OF TEACHERS. Educational qualifications are not the only qualification of teachers. No board of examiners can legally CITIZENSHIP grant a certificate to any person who, having arrived at the age of twenty-one years, is not a citizen of the United States. The law also directs the examining board to grant certificates to successful applicants who have attained the age of seventeen years (4812). The moral character of the applicant is another question which examining boards must carefully consider. Certificates may be withheld from persons who, MORAL though possessing all the educational qualifications, are unfit to teach in the public schools. The supreme court, in the case of Sturdevant vs. The Board of Examiners, refused to interfere with the decision of the examiners, and decided that the board was better able to determine the qualifications of applicants than the court. From another decision we quote: "A man who habitually violated his duty by profanity and Sabbath breaking was of bad moral character" (45 Mich. 484). RENEWALS OF CERTIFICATES. The only Michigan law in existence authorizing boards of examiners to renew certificates is the provision found in section 4813 of the Compiled Laws. It reads: "The board of examiners shall have the right, however, to renew without examination the certificates of persons who shall have previously obtained an average standing of at least 85 per cent in all studies covered in two or more previous examinations, and who shall have been since that examination continuously and successfully teaching in the same county.” This seems so plain as to require no explanation, but numerous inquiries addressed to the department of public instruction suggest that it is not interpreted alike by teachers and examiners. We, therefore, in the absence of any court decisions, venture the following interpretation: 1st. The standings on each certificate must average 85 per cent. 2d. The board does not have the right under this provision to renew the certificate of an applicant who has not been teaching continuously and successfully during the two years just preceding. 3d. The law is simply permissive and not mandatory on the examiners. REVOKING OF CERTIFICATES. The board of examiners may suspend or revoke any teacher's certificate issued by them for any reason which would have justified said board in withholding the same when given-for neglect of duty, for incompetency to instruct or govern a school, or for immorality—and the said board may, within their jurisdiction, for immorality or incompetency to instruct and govern a school, suspend the effect of any teacher's certificate that may have been granted by other lawful authority: Provided, That no certificates shall be suspended or revoked without a personal hearing, unless the holder thereof shall, after a reasonable notice, neglect or refuse to appear before the said board for that purpose (4814). CITY CERTIFICATES. The officers of every school district which is or shall hereafter be organized in whole or in part in any incorporated city in this state where special enactments shall exist in regard to the licensing of teachers, shall employ only such teachers as are legally qualified under the provisions of this act: Provided, That in cities employing a superintendent, the examination of teachers shall be conducted by such superintendent or by a committee of the board of education of such school district, and certificates issued at such time and in such a manner as the superintendent of public instruction and board of education in such city shall prescribe. Cities having a special and thoroughly equipped normal training department under control of a special training teacher, such school having a course of not less than one year, shall be exempt from the provisions of this section as to the examination of teachers. COURSE OF STUDY. COLLEGE CERTIFICATES.* The state board of education is empowered to grant teachers' certificates without examination to any person who has received a bachelor's, master's, or doctor's degree from any college in this State having a course of study of not less than four years, actually taught in such college, in addition to the preparatory work necessary for admission to the University of Michigan, upon a recommendation from the faculty of such college, stating that in their judgment the applicant is entitled to receive such certificate. Such college must also have a course in the science and art of teaching of at least one college year of five and a half hours per week, which shall have been taken by said applicant and shall include a thorough examination by the college granting such diploma, as to qualification and fitness for teaching (4805 to 4807). Provided, that if said person furnishes to said board satisfactory proof of having successfully taught for three years in the schools of this State, said certificate shall be a life certificate. If such proof LENGTH OF is not furnished said board, then such certificate shall be for four years only, and a life certificate may at any time thereafter be issued by said board upon the filing of such proof. Such certificate shall entitle the holder to teach in any of the schools in this State without examination, provided a copy of the same is filed or recorded in the office of the legal examining officer, or officers of the county, city, township, or *NOTE.-In June, 1899. the colleges having approved courses were Adrian, Alma, Albion, Hillsdale, Kalamazoo and Olivet. OF APPROVAL. district in which said person is to teach, and shall be annulled only by the state board of education, and by it only for cause. It shall be the duty of said board of education carefully to examine any course of study in the science and APPROVAL OF art of teaching that may be submitted to it by STATE BOARD. the trustees of any college and, if satisfactory, to furnish such trustees with a written certificate approving the same. If, at any time, the said board of education concludes that any college, whose graduates may WITHDRAWING desire to receive such certificate, is not giving such instruction in the science and art of teaching and in the other branches as shall be approved by it, then said board shall so determine by a formal resolution and shall give notice thereof to the trustees of such college; and thereafter no teachers' certificates shall be given by said board to the graduates of such college, until said board shall be satisfied that proper instruction in the science and art of teaching and in other branches is given by such college, and the board shall certify such fact to the trustees of such college. GRANTED BY UNIVERSITY CERTIFICATES. The faculty of the department of literature, science, and the arts, of the University of Michigan, shall give to every person receiving a bachelor's, master's, or doctor's degree, and also a teacher's diploma for work done in the science and in the art of teaching from said University, a certificate, which shall serve as a legal certificate of qualification to teach in any of the schools of this State, when a copy thereof has been filed or recorded in the office of the legal examining officer or officers of the county, township, city, or district (4804). Such certificate shall not be liable to be annulled except by the said faculty of the University; but its effect may be suspended in any county, township, city or district, and the holder thereof SUSPENSION 3 may be stricken from the list of qualified teachers in such county, township, city, or district, by the legal examining officer or officers of the said county, township, city, or district, for any cause and in the same manner that such examining officer or officers may be by law authorized to revoke certificates they have given, and such suspension shall continue in force until revoked by the authority suspending it. STATE CERTIFICATES. The state board of education holds two meetings each year, at which they examine teachers and grant certificates to such as have taught in the schools of the State at least two years, and who, upon a thorough and critical examination in every study required for such certificate, are found to possess eminent scholarship, ability, and good moral character. Such certificates, signed by the members of said board, impressed with its seal, entitle the holder to teach in any of the public schools of this State without further examination, and are valid for life unless revoked by said board. No certificate shall be granted except upon the prescribed examination (1818). The branches required in an examination for State certificates are chemistry, zoology, rhetoric, literature, geology, in addition to those required for first grade certificates. PRESCRIBED STATES. The said state board of education may, in its discretion, endorse State teachers' certificates or normal FROM OTHER School diplomas granted in other states, if it be shown to the satisfaction of such board that the examinations required or courses of study pursued are fully equal to the requirements of this State (1826). |