The contractual status of teachers in Wyoming
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This thesis, having been approved by the special Faculty Committee, is accepted by the Committee on Graduate S tu d y o f the University o f Wyoming, in partial fulfillm ent o f the requirements fo r the degree
Chairman o f the Committee on Graduate Study .
Secretary.
v
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Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
THE COhTiiAUTUAL STATUS OF TEACHERS I I WTOMIIG
A T h esis P re s e n te d to th e F a c u lty o f th e D epartm ent o f E d u catio n D iv is io n o f School A d m in is tra tio n U n iv e rs ity o f Wyoming
In P a r t i a l F u lf illm e n t o f th e R equirem ents f o r th e Degree M aster o f A rts
D. David D arland J u ly 19^2 LIBRARY
UfilVERSITY OF WYOMING LARAM IE
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UMI Number: EP20729
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H e U Room
TABLE OP CONTENTS Page
CHAPTER I - INTRODUCTION .................................................................. S tatem en t o f th e Problem ..................................................... Methods and M a te ria ls Used ................................................ • L im ita tio n s o f th e Study ..................................................... CHAPTER I I - REVIEW OP THE LITERATURE
. '...............................
1 2 2 3 4
E a tio n -w id e S tu d ie s .................................................................. S ta te -w id e S tu d ie s ............................................................. . S tu d ie s o f R ules and R e g u la tio n s f o r Teachers . . . • The Legal S ta tu s o f T eachers Under C o n tra c t . . . .
4 6 11 13
CHAPTER I I I - DATA AID THEIR ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION . . •
17
A n a ly sis and D isc u ssio n o f T h ir ty Wyoming T e a ch e rs' C o n tra c t Porms ...................................................................... Method o f O b ta in in g C o n tra c ts f o r A n a ly sis . . • V erbal C o n tra c ts ............................................................. G eneral C h a r a c te r i s tic s o f W ritte n C o n tra c ts . • C o n tra ct Item s o f M echanical N a tu re . . . . . . R e s p o n s ib ility o f Employer ........................................ R e s p o n s ib ility o f T eacher ....................................... P r o f e s s io n a l S ta tu s ..................................................... S ick L e a v e s ...................................................................... Cause f o r T erm in atio n o f C o n tra c t ...................... Manner o f T erm in atio n o f C o n tra c t ...................... • H earing o f T eacher in T erm in atio n o f C o n tra ct • M a rita l S ta tu s ............................................ . . . . . Compensation ...................................................................... S p e c ia l R ules in C o n tra c ts ................................... . P h y s ic a l E xam inations o f T eachers . .................. U n w ritte n R ules A ffe c tin g T e a ch e rs' C o n tra c ts . . . •
17‘ 17 17 18 19 23 23 30 30 31 32 3^ 35 38 44 47
D ata G athered Prom C ity School S u p e rin te n d e n ts . . Sum m ary...........................................................................................
4-7 50 52
CHAPTER IV - EVALUATION OP TEACHERS' CONTRACTS ..................
54
C r i t e r i a f o r E v a lu a tin g a T e a c h e r's C o n tra ct . . . . W ritte n C o n tra c ts ......................................................... D e fin ite n e s s ...................................................................... B re v ity ................................................................................. • F a i r n e s s ............................................................. .... U n ifo rm ity . . .................................................................. C o n tra c t R e g u la tio n s .....................................................
54 54 54 55 55 56 57
E v a lu a tio n o f Wyoming T e a ch e rs' C o n tra c ts ..................
57
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TABLE OP CONTENTS (C ontinued) Page
CHAPTER V - CONCLUSIONS...................................................................................
61
BIBLIOGRAPHY ...........................................................................................................
65
CITATION Of COURTDECISIONS .............................................................................
67
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................
68
ii
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L I S T 0 1 TABLES
Page
TABLE I
- F e a tu re s o f C o n t r a c t s ...........................................................
TABLE 2
- C o n tra ct Item s o f M echanical
N a t u r e ........................
24
TABLE 3
- R e s p o n s ib ilitie s o f Employer
and E m p lo y e e ...........
27
TABLE 4
- P r o f e s s io n a l S ta tu s and S ic k
L e a v e ........................
33
TABLE 5
- T erm in atio n o f C o n tra c ts and
M a r ita l S ta tu s . . . .
3&
TABLE 6 - C o m p e n sa tio n .........................................
8
. .
39
TABLE J
- S p e c ia l F e a tu re s o f C o n tra c ts .........................................
46
TABLE g
- U n w ritte n R ules Which
T eachers D i s f a v o r ................
4-9
TABLE 9
- In fo rm a tio n F u rn ish e d
by WyomingS u p e rin te n d e n ts
iii
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.
5^
CHAPTER I
IHTRODUCTIOiJ
Teaching i s a rem unerative p u b lic s e r v ic e executed der c o n tr a c t. d is tr ic ts .
Teachers are both employees and o f f ic e r s
by educators un of
th e
sch ool
Contracts are used to c l a r i f y th e ir d if fe r e n t o b lig a tio n s and
to e s t a b lis h d e f in it e agreements between them selves and sch oolb oard s. Con tr a c ts g iv e c e r t if ie d teach ers c e r ta in im p lied powers as sch ool employees and o f f i c e r s , which they may e x e r c ise in carryin g on th e ir d u tie s .
Teach
ers' co n tr a c ts d eal in p erson al s e r v ic e s which in many ca ses make r e le a s e s n ecessary and j u s t i f i a b l e . A y e a r ly con tract i s the common ta n g ib le record o f employment given teachers in Wyoming.
Boards o f education may e x e r c ise broad
d is c r e tio n
w ith resp ect to the co n tra ct forms they u se , sin c e Wyoming does not have a s ta tu t e governing the form and con ten t o f tea ch ers' c o n tr a c ts .
S ta te s
which have teacher ten u re, co n tin u in g c o n tr a c ts, or sta te-a d o p ted manda tory co n tra ct forms need not be concerned w ith the s ta tu s o f th e ir teach ers' c o n tr a c ts, because such l e g i s l a t i o n a u to m a tica lly
s t a b i li z e s
and
stan d ard izes c o n tr a c ts. There i s l i t t l e un iform ity in the co n tra ct forms used in the various sch ool d i s t r i c t s o f Wyoming.
They range from sim ple w r itte n agreements to
elab orate p r o v isio n s in c lu d in g a m ultitude o f d e ta ile d reg u la tio n s o f the tea ch er.
In some c a s e s , the co n tra ct i s verb al and in clu d es on ly the a -
greement to teach a p a r tic u la r sch ool or grade w ithout any o f the p ro v i sio n s contained in w r itte n c o n tr a c ts. 1
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S tatem en t o f th e Problem The problem o f t h i s stu d y i s to d eterm in e th e c o n tr a c tu a l s ta t u s o f te a c h e rs i n Wyoming.
More s p e c i f i c a l l y , th e p u rp o ses a re (1 ) to a n a ly z e
th e p ro v is io n s in Wyoming te a c h e r c o n t r a c t s , (2 ) to e v a lu a te th e v a rio u s f e a tu r e s o f c o n tr a c ts , (3 ) to d eterm in e which elem ents a r e c o n sid e re d e s s e n t i a l by th o se re s p o n s ib le f o r c o n tr a c t form s, (*0 to c o l l e c t sam ples o f u n w ritte n r u le s and r e g u la tio n s which a re o f te n made a p a r t o f
con
t r a c t s , and ( 5 ) to d e term in e th e p r e s e n t i n t e r e s t i n c o n tr a c t r e v is i o n . Methods and M a te ria ls Used A com bination o f docum entary a n a ly s is and e v a lu a tio n a r e used in t h i s s tu d y .
The a n a ly s is o f t h i r t y Wyoming te a c h e r s ' c o n tr a c t s c o l le c te d from
c i t y sch o o l s u p e rin te n d e n ts com prise th e c h ie f method u sed .
In a d d itio n ,
in fo rm a tio n g a th e re d by co rresp o n d en ce from th e d i f f e r e n t c i t y s u p e rin te n d e n ts o f Wyoming and from te a c h e rs o f th e s t a t e supplem ent th e d a ta . A lim ite d number o f i n q u ir ie s were s e n t to s c ie n c e te a c h e rs s in c e i t was d e s ir e d to s e c u re on ly a sm all sample o f te a c h e r re s p o n s e s .
A s im ila r
sample may have been drawn by w ritin g to any o th e r group o f te a c h e r s . A ll t h a t was d e s ir e d was to s e c u re re sp o n se s from r e p r e s e n ta tiv e te a c h e rs in th e d i f f e r e n t sy stem s. By e s ta b lis h in g c e r t a i n c r i t e r i a o f a good t e a c h e r 's c o n t r a c t , v a rio u s p r o v is io n s o f th e form a n aly z e d were e v a lu a te d .
