Blandon v. Moses

Headnote

Trustee of a school district cannot employ am unlicensed teacher — power of such trustee to employ an unlicensed person, on condition that he procure a license —1864, chap. 555.

Appeal from á judgment in favor of the plaintiff, entered upon the verdict of a jury in the Onondaga County Court.

The action was brought to recover damages for the breach of an oral contract by which the defendant employed the plaintiff as a teacher for his school district for the period of twelve weeks. After the making of the contract the defendant notified the plaintiff that he revoked the contract and wtfuld not accept his services. At the time the contract was made the plaintiff had no license to teach, but after the revocation of the contract, and prior to the time when the school was to open, he passed an examination and procured the requisite certificate.

The court at General Term said: “ Two questions are presented for our consideration on this appeal, one is, was the contract valid and binding upon the parties thereto, or was it illegal and inoperative for the reason that the defendant, as trustee, had no power and authority to contract for the plaintiff’s services as'teacher, he at that "time having no certificate from the proper officers.

“ In Gillis v. Space ( 63 Barb., 177 ) it was held that a trustee of a school district had no authority to contract for the services of an unlicensed teacher, and that an executory agreement engaging the services of such a person was invalid and not binding upon the school district. This decision was made in this department and we adhere

to the interpretation then given to the statute creating and defining the duties and powers of school trustees as contained in chapter 555, Laws of 1864.

“ This construction of the statute was observed and adhered to by the learned county judge, on the trial of this action, both by his rulings while the trial was progressing and in his charge to the jury.

“ The complaint set forth the agreement as a positive and unconditional one, and in terms as being an engagement for plaintiff’s services for the period of sixteen weeks, at twelve dollars per week, to commence on the first day of December then following. '

“ On the trial, the plaintiff was permitted to amend his complaint by inserting an averment that the contract was conditional in terms, and was to become binding and operative if the plaintiff did, before the time mentioned for opening the school, procure from the proper authorities the usual certificate granted by the school commissioner.

“ It was intimated by the court, in Gillis v. Space {supra), that a trustee could make a valid conditional executory contract, engaging the services of an unlicensed teacher, if, before the time for entering upon the performance of the contract, the person engaged to teach did procure the proper certificate, for the reason, as there stated, that such an agreement is not a contract for the services of an unlicensed teacher.

“ In disposing of this appeal, we do not need to affirm or dissent from the latter proposition, for the reason that we are of the opinion that there was not sufficient evidence given on the trial to justify the County Court in submitting to the jury the question, whether or not it was the understanding between the parties, and made a condition of the agreement, that the contract was conditional and not to be binding on the district unless the plaintiff procured the certificate required by the statute.” * * *