The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-07-09
SCHOOL LAW.
sing Republican.

From the Lansing Republican.
1. Section 184. general school laws Of 1879
requires that the township superintendent
shall license AL persons whom, on thorough
and full examination. lie shall deem qualified
IN respect to moral character, learning. and
ability to instruct and govern school" II is
clearly the duty OF the superintendent: TO grant
certificates to all persons who on examination
are found. II MS estimation. qualified IN every
respect 10 teach a school. regardless OF the
number Of districts u tae township or the
number OF persons who have already been IL
censed and are holding valid certificates.
2. Section 1873. requiring The paymen. OF an
institute fee OF 81 By males and 30 cents by
females, at the time of obtaining certificate,
also provides that such fee shall not be paid
more than once in any school year. The
school year begins with the first Monday in
September, consequently fee paid prior to the
first Monday in September VIII not exempt
teacher from paying again onsobtaining Ger
tificate after that day although twelve months
may not have expired since the preceding pay
ment of the fee. A teacher who has previously
paid the fee within the school year in another
township or county is exempt from paying
second time, but satisfactory evidence OF such
previous payment must be produced by the
teacher. \ teacher obtaining first grade GER
tifcate can be required to pay but one fee, al
though the certificate is valid for two years.
Until the institute fee is paid superintendent
should not give the certifcate--the law being
obligatory as regards collection upon superIn-
tendents and not giving them authority TO
.'trust" teacher Tor the payment OF the fee.
The moment certificate is given the supern-
tendent becomes personally responsible and
liable for the fee.
9. A township superintendent while acting in
the capacity Of superintendent is entitled TO S2
per day for his services: but when acting as o.
member OF the board OF school inspectors. he
IS entitled only to the pay OF an Inspector,
which Is S1.50 per day. In the matter OF pay
for services IN holding special examinations OF
applicants for certificates. unless such appli-
cants have very good and extraordinary reasons
for having been absent from the regular exam
ination, they (and not the townshlp) should be
required TO pay the expense OF such exsmlna-
ton. II is very seldom that reason for alb
sence from the regular examination can be Civ
en- that is sufficiently valid to place the expense
OF special examination upon the township
Absence from the township, or even sickness
at the time OF the regular examination, ought
not to be considered sufficient reasons for in
such cases the causes of failure TO be present
at the regular examination are the misfortunes
OF the applicants and not the fault OF the town.
ship. When superintendent is satisfied that
an applicant for certificate should be required
TO pay the expense OF epecial examination, he
may refuse to give the examination until such
expense has been paid, or secured IN advance.
BY strictly requiring payment sor services as
suggested, superinteDdents will be able 10
greatly reduce the number OF special or "pri-
vate" examinations, and thereby aid in pre-
venting that which at best is very undesirable
and perp.exing matter.