Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-08-01
GNutatiomaI Department.
Employing Teachers

Ihe SchCo. Law GCeS NOT -pecHcdiiy pOtAt
on, how directors shall employ the teachers for
their respective districts but, merely says
that, They shall have the appointment Of all
the teachers Of COMMON schools in the district,
fix the amount Of teachers salaries" &c-
Although the statute does not point out the
method Of hiring the teachers, the fair inference
frem the wording Of the law, is that they shall
be hired by the board Of direEtors, and not by
one of its members The State Superintendent
has been explicit on this point in his instruc-
tionS.
1t must be evident to any one, who THINKS
upon the subject for bGt one moment, that, il
there be a school law, there must Of necessity
be officers to carry out the provisions of that
law. II under that law, individuals are to be.
employed to perform labor, there must be off,
GERS elected according 70 the conditions OF that
law, to employ aud make contracts with said
employees, and. If any one not thus elected or
appointed docs hire or contract with persons
to perform said labors, sach contract is not in
accordance with the law, and is therefore
void. This IS bnt common sense, aud is so un-
dersto0d in every other particular except IN
the employment Of teachers.
Directors should always consult the wishes
Of those Intending to send TO the school, when
they engage q teacbcr for q particular school.
and if at all practicable, employ the teacher
desired by decided majority, but they can
not put this part OF Their duties into the hands
Of tie citizens. any more than they can the
dutr of Ievyiny thl tax TIE law is as impera-
tive 10 the one case as in the other.
The teacher, hired by the inhabitants Of
naghoofhooi, or by committee appointed by
the inhabitants. cannot legally look 10 thu
directors for his pay, simply because he has
rot been employed by Il c only authority known
to the school law for hiring teachers. Neither
IS it legal for one director TO employ teachers,
unless lie submit the contracts 10 the board
q! q regular meeting, and have them approved
bv the board The following, taken from the
official department OF the School Journal, is
the decision Of the State Superintendent, on
this question
QUESTION -" l. !. lawful for the Board Oh
Directors to divide tie school houses among
the directors, each TO employ a teacher, for his
school. and saad an order with him TO the pre-
s;dent to enter into an agreement with him
ANSWER -" This practice is not ia accord
anca with the scaoOi law which provides that
the bard OF Directors shall have the aPPolHE-
-.sas Of ali Ia. teachers OF the district, and the
opygialEeE. b7 one director is therefore irregu
lar. II. hoBeyer,the board as such, afterwards
formally .at;fy these appointments, they arebind.
! ing on the district These appointments By one
director are Objectionable, also for the reason
that taev dc no: command that general conf
deuce. which the act Of tue y hole board would
be likely ID receive
There IS st.lI another very good reason why
the directors, as = board. should appoint the
teachers. install Of tie Inhabitants of the neigh
berhooj, OF eas director. The president, is
Obliged TO state under oath that no t-asher has
been employed during the year, who had not
a. the time. . legal certificate from the county
superintendent N5E, il any body sad every
body hires the teachers, how can the president
know this fact, 10 which be has TO testify
Directors by tie Law are Tealigsd TO provide
. conpeteut teachers in the schools in their re-
srecri7e districts. AMI If they 90 net, the state
. agurop-ia.i0n Is to be withheld for the next
I year Ii ta=y DO 20; see the certificates Of the
. teachers. or co Hnt kn1E even whether or
10. tds7 have certificates, how can they
conform to this requirement Of the law.
/ !; IS not merely & f4nciici sapPositioa, that
! teachers NAV ret into the schools who have
avoided an examination. and consequently have
TO certificate I. E>S been done in several
cases aai IL more care * not exercised will
! cOatiuue 10 be i9ae Presidents OF school
boards. have found, Enen required to take the
oath attached TO the four months certificate,
that they colid not safely do it, because they
did no. know with certainty that one of the
teachers had a certificate, sad have couse-
q1ea,iy resigned.
II the teachers Of the township were all
hired :, tle sane tune, 81 s regular meeting
Of the board called for that parpose, much
time E1l,i oe saved 10 directors AMI teachers
tc.h. Iiz- the directors give the requisite
notice stating ina. 81 = specified tine, saT on
lie daT Cf the rul.5c examination, the teach
ers G. the G.s,rc. would be employed and
written contacts catered into With them Ths
whole business can. ia this way be done la q
frw hours. Tie teachers vi.l haze their certi-
Gca-eS El.l them. and directors can the batter
Judge oi :ae qualifications o. the Candidates
Tor particular schools All the schools 10 a
district, seldom, II ever, CsGaire precisely the
SANE C1a.Ecaltoos IN the teachers, but the
way our teachers are too frequently employed,
a good GrauIar.au 5 IS likely 10 be sent 10 a
Scl01. 10 which this branch IS not st8lied aud
Q person quite deficient in the science, engaged
. II one where several Of the P1Piis are good
g-am1lFi21S, - that the right tsscher should
be appointed . ;le rzh: school
/ /: IS 70 BE- hoPsi that for the c0nisg winter
I teachers v5I. Be selected ai.l greater care
. than tleE have sometimes be=h. That the mat
. Ter b. done .ez4.,7. Be: ai%-sys Eith reference
. 20 the wishes Of the P1oPls If possible, where
+ ,heir Eisles are ka0Eu. Directors should
kzow who .l=i- teachers are, and should know
T tie teachers PsES0aal.y # possible, and shond
kzos What the contract EitA them IS for; l:
sboai always 5e in w-i;ing - S-+0ol lax, Page
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