n! intention$" te$ hin+ of the 3er'$n "$n+u$+e $& $ !i&tin t &u)2e t to $ hi"! %ho h$! not p$&&e! the ei+hth +r$!e,8 in the p$ro hi$" & hoo" '$int$ine! )( 1ion E#$n+e"i $" Luther$n Con+re+$tion, $ o""e tion of Bi)"i $" &torie& )ein+ u&e! therefor. An! it he"! th$t the &t$tute for)i!!in+ thi& !i! not onf"i t %ith the Fourteenth A'en!'ent, )ut %$& $ #$"i! e?er i&e of the po"i e po%er. The fo""o%in+ e? erpt& fro' the opinion &uffi ient"( in!i $te the re$&on& $!#$n e! to &upport the on "u&ion. The &$"ut$r( purpo&e of the &t$tute i& "e$r. The "e+i&"$ture h$! &een the )$nefu" effe t& of per'ittin+ forei+ner&, "#39$% %ho h$! t$*en re&i!en e in thi& ountr(, to re$r $n! e!u $te their hi"!ren in the "$n+u$+e of their n$ti#e "$n!. The re&u"t of th$t on!ition %$& foun! to )e ini'i $" to our o%n &$fet(. To $""o% the hi"!ren of forei+ner&, %ho h$! e'i+r$te! here, to )e t$u+ht fro' e$r"( hi"!hoo! the "$n+u$+e of the ountr( of their p$rent& %$& to re$r the' %ith th$t "$n+u$+e $& their 'other ton+ue. It %$& to e!u $te the' &o th$t the( 'u&t $"%$(& thin* in th$t "$n+u$+e, $n!, $& $ on&eCuen e, n$tur$""( in u" $te in the' the i!e$& $n! &enti'ent& forei+n to the )e&t intere&t& of thi& ountr(. The &t$tute, therefore, %$& inten!e! not on"( to reCuire th$t the e!u $tion of $"" hi"!ren )e on!u te! in the En+"i&h "$n+u$+e, )ut th$t, unti" the( h$! +ro%n into th$t "$n+u$+e $n! unti" it h$! )e o'e $ p$rt of the', the( &hou"! not in the & hoo"& )e t$u+ht $n( other "$n+u$+e. The o)#iou& purpo&e of thi& &t$tute %$& th$t the En+"i&h "$n+u$+e &hou"! )e $n! )e o'e the 'other ton+ue of $"" hi"!ren re$re! in thi& &t$te. The en$ t'ent of &u h $ &t$tute o'e& re$&on$)"( %ithin the po"i e po%er of the &t$te. Pohl v. State, .5, N.E. <Ohio> ,0D State v. Bartels, .E. N.@. <I$.> -0E. It i& &u++e&te! th$t the "$% i& $n un%$rr$nte! re&tri tion, in th$t it $pp"ie& to $"" itiFen& of the &t$te $n! $r)itr$ri"( interfere& %ith the ri+ht& of itiFen& %ho $re not of forei+n $n e&tr(, $n! pre#ent& the', %ithout re$&on, fro' h$#in+ their hi"!ren t$u+ht forei+n "$n+u$+e& in & hoo". Th$t $r+u'ent i& not %e"" t$*en, for it $&&u'e& th$t e#er( itiFen fin!& hi'&e"f re&tr$ine! )( the &t$tute. The hour& %hi h $ hi"! i& $)"e to !e#ote to &tu!( in the onfine'ent of & hoo" $re "i'ite!. It 'u&t h$#e $'p"e ti'e for e?er i&e or p"$(. It& !$i"( $p$ it( for "e$rnin+ i& o'p$r$ti#e"( &'$"". A &e"e tion of &u)2e t& for it& e!u $tion, therefore, fro' $'on+ the '$n( th$t 'i+ht )e t$u+ht, i& o)#iou&"( ne e&&$r(. The "e+i&"$ture no !ou)t h$! in 'in! the pr$ ti $" oper$tion of the "$%. The "$% $ffe t& fe% itiFen&, e? ept tho&e of forei+n "ine$+e. "#399% Other itiFen&, in their &e"e tion of &tu!ie&, e? ept perh$p& in r$re