S ince
th e
a c o n tr a c t
i s composed o f a number o f p ro v is io n s more o r le s s d i s t i n c t from each o th e r , i t was deemed b e s t to e v a lu a te each p r o v is io n s e p a r a te ly r a t h e r th a n to a tte m p t an e v a lu a tio n o f e n t i r e c o n t r a c t s .
The methods o f th e stu d y
a r e more f u l l y d is c u s s e d i n th e c h a p te r d e a lin g w ith th e d a ta and tr e a tm e n t.
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th e ir
L im ita tio n s o f the Study 0?his study i s lim ite d to the a n a ly s is o f t h ir t y teachers* co n tra ct forms which are "being used "by th e la r g e r sch ool system s o f Wyoming.
Ap
proxim ately o n e-th ird o f the teach ers in the s t a t e serv e under the forms used in t h is stu d y. A sm all sample o f un w ritten hoard r u le s and r eg u la tio n s was
re
ceiv ed from the teachers o f th e various systems u sin g the co n tra cts ana ly z e d .
Common in te r p r e ta tio n o f the content o f the c o n tr a c ts and r u le s
i s u sed, and a few court d e c isio n s are c it e d . lo attempt i s made to show gen eral con clu sion s fo r the e n tir e s t a t e , although a f a ir sample o f co n tra cts i s used as the b a sis fo r the co n tra ctu a l s ta tu s o f teachers in Wyoming
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review ing
CHAPTER I I
REVIEW 01 THE LITERATURE A lthough th e r e a re no s tu d ie s on re c o rd o f Wyoming te a c h e r s ' con t r a c t s , such s tu d ie s have been made i n o th e r s t a t e s and on a n a tio n a l s c a le .
Some o f th e s e r e l a t e d s tu d ie s a re d e s c rib e d on th e fo llo w in g pa
ges under th e h e ad s:
(1 ) n a tio n -w id e s t u d i e s , (2 ) s ta te -w id e s t u d i e s ,
(3 ) s tu d ie s o f r u le s and r e g u la tio n s f o r te a c h e r s , and (4 ) s tu d ie s o f th e le g a l s ta t u s o f te a c h e rs u n d er c o n t r a c t . N atio n -w id e S tu d ie s D uring th e y e a r 193& th e Committee on Tenure i n c o lla b o r a tio n w ith th e R esearch D iv is io n p u b lis h e d a stu d y o f te a c h e r s ' c o n t r a c t s . S e v e r a l hundred c o n tr a c ts from fo rty -tw o s t a t e s were s tu d ie d .
Some
of
th e
fin d in g s o f t h i s stu d y a r e : S in ce th e r e i s l i t t l e , i f an y , a p p a re n t d if f e r e n c e betw een c o n tr a c t forms which a re s ta te - a d o p te d and th o se which a re u sed l o c a l l y , and s in c e use o f s ta te - a d o p te d forms i s no t gen e r a l l y r e q u ir e d , th e problem o f te a c h e r s ' c o n tr a c ts becomes p r im a r ily a s tu d y o f l o c a l c o n d itio n s .2 This study3 re v e a le d s e v e r a l s t r i k i n g f a c t s .
Some o f them w ere:
(1 ) Many te a c h e rs were g iv e n o r a l c o n tr a c t s . (2 ) Schoolboard f r e q u e n tly g iv e th e te a c h e rs t h e i r c o n tr a c ts so l a t e t h a t te a c h e rs n o t r e e le c te d have d i f f i c u l t y in fin d in g a n o th e r p o s i t i o n . ( 3 ) No S ta te s t a t u t e s p e c i f i c a l l y p r o h ib i ts th e employment o f m a rrie d women te a c h e r s , b u t th e common s t i p u l a t i o n on lo c a l c o n tr a c ts d is c r im in a te s a g a in s t m a rria g e o f women te a c h e r s . ^ N a tio n a l E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n , Committee on T enure, T e a c h e rs' Con t r a c t s : W ith S p e c ia l R eferen ce to A dverse C o n d itio n s o f Employment. Wash in g to n , D. C .: th e A s s o c ia tio n , 1936» p p . I - 3 6 . 2I b i d , p . 3 1 . ^ Ib id .
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(if) At l e a s t one M innesota sch o o l d i s t r i c t ra n a c l a s s i f i e d a d v e rtise m e n t on March 1 , 1933. a sk in g f o r b id s f o r te a c h e rs ' p o s itio n s . ( 5) Many te a c h e rs must ta k e an o a th o f a lle g ia n c e . (6 ) Many c o n tr a c ts were v e ry i n d e f i n i t e . ( 7) Payment o f s a la r y c o n tra c te d f o r was found to be dependent upon many v a r ia b le f a c t o r s . (8) The em ployers' o b lig a tio n s i n most c o n tr a c ts were c o n fin e d to r e g u la tin g th e te ach ers* s e r v ic e . (9) The te a c h e r s ' o b lig a tio n s , as s t a t e d i n c o n tr a c t s , tim es b o rd e r on th e r i d i c u lo u s .
many
( 10) Most c o n tr a c ts were i n d e f i n i t e a s to a ssig n m e n t, s a l a r y , and le n g th o f employment. (11) S ix ty -s e v e n p e r c e n t re q u ire d t h a t te a c h e rs a b id e by th e r u le s and r e g u la tio n s adopted by th e sc h o o lb o a rd . (12) Smoking i s fo rb id d e n Tennessee te a c h e rs by s t a t e law . (13) T each ers' c o n tr a c ts have an u n re a so n a b le number o f ite m s . (lU ) The d is c r im in a ta r y n a tu re o f c e r t a i n demands made upon te a c h e rs i s o b v io u sly d e tr im e n ta l to th e b e s t i n t e r e s t s o f dem ocracy. The n e x t y e a r th e Committee on Tenure f o r th e N a tio n a l E d u c a tio n As s o c ia tio n made a n o th e r stu d y o f te a c h e r c o n t r a c t s .^ mandatory s ta te - a d o p te d c o n t r a c t s .
I t was lim ite d
to
At t h a t tim e th e r e were o n ly t h i r t e e n
s t a t e s and Hawaii u s in g such c o n t r a c t s .
The number o f item s in th e s e con
t r a c t s ranged from tw e n ty -fo u r to t h i r t y - n i n e .
In th e f o u r te e n
th e r e were 121 d i f f e r e n t and d i s t i n c t item s m entioned, showing
c o n tr a c ts a
g re a t
d i v e r s i t y o f o p in io n as to what sh o u ld be in c lu d e d in such a c o n t r a c t . V i r g i n i a 's m andatory s ta te - a d o p te d c o n tr a c t p ro v id e d sp ac e f o r
4
what i t
N ation al Education A ss o c ia tio n , Committee on Tenure, Mandatory State-A dopted Contract Forms. Washington, D. C.: th e A ss o c ia tio n , 1937. pp. 1- 3 1 .
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
term ed " o th e r c o v e n a n ts ."
T his space was in te n d e d f o r
f o r a d a p ta tio n to lo c a l s i t u a t i o n s .
e l a s t i c c la u s e s
No in fo rm a tio n was p r e s e n t co n cern
in g th e d i s c r e t i o n w ith which t h i s p r o v is io n was used by th e sch o o l t r u s te e s o f V ir g in ia .
