[No. 148.] AN ACT to amend sections five, six, eight, and ten of act one hundred forty-seven of the public acts of eighteen hun. dred ninety-one, and acts amendatory thereof, entitled "An act to provide for the election of a county commissioner of schools, for the appointment of school examiners, and to define the duties and fix the compensation for the same, and to repeal all existing acts or parts of acts conflicting with the provisions of this act," being sections four thousand eight hundred twelve, four thousand eight hundred thirteen, four thousand eight hundred fifteen, and four thousand eight hundred seventeen of the Compiled Laws of eighteen hundred ninety-seven. The People of the State of Michigan enact: amended. SECTION 1. Sections five, six, eight, and ten of act one Sections hundred forty-seven of the public acts of eighteen hundred ninety-one, and acts amendatory thereof, entitled "An act to provide for the election of a county commissioner of schools, for the appointment of school examiners, and to define the duties and fix the compensation for the same, and to repeal all existing acts or parts of acts conflicting with the provisions of this act," being sections four thousand eight hundred twelve, four thousand eight hundred thirteen, four thousand eight hundred fifteen and four thousand eight hundred seventeen of the Compiled Laws of eighteen hundred ninety-seven, are hereby amended so as to read as follows: 4812. SEC. 5. The board of school examiners shall meet Teacher's certificates, who on the Saturday of the week following each public examina- to grant, form tion held according to the provisions of section four of this etc. act and shall grant certificates to teachers in such form as the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall prescribe, licensing as teachers all persons who have attained the age of eighteen years, who have attended such public examinations, and who shall be found qualified in respect to good moral character, learning and ability to instruct and govern a school, but no certificate shall be granted to any person who shall not have passed a satisfactory examination in orthog- Subjects. raphy, reading, writing, grammar, geography, arithmetic, theory and art of teaching, United States history, civil government, and physiology and hygiene with reference to the effect of alcoholic drinks, stimulants and narcotics upon the human system: Provided, That any commissioner may, upon the re- Proviso, when quest of any holder of a second or third grade certificate, send my the papers written by such person, properly certified and another under seal, to the county board of school examiners of any other county for their examination, and such board of school examiners may, in their discretion, receive such papers, and papers to county. Proviso as to renewal. where renewed. Questions, by whom furnished. Grades of certificates granted. if they accept them, shall treat them in the same manner as if written at a public examination in their own county: Provided further, That the board of examiners shall have the right to renew without examination the certificates of any persons who shall have previously attained an average standing of at least eighty-five per cent in all the studies covered in two or more previous examinations and who shall have been since such last named examination continuously and. Further proviso, successfully teaching in the public schools: Provided further, That an indorsed first grade certificate may be renewed in the county where issued, or in the county where the holder may be teaching at the time of its expiration. All certificates. shall be signed by the county commissioner and by at least one of the members of the board of examiners. No person shall be considered a qualified teacher within the meaning of this act, nor shall any school officer employ or contract with any person to teach in any of the public schools under the provisions of this act who has not a certificate in force granted by the board of school examiners or other lawful authority. All examination questions shall be prepared and furnished by the Superintendent of Public Instruction to the county commissioner, under seal, to be opened in the presence of the applicants for certificates on the day of examination. 4813. SEC. 6. There shall be three grades of certificates granted by the board of school examiners, in its discretion, and subject to such rules and regulations as the Superintendent of Public Instruction may prescribe, which grades of certificates shall be as follows: The certificate of the first grade shall be granted only to those who have taught at least one year with ability and success, and it shall be valid throughout the State for four years: Provided, That all examination papers for first grade certificates, favorably passed upon by the board of examiners, together with such certificate, shall be forwarded to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, within ten days from date of examination, for inspection: Provided further, That any applicant for a first grade certificate who feels that the county board of school examiners have not given his papers the credit due them, may order them sent to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction for inspection; and if the standings given by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction are sufficient for his indorsement of the certificate, the county board of school examiners shall issue such certificate, unless they shall give reasons satisfactory to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for Further proviso. Withholding the same: And provided further, That no first grade certificate shall be valid in any county other than that in which it is granted, unless approved and countersigned by the Superintendent of Public Instruction and a copy filed with the county commissioner in the county in which the holder of said certificate desires to teach. The certificate of the second grade shall be granted only to those who shall have taught at least seven months with ability and success, and it First grade, to whom granted. Proviso, papers etc., to whom forwarded. Further proviso as to, aggrieved applicant. Second grade. class A. class B. shall be valid throughout the county for which it shall be granted for three years, and