Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1882-08-19
COMMUNICATES.
SCHOOL TRUSTEES AND BOARDS OF
EDUCATION.


Notwithstanding the plainness of the
law as to the duties Of trustees and the
revision Of their acts by the Board Of Ed
ucation, some good men acting as trustees
are sorely puzzled MS to their duty in ap-
pointing teachers.
The law explicitly gives the appoint
ment of the teachers to the trustees and ir
is only when the trustees fail or refuse,
to appoint teacher for their school that
the board Of education is permitted to ap-
point. 1t is true that the board Of educa-
ton has revisory control over the trustees
but this means, that, when the trustees
appoint a teacher that does not meet the
requirements Of the law as to teachers the
board may Set aside the appointment and
direct another TO be made. The late SUI
periptendent, DR.. Pendleton, has so fully
and clearly set forth the duties Of trustees
in an official decision made by him, that
we may be excused for giving extracts
from it, as they may prevent recurrence
of the same II ouble which called forth his
official opinion.
'The law gives the primary power Of
appointment of teachers to the trustees,
and the only reason for interference Oh
the part Of the board is when the teacher
appointed Is known to be incompetent or
immoral. I: is the duty Of the board Of
education to see that competent teacher,
Of temperate habits aud good morals (see
Sec. 10 school law is provided through
the trustees. The trustees owe no obli-
CATION to appoint teacher because other
people wish it, save the obligation of re-
sponsible respect TO their constituents, but
of this they must be the judges in their
selection from any number of applicants
and in the face of any number of petit
tions. The choice is theirs by law and
only when they abuse their power TO the
iniary of the public interest committed to
them, should the board interfere. Even
when they find it necessary to interfere;
they cannot dictate as 10 who else shall be
appointed, nor can any number Of petit
tiOns. The power Of second appoint
ment, should the first be set aside for i'm
morality or incompetency, Is still with the
trustees. The board cannot dictate nor
have they any right to say that the trus-
tees shall be governed by majority of
the former patrons or any other patrons
of the school. The LAW DOES NOT AUTHOR
IZE THE PATRONS TO GOVERN THE TRUSTEES.
The plain rule Is the trustees employ
whom they choose and submit their APP
pointment to the board, or to the presi-
dent when the board is not in session, for
approval and when approved, which it
should be if the teacher is competent and
of good morals, there is an end of it. IF
the law had contemplated that the patrons
should dictate, or control the appointment
of teachers, it would have provided for
the election Of the teacher by the popular
vote of the district, but this it has not
DONE"
If trustees would recognize their au-
thority in the matter and feel their indi-
vidual responsibility under the law, they
would be saved much annoyance and
trouble in the discharge of their Cuties
which the law makes few and simple, (see
Secs. Is, IA, 10, l6 Of school law
ONE WHO KNOWS.