I t was concluded i n t h i s stu d y t h a t s ta te w id e u se
of
an I d e n tic a l c o n tr a c t sh o u ld f a c i l i t a t e te a c h e r improvement in acco rd an ce w ith e x p e rie n c e i n th e use o f th e forms and p r o v is io n s . S ta te -w id e S tu d ie s Grandy made a stu d y o f N ebraska te a c h e r c o n tr a c ts and found th e f o l low ing s ta te m e n ts to he tr u e i (1 ) F i f t y - f o u r and s e v e n -te n th s p e r c e n t o f th e c o n tr a c ts r e s t r i c t e d th e c o n d itio n s under which a te a c h e r may r e s ig n ; (2 ) T w enty-five to f i f t y d o l l a r s was th e u s u a l p e n a lty f o r a r e le a s e ; (3 ) Seventy-tw o and o n e -te n th s p e r c e n t c o n ta in e d s t i p u l a t i o n s f o r d is m is s a l o f te a c h e r s ; (*f) Tw enty-nine out o f e ig h ty - s ix c o n tr a c ts p ro v id e d t h a t a woman te a c h e r who m a rrie d d u rin g c o n tr a c t is th e re b y r e le a s e d ; ( 5 ) S ix te e n out o f e ig h ty - s ix c o n tr a c ts s p e c if ie d t h a t te a c h e r be g iv e n n o tic e from two to fo u r weeks o f p la n to, te rm in a te h i s c o n tr a c t;
th e any
(6 ) Only one c o n tr a c t s p e c if ie d t h a t th e te a c h e r must be a l lowed a b o ard h e a rin g b e fo re b e in g d is c h a rg e d ; ( 7) I n th e m ain, sc h o o l d u ty re q u ire m e n ts were n o t e x c e s siv e o r unduly r e g u la tiv e ; (S) Some c o n tr a c ts s tu d ie d c o n ta in e d q u e s tio n a b le r e s t r i c t i o n s o f p e rs o n a l a f f a i r s o f te a c h e r s ; and (9) C o n tra ct forms re v e a le d t h a t c o n tr a c tu a l p r a c t i c e s a re n o t u n ifo rm .5 5Grandy, C. ¥ . , "T eachers C o n tra c ts ," N ebraska E d u c a tio n a l J o u r n a l, V o l. XXI, No. 2 , 19*11, p p . 5*+-55.
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W hile Grandy d id n o t a d v o ca te a s ta te - a d o p te d c o n tr a c t form , he d id recommend more u n ifo rm ity .
He l i s t e d th e fo llo w in g as th e minimum item s
which a c o n tr a c t sh ould c o n ta in : (1 ) Name o f th e sch o o l d i s t r i c t ; ( 2) Name o f the teacher; ( 3) ©ie agreem ent to
te a c h ;
(4) Amount o f s a la r y
w ith d e f i n i t e method o f paym ent;
( 5) P ro v is io n s f o r p h y s ic a l e x am in atio n o f th e te a c h e r; (6) P ro v is io n s f o r r e le a s e ; (7 ) C on d itio n s under which a te a c h e r may r e s ig n ; (S) D u ties o f th e te a c h e r ; ( 9 ) S ig n a tu re o f th e te a c h e r ; (10) S ig n a tu re o f a u th o riz e d b o ard member.^ She U tah E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n has had a com m ittee s in c e 1937 work in g tow ard a s ta te - w id e uniform c o n tr a c t f o r te a c h e r s . a n aly z e d th e te a c h e r c o n tr a c ts o f t h i r t y d i s t r i c t s .
This
com m ittee
T able I e x p la in s th e
c o n te n t o f th e s e c o n tr a c ts and th e number o f sch o o ls u s in g each ite m .
It
i s o f i n t e r e s t to n o te t h a t th e r e were o n ly th r e e item s i d e n t i c a l in
a ll
t h i r t y c o n tr a c ts a n a ly z e d .
The th r e e item s were n o t i f i c a t i o n o f a s s ig n
m ent, s u b je c t to r u le s o f th e board and s u p e r in te n d e n t, and s t a t e f i c a t i o n re q u ire d .
c e rti
There were tw en ty -sev en c o n tr a c ts found to c o n ta in
p ro v is io n s s e t t i n g f o r t h th e r i g h t o f th e b o ard to te rm in a te a te a c h e r ’ s c o n tr a c t f o r c a u s e .
The U tah E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n has s in c e ad o p ted a
su g g este d c o n tr a c t f o r te a c h e r s .7 I t i s n o ta b le th a t th e U tah su rv e y was made by a com m ittee composed o f two te a c h e r s , two d i s t r i c t s u p e r in te n 6I b id . ^See A ppendix, p .
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s TABLE 1 Features o f Contracts 30 School D is t r ic t s o f Utah - 1939-^0
Routine— 1. 2. 3. b.
N o tif ic a t io n o f assignm ent ............................................................ Subject to r u le s o f the Board andSuperintendent . . . . ..................................................... H ealth C e r tific a te required Assignment to sch o o l or department in the sch ool . . . .
30 30 21 12
B usiness R e la tio n s h ip s — 1 . Number o f payments each y e a r - 2 * + ............................................
5
2 . 3 .
« »
1
k.
«
R
I'
n n
n 11
"
"
H
II
« n »
II
6!
«
«
"
"
7 >
H
II
II
II
8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 1*+. 15.
n
_2 1 ................................................ 11 _i L ...............................................
« -1 2 H - l l » -10 H
_
...............................................................
’. ! ! ! ! g
.’ ......................
1
12 1
3
........................................................
C o n tra c tu a l r e l a t i o n te rm in a te d by Board f o r cau se . . . H earing on such te rm in a tio n a t t e a c h e r 's re q u e s t . . . C o n tra c tu a l r e l a t i o n te rm in a te d by te a c h e r...................... . C o n tra c tu a l r e l a t i o n te rm in a te d by Board f o r la c k o f f u n d s ............................................................................ Time f o r a cc e p ta n c e o f c o n tr a c t s p e c i f i e d ......................... No o th e r g a in f u l employment p e rm itte d .................................... L ife o f c o n tr a c t s p e c i f i e d ........................................................ P ro v is io n f o r d ep en d en ts in s a l a r y ...............................
27 1*+ 8 20 1^5 9 3
M a rita l S ta tu s — 1 . M arriage a n n u ls c o n tr a c t .................................................................. 2 . C e r t i f i c a t i o n o f m a r ita l s t a t u s re q u ire d .................. . . .
20 6
P r o fe ssio n a l S ta tu s— 1. 2. 3. H. 5. 6.
P r o fe ssio n a l advancement required ........................................... S ta te c e r t if ic a t io n required ........................................................ Attendance a t regu lar and s p e c ia l m eetings required . . U. E. A. convention considered school t i m e ........... 7 Permanent tenure assumed ............................................................ . Number o f p r o fe s s io n a l a s s o c ia tio n s required . . . . . .
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3 30 18 5 3
TABLE I C ontinued
S ick Leave R egu lation s— 1 . P erson al s ic k le a v e ........................................................ . 2 . Cumulative s ic k l e a v e .......................... 3 . Community s ic k l e a v e .....................................................................
23 8 21
S p ec ia l— 1 . R egulated by teacher retirem ent r u les ................................ 2 . Local resid en ce required ................................................................ 3 . Time o f a r r iv a l at sch ool each day s p e c i f i e d ................
2 9 1
I t i s d i f f i c u l t to draw co n clu sio n s from c o n tr a c ts a lo n e . Rules and r eg u la tio n s are ju s t as b in d in g . S everal d i s t r i c t s have very b r ie f con tr a c ts and then p la c e r e g u la tio n s in th e r u le s .
Charles A. Smith
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10
d e n ts , and two "board members.
This com m ittee made th e fo llo w in g recommen
d a tio n s : (1) That c o n tr a c ts sh o u ld be is s u e d A p ril 20 and re tu rn e d on May 5 . ( 2) That te a c h e rs who a r e n o t to be re-em ployed sh o u ld be so n o t i f i e d on o r b e fo re March 1. ( 3 ) That te a c h e rs under c o n tr a c t do n o t a tte m p t to le a v e a d i s t r i c t w ith o u t th e w illi n g c o n se n t o f th e s u p e r in te n d e n t. (4 ) That te a c h e rs sh o u ld no t e x p ec t to be re le a s e d from a c o n tr a c t a f t e r J u ly 1 5 . Only under r a r e c irc u m sta n c e s i s a l a t e r r e le a s e j u s t i f i a b l e . ( 5) That S u p e rin te n d e n ts who w ish to h i r e a te a c h e r who i s a l read y under c o n tr a c t should f i r s t c o n s u lt and o b ta in th e co n sen t o f th e S u p e rin te n d e n t o f t h a t te a c h e r b e fo re mak in g th e te a c h e r an o f f e r . (6 ) That a l l d i s t r i c t s pay a t l e a s t f iv e days f u l l pay c ase o f s ic k n e s s , r a t h e r th a n h a l f p a y .
in
(7) That te a c h e r s , s u p e r in te n d e n ts , and sch o o l board members m a in ta in e t h i c a l and p r o f e s s io n a l r e l a t i o n s w ith in t h e i r own groups.® Slocum s tu d ie d 257 c o n tr a c ts o u t o f a p o s s ib le 302 i n South D akota. The fo llo w in g f a c t s were re v e a le d in h i s c o n tr a c t a n a ly s is : (1 ) T w enty-three p e r c e n t o f th e c o n tr a c ts s tu d ie d in c lu d e m a rria g e c la u s e s . (2 ) T h irty p e r c e n t o f th e c o n tr a c ts have p e n a lty c la u s e s . ( 3) Seven per cen t have s o c ia l reg u la tio n s fo r te a c h e r s. (4) S eventeen p e r c e n t o f th e c o n tr a c ts s t a t e t h a t wages a re to be p a id i n tw elve m onthly i n s ta llm e n ts . ( 5) S ix te e n p e r c e n t o f th e c o n tr a c ts have s p e e ia l c la u s e s c o n cern in g te rm in a tio n o r c a n c e l la t io n o f th e c o n t r a c t .9 ®Letter from J e w ell J . Rasmussen, D ir ec to r o f R esearch, Utah Educa t io n A ss o c ia tio n , w r itte n on J u ly 1 5 , 1941. 9Slocum, James, A Study o f the Elements o f Teachers1 C ontracts and Teacher Contract P r a c tic e s in South Dakota, the U n iv e r sity o f South Da kota: 1 9 4 l, p . 6 1 .