such certificate may be transferred to another county as provided in section five of this act. The certificates of the third grade shall be divided into two Third grade, classes known as A and B. Third grade certificates of class A shall be granted only to persons who have taught successfully and continuously for at least three years next preceding the examination, in primary departments of graded schools, and the certificate of this class shall entitle the holder to teach in primary departments of graded schools only. Third Third grade, grade certificates of class B shall license the holder to teach in any school of the county in which it shall be granted for one year, and such certificate may be transferred to another county in the same manner that second grade certificates are transferred as provided in section five of this act; but no more than three certificates of this class shall be granted to the same person: Provided, That the county commissioner shall Proviso. have power upon personal examination in the third grade. branches satisfactory to himself or herself, to grant certificates which shall license the holder thereof to teach in a specified district for which it shall be granted, but such certificate shall not continue in force beyond the time of the next public examination, and in no case shall a second special certificate be granted the same person within three years. 4815. SEC. 8. It shall be the duty of the county com- Duty of county missioner: commissioner. whom sent. First, Immediately after his or her qualification as commis- Notices, to sioner, to send notice thereof to the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the chairman of each township board of school inspectors of the county; examinations, Second, To keep a record of all examinations held by the Record of board of school examiners and to sign all certificates and etc. other papers and reports issued by the board; receive. Third, To receive the institute fees provided by law and Fees, to to pay the same to the county treasurer quarterly, beginning September thirty in each year; certificates, etc. Fourth, To keep a record of all certificates granted, sus- Record of pended, revoked or transferred by the said board or commissioner, showing to whom issued, together with the date, grade, duration of each certificate and if suspended or revoked with the date and the reason thereof; teachers. Fifth, To furnish, previous to the third Monday in July in List of each year, to the township clerk of each township in the county, a list of all persons legally authorized to teach in the county at large during the current school year, and in such township, with the date and term of each certificate, and if any have been suspended or revoked, the date of such suspension or revocation; Sixth, To visit each of the schools in the county at least Visit schools. once in each year and to examine carefully the discipline, the mode of instruction, and the progress and proficiency of pupils: Provided, That in counties containing one hundred Proviso. Proviso. Further proviso. Counsel with teachers, etc. Assistant conductor of institutes. As to reports of school inspectors. Annual reports. Other duties. Compensation of commissioner, by whom determined, etc. twenty or more districts the commissioner of schools is hereby authorized to appoint such assistants as may be necessary, who shall perform such duties as said commissioner shall direct: Provided, That in counties containing less than one hundred twenty districts such assistants shall be appointed with the consent of the board of supervisors: Provided further, That the whole expense incurred by such assistants shall not exceed the sum of ninety dollars in one year in any county; Seventh, To counsel with the teachers and the school boards as to the course of study to be pursued, and as to any improvement in the discipline and instruction in the schools, and he may examine and audit the books and records of any school district at any time when directed to do so by the Superintendent of Public Instruction or by application of any school board; Eighth, To promote, by such means as he or she may devise, the improvement of the schools in the county, and the elevation of the character and the qualifications of the teachers and officers thereof, and act as assistant conductor of institutes appointed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and perform such other duties pertaining thereto as the superintendent shall require; Ninth, To receive the duplicate annual reports of the several boards of school inspectors, examine into the correctness of the same, requiring them to be amended when necessary, endorse his or her approval upon them, and immediately thereafter, and before the fifteenth day of September in each year, transmit to the Superintendent of Public Instruction one copy of each said reports and file the other in the office of the county clerk; Tenth, To be subject to such instructions and rules as the Superintendent of Public Instruction may prescribe; to receive all blanks and communications that may be sent to him or her by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and to dispose of the same as directed by the said superintendent, and to make annual reports at the close of the school year to the Superintendent of Public Instruction of his or her official labors, and of the schools of the county, together with such other information as may be required; Eleventh, To perform such other duties as may be required of him or her by law, and at the close of the term of office to deliver all records, books and papers belonging to the office to his or her successor. 4817. SEC. 10. The compensation of each county commissioner of schools shall be determined by the board of supervisors of each county respectively, and may be increased or diminished at any October session of said board but the compensation shall not be fixed at a sum less than five hundred dollars per annum in any county where there are fifty schoolrooms under his or her supervision; at not less than one thousand dollars per annum where there are one hundred school rooms under his supervision; and not less than twelve hun- aminers, com a general charter shall be included. Each member of the School ex- This act is ordered to take immediate effect. |