(1) All persons now teaching or who may hereafter be employed as teachers in any school supported in whole or in part by public funds of the state, county or municipality shall be required to take and subscribe to an oath to support the constitutions of the United States and Tennessee.
(2) Any person who is an applicant for a position as a teacher in the schools referred to in subsection (a) who refuses to take the oath shall not be employed, and those who are now employed and who refuse to take the oath referred to in subsection (a) shall be immediately dismissed from the service.