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11
These f a c to r s were s a id to he d e b a ta b le is s u e s , because o f th e con te n tio n t h a t such item s in c o n tr a c ts o fte n c r e a te u n p ro f e s s io n a l r e l a t i o n s among te a c h e rs and boards o f e d u c a tio n . The Idaho E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n in c lu d e d i n i t s a n n u al r e p o r t some o f th e fo llo w in g sta te m e n ts re g a rd in g te a c h e r s ' c o n tr a c ts : (1) The m a tte r o f c o n tr a c ts i s o f v i t a l im portance to te a c h e r .
ev ery
(2) There i s a grow ing c o n v ic tio n on th e p a r t o f th e p u b lic in g e n e ra l t h a t th e te a c h in g p r o f e s s io n i s th e most u n e th ic a l of a ll. (3 ) C e r ta in ly ev ery te a c h e r i s e n t i t l e d to p ro g re s s in th e p r o f e s s io n a s r a p id ly as o p p o rtu n ity and c a p a b i l i t i e s w i l l a llo w . (4 ) Teachers o f te n a r e n o t r e - e l e c t e d u n t i l th e A p ril m eeting o f th e B oard, and i n some in s ta n c e s th e m a tte r has been l e f t u n t i l th e May m eetin g , o r even th e c lo s e o f th e y e a r . ( 5) Some te a c h e rs a r e n o t g iv en w r i tt e n
c o n t r a c t s . ^
S tu d ie s o f R ules and R e g u la tio n s f o r T eachers I n 193S th e Committee on Tenure made an a n a ly s is o f sch o o lb o a rd r u le s in f o r t y c i t i e s o v e r 100,000 p o p u la tio n .
Some o f th e c o n c lu sio n s a re in
clu d ed i n th e fo llo w in g q u o ta tio n : few r e g u la tio n s were found which in th em selves were u n rea s o n a b le . However, sch o o lb o ard p ro v is io n s v a ry and i n th e s e v a r ia tio n s te a c h e rs o f some c i t i e s have cause f o r co m p lain t m erely because a n e ig h b o rin g c i t y may be more g e n ero u s. Ad v e rs e c o n d itio n s o f employment as re v e a le d by th e se 1500 r u le s o f lo c a l sch o o lb o ard s a r e a d v e rse l a r g e l y by com parison. P r i v ile g e s g ra n te d to te a c h e rs in some c i t i e s a r e more generous th a n in o th e r c i t i e s ; r e s t r i c t i o n s on te a c h e rs i n some c i t i e s a re more s e v e re than i n o th e r c i t i e s . ^
■^Idaho E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n , P ro ceed in g s o f th e Idaho E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n , 1937-38» V ol. X, p p . 59-60* ■ ^R atio n al E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n , Committee on T enure, A n a ly sis o f School-B oard R u le s . W ashington, D. C .: th e A s s o c ia tio n , 1938.
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12
from t h i s stu d y i t m ight he concluded t h a t th e re a re few u n re a so n a b le r e g u la tio n s fo rc e d upon te a c h e r s , h u t v a s t l y more p r e v a le n t and s i n i s t e r a re th e u n w ritte n r e g u la tio n s which h r in g u n c e r ta in ty to th e te a c h in g p ro f e s s io n and reduce c o n s id e ra b ly th e s e c u r i t y o f te a c h e rs who h o ld w r itt e n c o n tr a c ts .
such
I t must he remembered t h a t t h i s stu d y o f sch o o lb o ard
r u le s made u se o f o n ly th o se which were w r i t t e n .
I t d id , how ever,
sug
g e s t th a t s u p e rin te n d e n ts should p ro v id e a book o f r u le s and r e g u la tio n s f o r te a c h e rs i n o rd e r t h a t te a c h e rs may n o t be l e f t to t h e i r own i n i t i a t i v e in o b ta in in g in fo rm a tio n co n ce rn in g what th ey may and may n o t do. When no r u le s and r e g u la tio n s a re s t a t e d ig n o ran ce o f th e r u le s was s a id to be a j u s t i f i a b l e excuse f o r v i o l a t i o n . V erbal c o n tr a c ts a r e used by some s c h o o ls .
In c ase o f d is p u te s , th e
c o n te n t o f such c o n tr a c ts would be l e f t up to th e c o u r ts , and i t would be n e c e s sa ry f o r b o th p a r t i e s to e s t a b l i s h th e c o n te n ts o f th e agreem ent. The l a t i o n a l E du catio n A s s o c ia tio n b u l l e t i n s t a t e s ! There seems to be a grow ing tendency to abandon th e use o f c o n tr a c ts in la r g e c i t i e s . The E d u c a tio n a l R esearch Commit te e r e c e n tly re p o rte d th a t 26 .5 Pe r c en,fc o f th e 93 c i t i e s o f p o p u la tio n s o v er 100,000 d id n o t use c o n tr a c ts in 1930- 3 1 . and in 1937-38 th e p e r c e n t had In c re a s e d to 2 8 . 9 . ^ W ithout a w r itt e n c o n tr a c t a te a c h e r h a rd ly knows j u s t what a board o f e d u c a tio n e x p ec ts o f him .
B uies and r e g u la tio n s , o f te n u n w r itte n , a re
th e only b a s is f o r an u n d e rs ta n d in g . W eller made a stu d y i n 193& o f th e r u le s and r e g u la tio n s te a c h e r s ' d u tie s and a c t i v i t i e s i n th e S ta te o f Wyoming.
re g a rd in g
A summary o f h is
c o n c lu s io n s fo llo w s! ■ ^N ational E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n , American A s s o c ia tio n o f School Ad m in is tr a to r s and R esearch D iv is io n , Employment S ta tu s and le a v e s o f Ab sence o f T e a c h e rs, 1937-38. W ashington, D. C .: th e A s s o c ia tio n , Jan u a ry I 9 3 8 . P* 4-5 (m im eographed).
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13 (1 ) C ity school system s have fo rm u lated a l a r g e r number o f r u le s and r e g u la tio n s th a n r u r a l b o a rd s. « (2) The r u le s and r e g u la tio n s d i f f e r c o n s id e ra b ly in th e v a r io u s com m unities; th e r e i s v e ry l i t t l e s ta n d a r d iz a tio n o f ru le s . ( 3 ) Only th o se r u le s and re g u la tio n s a b s o lu te ly n e c e s sa ry f o r th e p ro p e r fu n c tio n in g o f a sch o o l system should be im posed upon te a c h e r s . U nnecessary r u le s te n d to antagon iz e a te a c h e r . (4-) Many d i f f e r e n t ty p es o f teach ers* c o n tr a c ts a re i n use in Wyoming. They range from b r i e f o r a l c o n tr a c ts to lo n g and e la b o r a te w r it t e n c o n tr a c ts which in c lu d e r u le s and r e g u la tio n s . ( 5 ) T e a ch e rs' c o n tr a c ts sh o u ld be w r i t t e n . I t would be de s i r a b l e to have a uniform c o n tr a c t f o r a l l sch o o l sy s tems in th e S t a t e . (6) Every board o f e d u c a tio n in Wyoming should adopt and make a v a ila b le to ev ery te a c h e r a handbook o f r u le s and r e g u la tio n s .^-3
The Legal S ta tu s o f T eachers Under C o n tra c t The le g a l s t a t u s o f te a c h e rs under c o n tr a c t h as been r e c e n tly s tu d ie d by th e Committee on T e n u r e .^ tr a c ts a re o f r e la tiv e ly l i t t l e
Some o f th e s e d e c is io n s in v o lv in g con
e d u c a tio n a l s ig n if i c a n c e , such as th e d i s
m is sa l o f a N ebraska s u p e rin te n d e n t f o r engaging i n a " f i s t f ig h t " a s u b o r d in a te .^5
w ith
O ther d e c is io n s e s ta b lis h e d some m uch-debated is s u e s ,
as f o r in s ta n c e , th e F lo r id a r u l i n g t h a t s a la r y can n o t be a n n u lle d la c k o f funds i f th e c o n tr a c t does n o t c o n ta in such a p r o v is io n ,
16
fo r and
^ W e ller, C lif f o r d I . , R ules and R e g u la tio n s o f Boards o f E d u catio n in th e S ta te o f Wyoming R egarding Teachers * D u tie s and A c t i v i t i e s , Mas ter* s T h e s is , U n iv e rs ity o f Wyoming; 193k* p . 68. ^ H a tio n a l E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n , Committee on T enure, C ourt D eci s io n s on T enure, W ashington, D. C .: th e A s s o c ia tio n , A p ril 1941," p p . 13k. ■ ^A rehart v . School D i s t r i c t l o . 8 , H itch co ck County, 289 UW 540. 1 f) Board o f P u b lic I n s t r u c t i o n o f Suwannee County v . A rn o ld , 194 So 334.
