on account of a loss of the school house by fire or storm. the teacher can collect his wages (75 Mich. 143). MADE ANNUAL MEETING. Contracts made previous to annual meeting are valid. The legislature contemplated that schools should generally open on the beginning of the school year and that teachers would have to be contracted with in season. Neither the newly elected trustees nor the voters at the annual meeting have the power to impair the obligation of a contract made before such annual meeting (44 Mich. 500; 98 Mich. 43; 88 Mich. 374). When a contract with a teacher has been agreed upon at a SIGNATURES TO CONTRACT. board meeting, it is the duty of the director and the moderator to sign it. It is not in the power of the officers to defeat the action of the board by refusing to sign a contract authorized by it (93 Mich. 43). A contract signed by two members of the board without calling a meeting and consulting with the other member is void (47 Mich. 626). It is not imperative that a contract be signed by all three of the officers, and one signed by a majority of the board is presumed to be valid, especially if the officers draw and pay orders without protest (61 Mich. 299). It should also have the teacher's signature. VALIDITY OF While it is the duty of the director to sign and file а teacher's contract, his refusal to perform his duty in this respect does not impair the validity of a contract, if otherwise properly authorized and executed (46 Mich. 316). A contract valid on its face and carried with the acquiescence of all concerned, can not be subsequently repudiated (62 Mich. 153; 77 Mich. 610). Contracts made between the district board and teacher must be authorized at a regular meeting of the board (47 Mich. 626). After a contract has been duly authorized at a meeting of the board, it may be signed at the convenience of the officers (30 Mich. 249). WHEN AU- No power is now conferred by statute upon the voters at a district meeting, to determine whether the school shall be taught by a male or a female teacher (88 Mich. 374). CHOICE OF TEACHER. CONTRACTS ERS NOT LE- All teachers, whether qualified or unqualified, are entitled to pay for services actually performed. The general policy of the school law is that schools shall be taught by qualified teachers, but necessities may arise where this cannot be done. A district may be unable to find a qualified teacher. Where the employment of an unqualified teacher is a necessity, the school district is authorized to employ one who has not the proper certificate (if the school board is satisfied that the teacher is otherwise qualified), and to pay such teacher out of the moneys belonging to the district; but the primary school moneys and mill-tax cannot be applied to that purpose (37 N. W. 570). The liability of a school district to pay a teacher for services actually rendered has been maintained by the following authorities: 55 Vt. 61; 13 Neb. 52; 47 Mich. 226; 10 N. W. 349; 61 Mich. 299; 28 N. W. 105. Teachers COLLECT PAY. who do not hold a properly signed contract and TEACHERS CAN Who are permitted by the district board to teach, can collect such wages as a court will allow, which is generally the average rate of wages paid in adjoining school districts. Corporal Punishment. Our school law is silent on this subject. The decisions of the courts uniformly sustain teachers in the administering of punishment to a reasonable degree. Teachers should exercise much discretion, and punish only when all other methods fail. Many of our best educators are opposed to corporal punishment under any circumstances. Below is given a list of cases on which decisions have been made: 4 Gray, Mass., 36; 14 Johns., Ind., 119; 50 Iowa, 145; 4 Ind., 291; 19 Vt., 102; 27 Me., 266; 32 Vt., 114; 50 Iowa, 152. Extent of Teachers' Authority. This is a much disputed question. Generally speaking, the authority of the teacher does not extend beyond the school premises; but conduct of pupils which injures the school and has a tendency to bring the teacher's authority into contempt may be dealt with by the teacher, even if outside of school house and away from school premises (32 Vt., 114; 31 Iowa, 562). CHAPTER VII. COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL. Michigan has a comprehensive law for compelling children to attend school. Previous to 1895 the authority of truant and district officers had been limited, and a general enact. ment was passed by the legislature giving additional power to those dealing with parents who are indifferent concerning the education of the children, or with truants who baffle the authority of their parents (4847 to 4853). NUMBER OF Ages of Compulsory Education. Every parent, guardian, or other person in the State of Michigan having control and charge of any child between the ages of eight and fourteen years, and in cities between the ages of seven and sixteen years, is required to send such child to the public school for a period of at least four months in each school year (except that, in cities MONTHS AT- having a duly constituted police force, the attendance at school shall not be limited to four months), beginning on the first Monday of the first term commencing in his or her district after September 1, 1895, and of each year thereafter. Such attendance must be consecutive, and each and every pupil between the ages specified must have attended school the entire four months previous to the thirtieth day of June in each year. TENDANCE. PUPILS EXEMPTED. 1. Those who are being taught in private schools in such branches as are usually taught in public schools. 2. Pupils who have already acquired the ordinary branches of learning taught in public schools. 3. Children physically unable to attend school, if such fact is certified to by a reputable physician. 4. Those living more than two miles from any school house. WHEN AP- Truant Officer. The district board or board of education in each school district which has been organized as a graded school district or as a township district, previous to the tenth day of September of each year, appoints a truant officer for the term of one year from and after the first Monday of September of each year. In townships whose districts are organized under the primary school law, the chairman of the townIN PRIMARY ship board of school inspectors is the truant DISTRICTS. officer and performs all the duties of truant officer, so far as the provisions of this law apply to the territory over which he has jurisdiction. In cities having a duly organized police force, it is the duty of the police authority, at the request of the school authorities, to detail one or more members of said force to perform the duties of IN CITIES. truant officer. COMPEN- The compensation of the truant officer is fixed in graded school districts by the board which appoints, and in townships by the township boards; and in no case can such compensation be less than one dollar and fifty cents per day for time actually employed under direction of the district board in performance of his official duties. The compensation of truant officers is allowed and paid in the same manner as incidental expenses are paid by such boards. It is the duty of the truant officer to investigate all cases |