The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-06
THE TEACHER LOSES.
Insufficient Excuse for Not
Coming to Examination.
Mr.. BEAN UPHOlDS Mr.. IAYHUE
Temporary Certificate VIII Not Be
Granted Unless Application Is
Re2uIar-A Leading Case.
Mr.. BEAN uPHOLDS Mr.. LAYHUE

Such is the ruling of c w Bean. super
intendent Of public instruction for the
state in affirmance of the decision OF j.
VI. Layhue, superintendent for King coun-
~. in the matter of the appeal OF Mrs.
Della Buffers. The case has been pend
ing before the state superintendent since
December Is. when a transcript of the re-
cords in the case was filed In his office at
Olympia.
How the Controversy Arose.
Under the order made by Supt. Layhue,
il appeared that ne refused to grant Mrs.
Buffers temporary certificate TO teach
IN this county. She had contracted with
the directors of district lie, situated IN
the extreme northeastern part of the coun-
~ and including the town of Wellington
and Skykomlsh postOffice 10 begin term
Of school November II. but I'D not hold
the requisite certificate or diploma. 1t
was shown that Mrs. Buffers had failed
70 attend the examination of applicants
Tor certificates held IN this city November
il, u and Is, and that as reason for such
failure, she had complained of "a severe
cold, causing liberated tooth. head
ache and cough" But it was shown fur
Their that she had taught school every day
of the week in which the examination was
held alleging that she was able TO walk
TO and from the school house. a distance
or half mile, but not able TO attend
the examination and endure the labor and
exposure incident to A journey from her
home 10 this city, a distance of seventy
miles. In applying to the county super
intendent Mrs. Buffers failed to present
certificate or certified copy thereof, as
provided by law. In refusing TO grant the
temporary certificate the county super.n-
tendent gave as his reasons that the appli-
cant had not made proper application. and
from the fact that she was able to teach
her school during the time of the exam
ina Tr... -. 4 -.
she was able 10 attend the examination.
The Law Applicable.
The case comes under section I2 of the
school laws, which provides among other
things that any teacher to whom a certi-
hcate has been granted by any county
board OF examiners in this state, or by any
other examiners who have prescribed the
stated requirements. may present the
same. or certified copy. to the superin-
tendent of the county in which il is
sought 10 teach. and upon evidence of fit
ness a temporary certificate shall be
granted: the clause applying only to such
teachers as We're not residents of the coun-
~ at the time of the last preceding ex-
animation or were unable by reason Of
sickness or other unavoidable cause 10
attend.
After setting out the law State SuperIn-
tendent Bean says:
1T viii be seen from the above cited
provision that the following conditions
must he met by an applicant for a tenn
porary certificate: First. he must have
certificate or diploma, or a certified copy
thereof, to the county superintendent when
applying for a temporary certificate sec
ond, he must present that certificate or
diploma, or a certified copy thereof 10 the
county superintendent when applying for
a temporary certificate; third. he must
have been resident of some other coun-
a he IF "a Ia ~
animation or must have been kept away
from said examination By sickness or other
unavoidable cause.
Certificate or Copy Necessary
THE appellant In this case did not COM
ply with the second condition mentioned
above relying upon her standing in the
state as an educator, and the fact that
she had taught for quite a number of
years in this and other states, as an evil
dence that she was qualified to scholar
ship. All the laws Of this state bearing
upon the certifiCation of teachers and the
effect Of such certificates. point 10 the fact
that teachers certificate is to be regard
ed as something more than merely the off,
cial statement OF a properly constituted
board Of examiners that the holder nos
sesses the necessary scholarship and char
acter 10 teach school: Il is also a license
% engage In the vocation of teaching in
The public schools IN the county for which
II is issued. As such. II is matter OF re-
cord In the county whore issued. The pro-
vision requiring the presentation of the
original certificate or q copy thereof when
applying for a temporary certificate is
material and the respondent could not L.
cally waive the presentation Of such evil
dence unless he had official knowledge %
the existence thereof. which does not APP
pear from the complaint \ temporary Ger
t7cate Is Issued on evidence Of fitness 70
teach IN the form Of a certificate
Or diploma. as provided I'm the law,
ana a long and satisfactory record as A
teacher cannot De accepted as evidence
~ the existence Of such certificate or di-
ploma- An officer authorized 70 solemnlze
marriage might By "A long acquaintance
with the proposed contracting parties
know both Of them 20 he legally qualified
- enter the proposed relation. yet it
would be very unwise for him 10 assume,
without further evidence than the appli-
cation Of the parties and their presence
that The necessary license had been OBJ
tanned
Was the Excuse ~ufiicieute
The second ground ~ refusal involves
'he question ~ whether or not a sick
ness which VII not prevent a teacher
from tcachiuE school may be considered
Is sufficient excuse Tor absence from OK
animation. Appellant urges that she
would have been taking unreasonable
risks % her health ami safety in attend
fnS the examination. inasmUch rs attend
7rre woul3 have involved Journey ~
seventy miles. returning at midnight 10
| the railroad station ana then having 70
walk hair "a mile In the dark over a dan
-orous ROAD Respondent answers thar
tNr Journey veul1 have been made on
regular passenger train with all modern
01uNru. ~rreS 20 travelling hy rail- ami THAI
tNo waIk over the dangerous road IN the
14-k ruf.i4 Pc 4gotiel hv remaining az a
3