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the I l l i n o i s p r o v isio n th at a th ree-y ea r co n tra ct was not u n c o n s titu tio n a l. This study r ev e a ls th a t court d e c isio n s in v o lv in g teachers were few in num b er, and many ca ses never reach the co u rts because charges are not p ressed . The fo llo w in g qu otation from B eale ex p la in s th e te a c h e r 's a ttitu d e toward the co u rts: The chances fo r s u c c e s s fu l d efen se even fo r th e teach er w ith a c le a r ca se are so p rob lem atical and the p o s s ib le damage to a teach er who demands a hearing so g rea t th at most teach ers p r e fe r to s l i p q u ie tly out and hunt another appoint ment, even when they have a good c a s e . A teacher who wins can be dropped a t the end o f a year u n less tenure i s perma n en t, or a t le a s t p ersecu ted w ith in the system . The brand o f a troub le maker i s so deeply burned in to th e ch aracter o f any teaeher who f ig h t s fo r h is r ig h ts th a t i t may mean the end o f h is te a c h in g . The r is k s , th en , o fte n appear too g rea t to o f f s e t the advantages o f a p u b lic h earin g, however good the case.-*-® le w is made a study o f c o n tra cts in Canada during the year 19*40.
The
a d m in istration o f education in Canada i s somewhat s im ila r to the system in the U nited S t a te s .
Each province i s d iv id ed in to sch ool d i s t r i c t s and
the le g is la t u r e d e le g a te s to the schoolboards the a u th o r ity to manage the s c h o o ls.
In th is study, Lewis shows th at c e r ta in l e g i s l a t i v e a c tio n cov
erin g teach ers' c o n tr a c ts elim in a te s many e v i l s , however, the fo llo w in g qu otation emphasizes the lim it s o f le g i s l a t i o n : I t i s obvious th at no amount o f l e g i s l a t i o n could cover every s itu a t io n which may a r is e , and even i f th at were pos s i b l e , i t would s t i l l be necessary fo r the court to in t e r p ret the law . A ccordingly, i t would become n ecessa ry not only to examine the S ta tu te s p e r ta in in g to c o n tr a c ts, but a ls o to search the law rep orts in Canada fo r a l l reported ca ses in v o lv in g d isp u te s between the board and the te a c h e r .^9 ■^•Tsioan v . School D ireco trs o f D is t r ic t Ho. 22, 26 HE ( 2d) S4b. 1
B ea le, H. K ., Are American Teachers f r e e ? , Hew York: n e r 's Sons, 1936, pp. b87-SS.
Charles S crib
■^Lewis, a . 0 . , Contracts and Tenure o f Canadian T eachers, T h e s is , A bstract subm itted fo r requirem ents fo r the Degree o f Doctor o f Pedagogy, U n iv e r sity o f Toronto: 19*4-0, pp. 1 - lb .
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15
Monroe s t a t e s a t some le n g th th e le g a l s t a t u s o f te a c h e rs u n d er con tra c ts . (1)
The fo llo w in g i s a summary o f h is c o n c lu s io n s ; B efore a te a c h e r can e n te r in to a v a l i d c o n tr a c t to te a c h , he must p o s se ss such c e r t i f i c a t i o n o f q u a l i f i c a t i o n s a s th e s t a t u t e s may r e q u ir e .
(2 ) D ire c t a c ti o n may be b ro u g h t to have a t e a c h e r 's c e r t i f i c a te revoked. ( 3) I t i s commonly h e ld by th e c o u rts t h a t a sch o o l b o a rd , un l e s s r e s t r i c t e d by s t a t u t e , may enploy te a c h e rs fo r a p e r io d e x ten d in g beyond th e term o f o f f i c e o f some o r a l l o f th e board members. (4 ) Numerous c o u rts have d e fin e d th e a u th o r ity o f b o ard s to d ism iss te a c h e r s . Under th e common law and u n d er s t a t u te s g e n e r a lly , te a c h e rs can be d ism isse d o n ly f o r c a u s e . And in c a se th e s t a t u t e s e x p re s s ly s t a t e th e causes f o r which a te a c h e r may be d is m is se d , a te a c h e r s , a s a r u l e , can be d ism isse d f o r no o th e r c a u s e . (5) The mere f a c t t h a t a sch o o l board does n o t have funds to cover a c o n tr a c t does n o t c o n s t i t u t e l e g a l grounds f o r d is m is s a l. (6) T eachers o u ts id e th e c lassro o m have th e same r i g h t to en gage in p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t i e s as o th e r c i t i z e n s . (7 ) C a rria g e o f a woman te a c h e r does n o t c o n s t i t u t e le g a l c au se f o r d is m is s a l, u n le s s th e r e i s th a t agreem ent in th e c o n tr a c t. (S) I n most s t a t e s a te a c h e r can n o t be d ism isse d w ith o u t no t i c e o f c h arg es and an o p p o rtu n ity to be h e a rd . (9) In c ase a te a c h e r i s d ism isse d w ith o u t l e g a l , c a u s e , th e amount s t i l l due him under c o n tr a c t i s prim a f a c ie th e m easure o f th e damage he may re c o v e r. , (10) Any v e rb a l c o n tr a c t in y e a r a f t e r th e d a te o f
any s t a t e i s only v a l id f o r th e a g re e m e n t.20
one
H am ilton and Mort d e fin e in
th e fo llo w in g p a ra g ra p h th e
"Formal le g a l
r e q u i s i t e s o f te a c h e r c o n t r a c ts " ; ^Oiionroe, W alter S ., In c y c lo p e d ia o f E d u c a tio n a l B e se a rc h , New York; th e M acm illan Company, 1941, p p . 1024-25.
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
16 The te a c h e r ’ s c o n tr a c t must conform to a l l th e g e n e ra l r e quirem ents o f c o n tr a c ts i n g e n e r a l. That i s , i t m ust he be tween com petent p a r t i e s , su p p o rte d by ad eq u ate c o n s id e r a tio n , be s u f f i c i e n t l y d e f i n i t e to in d ic a te what th e p a r t i e s in te n d e d and conform to any s p e c ia l s t a t u t o r y p ro v is io n s t h a t may be ap p l i c a b l e . There must be o f f e r and a c c e p ta n c e , com m unication o f th e a c c e p ta n c e to th e o f f e r o r , an d , i f th e s t a t u t e r e q u ir e s i t th e c o n tr a c t must be i n w r i t i n g . ^ Much has been w r i t t e n re g a rd in g th e l e g a l p h ases o f te a c h e r c o n tr a c t s ; The above shows o n ly th e g e n e ra l tre n d o f th o u g h t in t h i s a r e a .
21
H am ilton, R obert R. and P a u l M ort, The Law and P u b lic E d u c a tio n , C hicago; th e fo u n d a tio n P r e s s , I n c . , 19W., P« 328.
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CHAPTER I I I
DATA AID THEIR AMLTSIS AND DISCUSSION
The d is c u s sio n o f the data i s d iv id ed in to th ree p a r ts ,
namely:
(1) a n a ly s is and d is c u s sio n o f t h ir t y Wyoming teachers* c o n tr a c t form s, ( 2 ) d is c u s sio n o f the data gathered from te a c h e rs, and ( 3 )
d is c u s sio n
o f inform ation gathered from c i t y sch o o l su p erin ten d en ts. A n alysis and D iscu ssio n o f T hirty Wyoming Teachers1C o n tr a c t Forms Method o f Obtaining C ontracts fo r A n a ly s is .
