The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1900-12-08
State Superintendent Reverses
Miss Fee1ey.
AN INTERESTING CASE
Petty Trick to Defeat the Will of the
Electors Doesn't Work-Carle-
tons Opinion.

tendent of schools Of Carbon county
who tried to prevent her successor
in Office, Miss Martha Dilworth, from
qualifying by taking away her certi
ficate, has been reversed by State
Superintendent E. A. Carleton.
Miss Feeley was a candidate fol
reelection. Miss Dilworth, the re
publican nominee, was overwhelming
ly elected. The law makes the hold
ing of a teachers certificate one OF
the qualifications for the office of
county school superintendent, and
also provides that a superintendent
shall hold Office until successor is
elected or appointed and qualities.
With the idea that she could thus
perpetuate herself in Office. Miss Fee
ley revoked Miss Dilworth's certifi
cate, without which the latter could
not qualify. Miss Dilworth took an
appeal to the state superintendent
Asked for Advice.
The case was the first brought to
the attention of the state superin.
tendent November Z, when Miss Fee
ley asked for advice relating to teach.
ers, who she said, had obtained Ger.
tificates from a county superintend.
ent without first taking the examina.
tion required by law. Mr.. Carleton re.
piled that such certificates were in
valid, as county superintendent
have no authority to issue certificates
without examination held in conform
ity with the law, and Miss Feeley was
instructed to notify the offending
teachers to appear for examination.
The teachers, one of whom Miss
Feeley alleged was Miss Dilworth,
were notified to appear for examina-
tion, but failed to respond. Miss Fee
ley again asked the state superin-
tendent for Instructions, and he told
her that if conditions were as repre-
sented she should revoke the certif-
Gates of the teachers. She revoked
Miss Dilworth's certificate.
The appeal of Miss Dilworth to the
state superintendent was indorsed
by numerous citizens of Carbon coun-
ty, and by the school board of Red
Lodge district, where she was en-
ployed as teacher. Her qualifica-
tions were attested as high, and q
lawyer was sent to Helena to present
the appeal.
There was conflict before Mr..
Carleton as to whether Miss Dilworth
had taken the required examination,
and had obtained her certificate reg
ularly. Referring to the subject the
state superintendent said:
Dispute Over Facts.
Unfortunately, there is a sharp
dispute as to whether or not Miss
Dilworth obtained her certificate af-
ter an examination duly and regular
ly held. In your affidavit filed in
the case you state that she told you
at the time of the renewal of her
certificate, which is the one revoked,
that she had obtained her original
certificate without an examination.
Presumably, you did not at the time
know that such a certificate was in
valid otherwise you would not have
renewed it. The county superin-
tendent who issued the certificate
states that it was issued according to
law. Her language is as follows:
"'Miss Martha Dilworth was issued
certificate by me while I was coun.
ty superintendent of Carbon county,
authorizing her to teach in the schools
of that county. I issued the certifi-
cate to her after I had satisfied my
self as to her ability to teach, by ex-
animation and otherwise. This was
done in accordance with sections
1910 and 1911 of the Montana school
laws.
Took the Examination.
Il think you are required to show
in this case by preponderance of
testimony that the certificate was ir-
regularly issued. think the teach
er, who I understand, is well quail.
fled for such certificate, should be
given the benefit of the doubt, If any
there is. 1t must be that you mis-.
understood the statement of Miss
Dilworth, or possibly, have it con-
fused with another party. The testi-
mony before me seems to warrant