in&t$n e&, h$#e ne#er !ee'e! it of i'port$n e to te$ h their hi"!ren forei+n "$n+u$+e& )efore &u h hi"!ren h$#e re$ he! the ei+hth +r$!e. In the "e+i&"$ti#e 'in!, the &$"ut$r( effe t of the &t$tute no !ou)t out%ei+he! the re&tri tion upon the itiFen& +ener$""(, %hi h, it $ppe$r&, %$& $ re&tri tion of no re$" on&eCuen e. The pro)"e' for our !eter'in$tion i& %hether the &t$tute, $& on&true! $n! $pp"ie!, unre$&on$)"( infrin+e& the "i)ert( +u$r$ntee! to the p"$intiff in error )( the Fourteenth A'en!'ent. 8No St$te &h$"" . . . !epri#e $n( per&on of "ife, "i)ert(, or propert(, %ithout !ue pro e&& of "$%.8 @hi"e thi& Court h$& not $tte'pte! to !efine %ith e?$ tne&& the "i)ert( thu& +u$r$ntee!, the ter' h$& re ei#e! 'u h on&i!er$tion $n! &o'e of the in "u!e! thin+& h$#e )een !efinite"( &t$te!. @ithout !ou)t, it !enote& not 'ere"( free!o' fro' )o!i"( re&tr$int, )ut $"&o the ri+ht of the in!i#i!u$" to ontr$ t, to en+$+e in $n( of the o''on o up$tion& of "ife, to $ Cuire u&efu" *no%"e!+e, to '$rr(, e&t$)"i&h $ ho'e $n! )rin+ up hi"!ren, to %or&hip 3o! $ or!in+ to the !i t$te& of hi& o%n on& ien e, $n! +ener$""( to en2o( tho&e pri#i"e+e& "on+ re o+niFe! $t o''on "$% $& e&&enti$" to the or!er"( pur&uit of h$ppine&& )( free 'en. Slaughter-House Cases, .A @$"". 5AD Butchers' Union Co. v. Crescent City Co., ... U.S. 69AD Yick Wo v. Hopkins, ..E U.S. 5-AD Minnesota v. Bar er, .5A U.S. 5.5D !llgeyer v. "ouisiana, .A- U.S. -6ED "ochner v. #e$ York, ./E U.S. 9-D %$ining v. #e$ &ersey, ,.. U.S. 6ED Chicago, Burlington ' (uincy ).). Co. v. Mc*uire, ,./ U.S. -9/D %rua+ v. )aich, ,5/ U.S. 55D !,a-s v. %anner, ,99 U.S. -/0D #e$ York "i.e /ns. Co. v. 0o,ge, ,9A U.S. 5-6D %rua+ v. Corrigan, ,-6 U.S. 5.,D !,kins v. Chil,ren's Hospital, ,A. U.S. -,-D Wyeth v. Ca- ri,ge Boar, o. Health, ,00 M$&&. 969. The e&t$)"i&he! !o trine i& th$t thi& "i)ert( '$( not )e interfere! 4p9007 %ith, un!er the +ui&e of prote tin+ the pu)"i intere&t, )( "e+i&"$ti#e $ tion %hi h i& $r)itr$r( or %ithout re$&on$)"e re"$tion to &o'e purpo&e %ithin the o'peten ( of the St$te to effe t. Deter'in$tion )( the "e+i&"$ture of %h$t on&titute& proper e?er i&e of po"i e po%er i& not fin$" or on "u&i#e, )ut i& &u)2e t to &uper#i&ion )( the ourt&. "a$ton v. Steele, .-, U.S. .55, .56. The A'eri $n peop"e h$#e $"%$(& re+$r!e! e!u $tion $n! $ Cui&ition of *no%"e!+e $& '$tter& of &upre'e i'port$n e %hi h &hou"! )e !i"i+ent"( pro'ote!. The Or!in$n e of .6E6 !e "$re&, Re"i+ion, 'or$"it(, $n! *no%"e!+e )ein+ ne e&&$r( to +oo! +o#ern'ent $n! the h$ppine&& of '$n*in!, & hoo"& $n! the 'e$n& of e!u $tion &h$"" fore#er )e en our$+e!. Corre&pon!in+ to the ri+ht of ontro", it i& the n$tur$" !ut( of the p$rent to +i#e hi& hi"!ren e!u $tion &uit$)"e to their &t$tion in "ife, $n! ne$r"( $"" the St$te&, in "u!in+ Ne)r$&*$, enfor e thi& o)"i+$tion )( o'pu"&or( "$%&. Pr$ ti $""(, e!u $tion of the (oun+ i& on"( po&&i)"e in & hoo"& on!u te! )( e&pe i$""( Cu$"ifie! per&on& %ho !e#ote the'&e"#e& thereto. The $""in+ $"%$(& h$& )een re+$r!e! $& u&efu" $n! honor$)"e, e&&enti$", in!ee!, to the pu)"i %e"f$re. Mere *no%"e!