The c o n tr a c ts analyzed
in t h is study were obtained by w r itin g to c i t y sch ool su p erin ten d en t. F orty-seven o f eig h ty ad m in istrators addressed answered the in q u ir ie s o f which t h ir t y en closed samples o f the co n tra ct forms used in tem s.
th e ir
sy s
F ive s ta te d th at they used verb al c o n tr a c ts. Twenty-one o f th e t h ir t y co n tra cts receiv ed came from lo r th C entral
A sso c ia tio n s c h o o ls .
A ll t h ir t y were from c i t y or town sy stem s.
The
sch o o ls that responded were g e o g ra p h ica lly d is tr ib u te d so as to have each county o f the s t a t e rep resen ted by a t l e a s t one c i t y or town sch o o l sy s tem.
A f a ir sample o f tea ch ers in Wyoming i s a ffe c te d by the c o n tr a c ts
analyzed in t h is study sin c e on ly c i t y system s were s o l i c i t e d , and most o f the c o n tr a c ts o f th e la r g er sch o o ls were included in the a n a ly s is . Verbal C on tracts.
Although i t i s ev id en t th a t some sch o o ls in Wyo
ming are using verb al c o n tr a c ts, i t would be d i f f i c u l t to analyze p r o v is io n s .
Verbal c o n tr a c ts are le g a l in Wyoming as w e ll as in
s t a t e s , but such co n tra cts remain le g a l on ly fo r a period o f
one
Although no attempt i s made to determine whether any d i f f i c u l t i e s
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
th e ir oth er y e a r. have
IS a r i s e n o v e r such c o n tr a c ts , i t would seem t h a t b o th p a r t i e s would
fe e l
more s e c u re i f th e re were some ta n g ib le re c o rd o f employment and c o n d i tio n s o f ag reem en t. G eneral C h a r a c te r is tic s o f W ritte n C o n tra c ts .
A g re a t v a rie ty
of
«
c o n tr a c t forms i s used i n th e s t a t e . alm ost i d e n t i c a l l y th e same form .
There were f iv e system s t h a t
I t i s e v id e n t from th e p h ra se o lo g y o f
each t h a t th e y have a common o r i g i n , b u t no d a ta a r e a v a il a b le t h e i r so u rc e o r to in d ic a te who w ro te them.
The m a jo rity o f
a re v e ry d e ta i le d and c o n ta in many " e x tr a " c la u s e s . t r a c t s a n aly z e d and s tu d ie d , th e ran g e n in e to f i f t y - o n e .
u se
in th e
to show c o n tr a c ts
Prom th e t h i r t y con
number o f item s i s from
Tables 2-7 show a t a b u la tio n o f th e item s fo u n d .
The
t o t a l number o f item s found i n th e a n a ly s is i s 1,109 or an av erag e o f 3^ p e r c o n tra c t.
This number a g re e s c lo s e ly w ith th a t re p o rte d i n th e stu d y
made by th e N a tio n a l E d u catio n A sso c ia tio n ^ - where th e av erag e
number o f
item s in th e c o n tr a c ts a n aly z e d i s 3 2 . 5 * ^ h is number i s g e n e r a lly garded a s too h ig h ; te n to tw elve item s a r e s u f f i c i e n t to in c lu d e
re th e
e s s e n t i a l s o f a te a c h e r ’ s c o n tr a c t. The fo rm ats o f th e c o n tr a c ts v a ry from sm all s i x by fo u r in c h s h e e ts to two l e g a l - s i z e d p r in t e d s h e e ts .
H ost o f th e forms a r e p r i n t e d ,
but
s e v e r a l a re mimeographed. On th e w hole, th e o f f i c i a l s o f th e t h i r t y sch o o ls show a d e cid e d te n dency to w r ite in t h e i r own r u le s and r e g u la tio n s .
This i s shewn in
th e
ite m iz ed a n a ly s is in th e A ppendix.
^ N a tio n a l E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n , M andatory S ta te -a d o p te d C o n tra ct Form s, o p. c i t . , p . 6.
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
Two c o n tr a c ts p l a i n l y gave l i t t l e p r o te c ti o n to th e te a c h e r .
The
fo llo w in g p ara g rap h ta k e n from one o f them i s s e lf - e x p l a n a to r y : The s a id d i s t r i c t re s e rv e s th e r i g h t to te rm in a te t h i s c o n tr a c t a t any tim e upon one m o n th 's w r itt e n n o tic e to s a id te a c h e r , i f a t any tim e s a id d i s t r i c t has in a d eq u a te funds to meet th e p a y r o ll o f a l l th e employees o f s a id d i s t r i c t , and th e s a id c o n tra c t s h a l l n o t be c o n stru e d to be a n in e m onths' c o n tr a c t b u t a c o n tr a c t from month to month on th e p a r t o f th e s a id d i s t r i c t as h e r e in p ro v id e d . There i s much ex tra n eo u s m a te ria l in c lu d e d in th e c o n tr a c ts t h a t i s o f no p a r t i c u l a r v a lu e to e i t h e r p a r ty , f o r exam ple: I t i s f u r t h e r u n d e rsto o d th a t i f th e p a r ty o f th e f i r s t p a r t d e s ir e s t h i s c o n tr a c t may be renewed f o r a n o th e r y e a r p ro v id e d th e p a r ty o f th e second p a r t has f a i t h f u l l y f u l f i l l e d h is o r h e r p o s i t i o n . Such a p ro v is io n i s u n n e c e ssa ry .
Pour o f th e c o n tr a c ts a n aly z e d
a re e s s e n t i a l l y in p ro p e r c o n tr a c t form ; none o f them in c lu d e s r u le s and re g u la tio n s o r u n n e ce ssa ry d e t a i l s . C o n tra c t Item s o f M echanical N a tu re .
Pour o f th e t h i r t y c o n tr a c ts
a r e in th e form o f o f f e r s o r n o tic e s o f employment, one i s i n th e form o f an i n v i t a t i o n to j o i n th e f a c u l t y , and th e o th e r tw e n ty -fiv e form al o n e s.
a re
A ll t h i r t y o f th e c o n tr a c ts m ention th e name o f th e county
and s t a t e , and gave th e sch o o l d i s t r i c t number.
Twelve m ention th e name
o f th e c i t y o r town, and fo u r in c lu d e th e name o f th e sch o o l d i s t r i c t . Each c o n tr a c t c a l l s f o r th e name o f th e em ployee, most o f them in s e v e r a l p la c e s ; th r e e a sk s p e c i f i c a l l y f o r th e sex ; and one r e q u ir e s t h a t th e te a c h e r c e r t i f y t h a t he o r sh e i s a c i t i z e n o f th e U n ited S t a t e s . A b la n k space i s l e f t on n in e o f th e c o n tr a c ts f o r th e b o ard s p e c ify th e tim e f o r a c c e p ta n c e ; s ix gave th e p ro s p e c tiv e te a c h e r
to te n
d a y s, one fo u r te e n d a y s, and a n o th e r s p e c i f i e s June 1 f o r a te a c h e r in th e system .
Two c o n tr a c ts re a d th a t th e l e g a l r i g h t s o f e i t h e r
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
p a r ty
20 cannot be w aived.
Two s t a t e t h a t th e te a c h e r must be employed i n a reg u
l a r board m eeting o r th e c o n tr a c t is n o t v a l i d .
T his would be t r u e whe
th e r i t was in c lu d e d in th e c o n tr a c t o r n o t, s in c e te a c h e rs can ployed o n ly i n r e g u la r ly o r s p e c i a ll y c a ll e d board m e e tin g s.
be em
I n a case
i n which t h i s was th e p o in t a t is s u e , th e Court o f C iv il A ppeals o f Tex as ru le d th a t a c o n tr a c t i s n o t v a lid u n le s s p a sse d i n a l e g a l l y c a ll e d board m eetin g .
Many s im ila r c o u rt d e c is io n s have e s ta b lis h e d t h i s is s u e .
One c o n tr a c t in c lu d e s th e p h ra s e , “Ho c o n tr a c t i s v a li d u n le s s i t i s in w r iti n g ."
This i s a n o th e r example o f u n n e ce ssa ry d e t a i l .
In th e e x e c u tio n o f c o n tr a c ts , te n sc h o o ls r e q u ir e t h a t th e y w r itt e n in d u p lic a te , w h ile one re q u ire s th a t i t be w r it t e n in c a te .
be
trip li
One c o n tr a c t r e q u ir e s th e te a c h e r to re a d th e a tta c h e d r u le s and
re g u la tio n s b e fo re s ig n in g ; seven s t a t e t h a t s ig n a tu r e in d ic a te s fo rm al a c c e p ta n c e .
