Court Opinion

ID: 9539386
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:03:34.467834+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:58:47.601350
License: Public Domain

Hill, J.
(concurring specially) — I concur in the result. I see here, however, only a very narrow issue. The statute, which makes a school district subject to actions of this character (RCW 4.08.120), specifies that it is liable for an injury to the rights of a plaintiff arising from acts or omissions of the school district that are within the scope of its authority. Coates v. Tacoma School Dist. No. 10 (1960), 55 Wn. (2d) 392, 347 P. (2d) 1093; Juntila v. Everett School Dist. No. 24 (1934), 178 Wash. 637, 35 P. (2d) 78.
The trial court was apparently convinced that under the requirements for such an action (laid down in Coates v. Tacoma School Dist. No. 10, supra), the amended complaint failed to state a cause of action; however, under our new rules of civil procedure we are no longer concerned with whether a cause of action is stated. Unless we can say, as a matter of law, that no evidence, which the plaintiff could produce, would bring the acts or omissions of the school district (relied upon by the plaintiff) within the scope of its authority, the action should not have been dismissed.
The attempt of the respondent school district to limit the scope of its authority to matters within the curricular activities, and happenings on the school premises is not realistic. That schools do employ athletic coaches, band directors, even debate coaches, and do exercise supervision and control over numerous extra-curricular activities is common knowledge. The justification is their educational and cultural value. Although, to some, a “horse play” ini*361tiation into a letterman’s club in a public park after school hours might seem to bear the same relation to education that a bull fight does to agriculture, nonetheless if, as alleged, this initiation was under the auspices of the school district’s agents, servants and employees and was planned by them, it may be that the plaintiff can surmount the hurdle of ultra vires. Experts may be able to ascertain educational and cultural values in this project that escape the lay mind.
“New occasions teach new duties;
Time makes ancient good uncouth;
They must upward still, and onward,
Who would keep abreast of truth.”16
On that possibility, I would set aside the dismissal and give the plaintiff an opportunity to present his evidence.
September 5, 1961. Petition for rehearing denied.

“The Present Crisis,” James Russell Lowell.