+e of the 3er'$n "$n+u$+e $nnot re$&on$)"( )e re+$r!e! $& h$r'fu". Heretofore it h$& )een o''on"( "oo*e! upon $& he"pfu" $n! !e&ir$)"e. P"$intiff in error t$u+ht thi& "$n+u$+e in & hoo" $& p$rt of hi& o up$tion. Hi& ri+ht thu& to te$ h $n! the ri+ht of p$rent& to en+$+e hi' &o to in&tru t their hi"!ren, %e thin*, $re %ithin the "i)ert( of the A'en!'ent. The h$""en+e! &t$tute for)i!& the te$ hin+ in & hoo" of $n( &u)2e t e? ept in En+"i&hD $"&o the te$ hin+ of $n( other "$n+u$+e unti" the pupi" h$& $tt$ine! $n! &u e&&fu""( p$&&e! the ei+hth +r$!e, %hi h i& not u&u$""( $ o'p"i&he! )efore the $+e of t%e"#e. The Supre'e Court of the St$te h$& he"! th$t 8the &o; $""e! $n ient or !e$! "$n+u$+e&8 $re not 8%ithin the &pirit or the purpo&e of 4p90.7 the $ t.8 #e raska 0istrict o. 1vangelical "utheran Syno, v. Mc2elvie, .E6 N.@. /,6. L$tin, 3ree*, He)re% $re not pro& ri)e!D )ut 3er'$n, Fren h, Sp$ni&h, It$"i$n $n! e#er( other $"ien &pee h $re %ithin the )$n. E#i!ent"( the "e+i&"$ture h$& $tte'pte! '$teri$""( to interfere %ith the $""in+ of 'o!ern "$n+u$+e te$ her&, %ith the opportunitie& of pupi"& to $ Cuire *no%"e!+e, $n! %ith the po%er of p$rent& to ontro" the e!u $tion of their o%n. It i& &$i! the purpo&e of the "e+i&"$tion %$& to pro'ote i#i !e#e"op'ent )( inhi)itin+ tr$inin+ $n! e!u $tion of the i''$ture in forei+n ton+ue& $n! i!e$"& )efore the( ou"! "e$rn En+"i&h $n! $ Cuire A'eri $n i!e$"&, $n! 8th$t the En+"i&h "$n+u$+e &hou"! )e $n! )e o'e the 'other ton+ue of $"" hi"!ren re$re! in thi& St$te.8 It i& $"&o $ffir'e! th$t the forei+n )orn popu"$tion i& #er( "$r+e, th$t ert$in o''unitie& o''on"( u&e forei+n %or!&, fo""o% forei+n "e$!er&, 'o#e in $ forei+n $t'o&phere, $n! th$t the hi"!ren $re there)( hin!ere! fro' )e o'in+ itiFen& of the 'o&t u&efu" t(pe, $n! the pu)"i &$fet( i& i'peri"e!.

Th$t the St$te '$( !o 'u h, +o #er( f$r, in!ee!, in or!er to i'pro#e the Cu$"it( of it& itiFen&, ph(&i $""(, 'ent$""( $n! 'or$""(, i& "e$rD )ut the in!i#i!u$" h$& ert$in fun!$'ent$" ri+ht& %hi h 'u&t )e re&pe te!. The prote tion of the Con&titution e?ten!& to $"", to tho&e %ho &pe$* other "$n+u$+e& $& %e"" $& to tho&e )orn %ith En+"i&h on the ton+ue. Perh$p& it %ou"! )e hi+h"( $!#$nt$+eou& if $"" h$! re$!( un!er&t$n!in+ of our or!in$r( &pee h, )ut thi& $nnot )e oer e! )( 'etho!& %hi h onf"i t %ith the Con&titution ;; $ !e&ir$)"e en! $nnot )e pro'ote! )( prohi)ite! 'e$n&. For the %e"f$re of hi& I!e$" Co''on%e$"th, P"$to &u++e&te! $ "$% %hi h &hou"! pro#i!e: Th$t the %i#e& of our +u$r!i$n& $re to )e o''on, $n! their hi"!ren $re to )e o''on, $n! no p$rent i& to *no% hi& o%n hi"!, "#&02% nor $n( hi"! hi& p$rent. . . . The proper offi er& %i"" t$*e the off&prin+ of the +oo! p$rent& to the pen or fo"!, $n! there the( %i"" !epo&it the' %ith ert$in nur&e& %ho !