This i s tr u e i n th e c ase o f any ty p e o f w r it t e n c o n tr a c t and
needs not be s t a t e d . Every c o n tr a c t r e q u ir e s th e s ig n a tu r e o f th e en p lo y ee.
The s ig n a
tu r e o f th e em ploying a g e n ts ' may be t h a t o f c le r k o f th e b o ard in twen t y - s i x c a s e s ; th e chairm an i n tw e n ty -th re e ; a w itn e ss in sev en ; th e t r e a s u r e r i n f i v e ; and th e d i s t r i c t s u p e rin te n d e n t in f o u r . The s u p e r in te n d e n t's s ig n a tu r e on a t e a c h e r 's c o n tr a c t i s o f le g a l v a lu e .
no
I f th e s u p e r in te n d e n t's s ig n a tu r e only ap p ears on a con
t r a c t , i t i s n o t a l e g a l document b ecau se th e s t a t e s t a t u t e s g iv e
th e
th e board o f e d u c a tio n in Wyoming th e r i g h t to employ and r e le a s e te a c h e rs.
This power cannot be d e le g a te d a c c o rd in g to c o u rt d e c is io n s which ^ B ir d v il le Independen t School D i s t r i c t v . Deen, 141 SW (2d) 680.
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
21
p o in t to t h i s c o n c lu s io n .^
There a r e fo u r such c o n tr a c ts in t h i s a n a ly
s is . The d a te on which th e agreem ent was made i s found on t h i r t y c o n tr a c ts a n a ly z e d .
each
o f th e
Tw enty-seven s t a t e s p e c i f i c a l l y th e d a te on
w hich th e c o n tr a c t te r m in a te s . F o u rte e n c o n tr a c ts s t a t e th e number o f weeks in th e sch o o l term to be ta u g h t, seven in c lu d e th e number o f m onths, th r e e in c lu d e th e number o f days p e r week, and th r e e d e s ig n a te th e t o t a l number o f days
to
be
ta u g h t. The d u ra tio n o f most o f th e c o n tr a c ts i s dependent v a r ia b le f a c t o r s , f o r in s ta n c e :
upon
se v e ra l
two c o n tr a c ts s t a t e th a t th e y a r e month
to-m onth ag reem en ts, and th r e e re a d as fo llo w s : This appointm ent may be revoked and c a n c e lle d and y o u r s e r v ic e h e re u n d er te rm in a te d by th e board a t any tim e , i f i n th e o p in io n o f th e b o ard th e i n t e r e s t s o f th e sch o o l would be th e re b y prom oted. C o n tra c ts c o n ta in in g such c la u s e s g iv e no g u a ra n te e o f le n g th
of
!
s e r v ic e , and may be re g a rd e d as v o id a b le .
I t i s a d e b a ta b le is s u e whe
t h e r o r n o t th e c o u rts would uphold such a c la u s e i n a c o n tr a c t
which
d e a ls w ith p e rs o n a l s e r v i c e s . S e v e ra l d i f f e r e n t ty p es o f a d ju stm e n ts i n number o f sch o o l days th e y e a r a re s p e c if ie d
in c o n tr a c ts . E ig h t
s t a t e t h a t sch o o l
d is c o n tin u e d f o r c a u s e , b u t do n o t s p e c if y th e c a u s e s ; two
may
in be
c o n tr a c ts
have a c la u s e which allow ed th e b o ard to c lo s e th e sch o o l f o r la c k o f fu n d s, th e re b y a n n u llin g th e t e a c h e r s ’ c o n t r a c t .
This c la u s e would no
^Eyan v . Humphries 50 O k la ., 3^3* li See q u o ta tio n from c o n t r a c t , p . 1 9.
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
22
doubt be upheld i n c o u rt s in c e a s im ila r c ase t r i e d i n th e Supreme Court o f P lo r id a , allow ed th e te a c h e r to re c o v e r h i s
s a la r y b u t o n ly
b ecau se
th e r e was no p r o v is io n in h is c o n tr a c t re g a rd in g th e te rm in a tio n o f sch o o l f o r la c k o f fu n d s .^
Twelve o f th e
c o n tr a c ts in s p e c te d
th e
in c lu d e d
b la n k space f o r w r itin g i n o th e r c o n v en a n ts. In th e m a tte r o f assig n m en t to p o s itio n s and d u t i e s , seven o f th e t h i r t y c o n tr a c ts s t i p u l a t e t h a t assignm ent i s to be made by th e su p e r in te n d e n t o f s c h o o ls , f iv e l i s t d e f i n i t e assig n m en ts by g rad e o r s u b je c t p o s i t i o n , and f iv e a u th o riz e th e board and s u p e rin te n d e n t -to change th e assignm ent o f a te a c h e r .
In s ix c o n t r a c ts , th e r i g h t to t r a n s f e r a te a c h
e r from one g rade to a n o th e r i s g iv en th e board o r s u p e r in te n d e n t, i n th r e e , th e a d m in is tra tio n r e t a i n s th e r i g h t to t r a n s f e r a te a c h e r from one sch o o l d i s t r i c t to a n o th e r, and i n two, th e s u p e rin te n d e n ts have power to t r a n s f e r a te a c h e r to one departm en t from a n o th e r.
Three c o n tr a c ts p ro v id e
th a t th e assignm ent w i l l be "as s ta t e d o r n e a r ly a s p o s s ib le as s t a t e d . " One o f th e c o n tr a c ts an aly zed s p e c i f ie s e x t r a - c u r r i c u l a r a c t i v i t i e s d u tie s imposed on te a c h e r s .
I t would seem d i s t i n c t l y advantageous
as fo r
te a c h e rs to know d e f i n i t e l y t h e i r assig n m en ts upon r e c e iv in g
c o n tra c ts .
However, th e r e is no eviden ce t h a t te a c h e rs a r e n o t v e r b a lly
inform ed
o f t h e i r a ssig n m e n ts, which may make t h i s p ro v is io n o f l e s s im portance i n a w r itt e n c o n t r a c t . The sta te m e n t t h a t th e te a c h e r must be l e g a l l y q u a li f ie d i n tw e n ty -fiv e o f th e t h i r t y c o n tr a c ts ,
ap p ears
f i f t e e n s t a t e th a t " c e r t i f i c a
t i o n i s r e q u ire d to make th e c o n tr a c t l e g a l . "
S ta te c e r t i f i c a t i o n law s
^Board o f P u b lic I n s t r u c t i o n v . A rnold 19h So 33^*
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
would p r o te c t th e employer w hether a c la u s e re g a rd in g c e r t i f i c a t i o n i n a c o n tr a c t o r n o t.
The g e n e ra l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f
is
c e r tif ic a t io n re
quirem ents i s th a t sch o o lh o a rd s a re r e le a s e d from th e c o n tr a c t
if
th e
t e a c h e r 's c e r t i f i c a t e i s n o t p ro p e r and l e g a l . Table 2 shows a more d e t a i l e d a n a ly s is o f item s o f a m echanical na tu re . R e s p o n s ib ility o f Em ployer. a r e few .
The r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f th e em ployers
Three c o n tr a c ts p ro v id e th a t th e b o ard o f e d u c a tio n keep
th e
schoolhouse in r e p a i r , and th r e e p ro v id e t h a t th e em ployer f u r n is h
th e
n e c e s sa ry equipment and s u p p lie s .
th a t
The s t a t u t e s o f Wyoming p ro v id e
th e lo c a l d i s t r i c t s h a l l f u r n is h th e te x tb o o k s and equipment
fre e
of
c h arg e to th e p u p ils o f th e sc h o o l, so i t makes l i t t l e d if f e r e n c e 'whe th e r o r n o t such a p h ra s e a p p ea rs in a c o n tr a c t.
Com pensation
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f th e em ployer, a p p ea rs in many c o n tr a c ts ,
as
a
fu r th e r d is
c u s s io n o f t h i s p o in t ap p ears in a l a t e r s e c tio n . R e s p o n s ib ility o f T e a c h e r.
The r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f th e
te a c h e r
found i n th e c o n tr a c ts s tu d ie d i s d iv id e d in to s i x d i v i s io n s :
as
( l ) in
s t r u c t i o n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , (2 ) a d m in is tr a tiv e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , ( 3 ) cu s t o d i a l d u t i e s , (4 ) r e p o r t o r i a l d u t i e s , ( 5 ) m isc ella n e o u s d u tie s conduct o f sc h o o l, and ( 6 ) m isc e lla n e o u s o b lig a tio n s .
in th e
T able 3 shows a l l
th e item s under th e s e d i v is io n s . There i s l i t t l e agreem ent c o n ce rn in g i n s t r u c t i o n a l d u tie s Wyoming te a c h e r s ' c o n tr a c ts .
in
th e
Twenty o f th e t h i r t y s tu d ie d in c lu d e
th e
prom ise t h a t th e te a c h e r s h a l l p erform h is d u tie s f a i t h f u l l y
and
w e ll,
e lev e n in c lu d e the prom ise t h a t th e te a c h e r w i l l keep h im s e lf w e ll q u a i l
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
2k TABLE 2
C o n tra ct Item s o f M echanical N ature A.