%e"" in $ &ep$r$te Cu$rterD )ut the off&prin+ of the inferior, or of the )etter %hen the( h$n e to )e !efor'e!, %i"" )e put $%$( in &o'e '(&teriou&, un*no%n p"$ e, $& the( &hou"! )e. In or!er to &u)'er+e the in!i#i!u$". $n! !e#e"op i!e$" itiFen&, Sp$rt$ $&&e')"e! the '$"e& $t &e#en into )$rr$ *& $n! intru&te! their &u)&eCuent e!u $tion $n! tr$inin+ to offi i$" +u$r!i$n&. A"thou+h &u h 'e$&ure& h$#e )een !e"i)er$te"( $ppro#e! )( 'en of +re$t +eniu&, their i!e$& tou hin+ the re"$tion )et%een in!i#i!u$" $n! St$te %ere %ho""( !ifferent fro' tho&e upon %hi h our in&titution& re&t, $n! it h$r!"( %i"" )e $ffir'e! th$t $n( "e+i&"$ture ou"! i'po&e &u h re&tri tion& upon the peop"e of $ St$te %ithout !oin+ #io"en e to )oth "etter $n! &pirit of the Con&titution. The !e&ire of the "e+i&"$ture to fo&ter $ ho'o+eneou& peop"e %ith A'eri $n i!e$"& prep$re! re$!i"( to un!er&t$n! urrent !i& u&&ion& of i#i '$tter& i& e$&( to $ppre i$te. Unfortun$te e?perien e& !urin+ the "$te %$r $n! $#er&ion to%$r! e#er( h$r$ teri&ti of tru u"ent $!#er&$rie& %ere ert$in"( enou+h to Cui *en th$t $&pir$tion. But the 'e$n& $!opte!, %e thin*, e? ee! the "i'it$tion& upon the po%er of the St$te $n! onf"i t %ith ri+ht& $&&ure! to p"$intiff in error. The interferen e i& p"$in enou+h, $n! no $!eCu$te re$&on therefor in ti'e of pe$ e $n! !o'e&ti tr$nCui"it( h$& )een &ho%n. The po%er of the St$te to o'pe" $tten!$n e $t &o'e & hoo" $n! to '$*e re$&on$)"e re+u"$tion& for $"" & hoo"&, in "u!in+ $ reCuire'ent th$t the( &h$"" +i#e in&tru tion& in En+"i&h, i& not Cue&tione!. Nor h$& h$""en+e )een '$!e of the St$teG& po%er to pre& ri)e $ urri u"u' for in&titution& %hi h it &upport&. Tho&e '$tter& $re not %ithin the pre&ent ontro#er&(. Our on ern i& %ith the prohi)ition $ppro#e! )( the Supre'e Court. !,a-s v. 4p9057 %anner, supra, p. -/9, pointe! out th$t 'ere $)u&e in i!ent to $n o up$tion or!in$ri"( u&efu" i& not enou+h to 2u&tif( it& $)o"ition, $"thou+h re+u"$tion '$( )e entire"( proper. No e'er+en ( h$& $ri&en %hi h ren!er& *no%"e!+e )( $ hi"! of &o'e "$n+u$+e other th$n En+"i&h &o "e$r"( h$r'fu" $& to 2u&tif( it& inhi)ition %ith the on&eCuent infrin+e'ent of ri+ht& "on+ free"( en2o(e!. @e $re on&tr$ine! to on "u!e th$t the &t$tute $& $pp"ie! i& $r)itr$r( $n! %ithout re$&on$)"e re"$tion to $n( en! %ithin the o'peten ( of the St$te. A& the &t$tute un!ert$*e& to interfere on"( %ith te$ hin+ %hi h in#o"#e& $ 'o!ern "$n+u$+e, "e$#in+ o'p"ete free!o' $& to other '$tter&, there &ee'& no $!eCu$te foun!$tion for the &u++e&tion th$t the purpo&e %$& to prote t the hi"!G& he$"th )( "i'itin+ hi& 'ent$" $ ti#itie&. It i& %e"" *no%n th$t profi ien ( in $ forei+n "$n+u$+e &e"!o' o'e& to one not in&tru te! $t $n e$r"( $+e, $n! e?perien e &ho%& th$t thi& i& not in2uriou& to the he$"th, 'or$"& or un!er&t$n!in+ of the or!in$r( hi"!. The 2u!+'ent of the ourt )e"o% 'u&t )e re#er&e!, $n! the $u&e re'$n!e! for further pro ee!in+& not in on&i&tent %ith thi& opinion. )everse,. 4See the &ep$r$te opinion of MR. JUSTICE HOLMES, on urre! in )( MR. JUSTICE SUTHERLAND, in the ne?t $&e, $t p. 9.,, in.ra.7