B.
O ffe r o r n o tic e o f employment ..............................................................
U
1. C o n tra c t in form o f i n v i t a t i o n to j o i n f a c u l t y ..................
1
Employing u n its m entioned 1 . School D i s t r i c t No.................................................................................
30
2. C o u n ty .........................................................................................................
30
3 . S t a t e .........................................................................................................
30
U. C ity o r t o w n ............................................................................................
12
5- Name o f sch o o l d i s t r i c t .................................................................. C.
Employee 1. I d e n t i f i c a t i o n
D.
a . N a m e ...................................................................................................
30
h. S e x ......................................................................................................
3
c . C itiz e n o f U n ited S ta te s ........ ......................................................
1
1 . Time f o r a c c e p ta n c e o f c o n tr a c t s p e c if ie d (b la n k sp ace) a . 10 d a y s ...............................................................................................
6
b . I k d a y s ................................................................................................
1
c . Must he sig n ed by June 1
1
.........................................................
2 . Legal r i g h t s o f e i t h e r p a r ty can n o t be w aived
E.
9
..................
2
3 . Must be employed a t b o ard m eeting o r c o n tr a c t n o t v a l id
2
h . Not v a l i d u n le s s in w r i t i n g .........................................................
1
D isp o sa l o f C o n tra ct 1 . E xecuted in d u p l i c a t e ......................................................................
10
2 . Executed in t r i p l i c a t e ......................................................................
1
3 . T eacher acknow ledges re a d in g c o n tr a c t and r u le s and re g u la tio n s a tta c h e d b e fo re s ig n in g ........................................
1
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
25 TABLE 2 (C ontinu ed ) k . f i l e d w ith
a . T eacher . , . ........................................................
S
h . B o a r d ..........................................................................
5
c . S u p e rin te n d e n t f.
...............................................................................
fo rm al a c c e p tan c e o f o f f e r o f employment 1 . S ig n a tu re means a c c e p ta n c e ..................................................... . .
£.
k
7
S ig n a tu re 1.
E m p lo y e e ....................................................................................................
30
2.
W i t n e s s ....................................................................................................
7
3.
D i s t r i c t S u p e rin te n d e n t
.................................................................
k
k.
County S u p e rin te n d e n t
...................................................................
0
5 . R e p re s e n ta tiv e s o f School Board
H.
I.
a . S e c re ta r y o r C l e r k .................................................................. .
26
b . P r e s id e n t o r C h a irm a n ..................................................................
23
c . T r e a s u r e r ............................................................................................
5
D ates 1.
D ate o f a g r e e m e n t ....................
30
2.
D ate c o n tr a c t e f f e c t i v e ................................................................
27
3 . D ate c o n tr a c t te rm in a te s ................................................................
9
k.
3
School y e a r o n l y ......................................
C o n tra ct P e rio d 1 . Length o f s e r v ic e u n d er c o n tr a c t a.
lum ber o f weeks in sch o o l t e r r a .....................
b.
lum ber o f months i n sch o o l t e r m ............................................
7
c.
lum ber o f days i n sch o o l week
3
d.
lum ber o f s c h o o l d a y s ....................................................................
. .
. . . . . . . . .
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
lk
3
26 TABLE 2 (C ontinued)
e . School term d e s ig n a te d
................................................
3
f . Tenure assumed (perm anent) .........................................................
0
2 . School C alendar a . V acatio n s w i l l n o t co u n t as days ta u g h t . . . . . . .
3
3* A djustm ents o f sc h o o l days in y e a r a . School may he d is c o n tin u e d f o r c a u s e ...................................
S
h . V acatio n s d eterm in ed hy h o ard ..................................................
7
c . School may he c u t one month s h o r t f o r la c k o f funds
.
2
d . Board may extend sc h o o l f o r cau se ..........................................
2
e . Board may c lo s e sch o o l a t end o f 7 th o r S th month
1
. .
4 . C o n tra c t in c lu d e s h la n k space f o r w r itin g i n th e o th e r c o n v e n a n t s ........................................ . .................................................... J.
12
Assignm ent to p o s itio n and d u tie s 1 . Assignment hy s u p e rin te n d e n t
.........................................................
7
2 . Assignm ent o f grade o r p o s i t i o n s p e c if ie d ........................... .
5
3 . S u p e rin te n d e n t o r h o ard a u th o riz e d to change assignm ent o r to t r a n s f e r a s s i g n m e n t..........................
5
a . Prom one grade to a n o t h e r ..................................
6
b . Efom one sc h o o l to a n o th e r in d i s t r i c t ...............................
3
c . Prom one departm en t to a n o t h e r ................................................
2
4 . Assignm ent w r itt e n in ................................................
. . . . . .
6
5 . Assignm ent "as s t a t e d o r n e a r ly as p o s s ib le a s s ta t e d " 6 . A ssignm ent o f a c t i v i t i e s s p e c if ie d
............................................
7 . A ssignm ent made hy p r i n c i p a l ............................................. Z.
.
3 1
1
C e rtific a tio n 1 . S tatem en t t h a t te a c h e r i s l e g a l l y q u a lif ie d
........................
25
2. C e r t i f i c a t i o n re q u ire d to make c o n tr a c t l e g a l ......................
15
3 . C o n tra c t can n o t l e g a l l y ex ten d heyond p e rio d co v ered hy c e r t i f i c a t e .............................................................
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
2
27 ta b le
3
R e s p o n s ib i liti e s o f Employer and Employee A.
B.
R e s p o n s ib ilitie s o f Employer 1.
C o n tra c t perform ed th ro u g h s u p e rin te n d e n t o r board . . . ♦
9
2.
Keep schoolhouse i n r e p a i r .................................................................
3
3.
f u r n is h n e c e s sa ry equipm ent
............................................................
3
a.
Perform d u tie s w e ll o r f a i t h f u l l y ................................ ..........
20
b.
Agrees to keep s e l f q u a l i f i e d ...............................
11
c.
Teach i n a p r o f e s s io n a l manner
d.
Conduct s e l f m o r a l l y .................................................................
e.
Conduct s e l f as becomes a te a c h e r o f sch o o l p u p ils
R e s p o n s ib ilitie s o f Employee 1 . I n s tr u c tio n a l
...............................................
7 5
.
.
f . D ilig e n tly , f a i t h f u l l y , co m p eten tly and e f f i c i e n t l y perform h is o r h e r d u t i e s ....................................................... g.
Teach to s a t i s f a c t i o n o f Board o f D ire c to rs
h.
Keep h im s e lf i n th e b e s t p h y s ic a l c o n d i t i o n ...............
i.
fo llo w c o u rse o f stu d y
5 5
....................
2 1
...............................................
1
2 . A d m in is tra tiv e d u tie s a.
Be a t school a t d e sig n a te d t i m e .........................................
6
b.
Do n o t le a v e b e fo re s p e c if ie d t i m e ................................
5
c.
M aintain o rd e r and d i s c i p l i n e ......................................
d.
Do n o t le a v e u n t i l a l l p u p ils have d e p a rte d f o r home
. . .
1 .
1
3 . C u sto d ia l d u tie s a.
R etu rn sch o o l p ro p e rty a t end o f t e r m ............................
b.
f u r n is h in v e n to ry a t end o f term re g a rd in g equipm ent
c.
E x e rc is e c a re d u rin g use o f sch o o l p ro p e rty
1 .
1
....................
1
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
28 ’■CABLE 3 (C ontinued)
E e p o r to r ia l d u tie s a . Make a l l r e p o r ts r e q u i r e d .........................................................
2
5- M isc e lla n eo u s d u tie s i n th e conduct o f sch o o l a.
Obey r u le s and r e g u la tio n s o f S c h o o lb o a r d ..................... ( f h r e e had r u le s a tta c h e d )
3^
b.
Obey s t a t e school l a w s ............................................................
l6
c . A ll r u le s and r e g u la tio n s made by th e b o ard d u rin g th e fo rc e o f t h i s c o n tr a c t a re c o n sid e re d p a r t o f c o n t r a c t ..............................................................................................
12
d.
Obey ru le s o f S ta te D e p a r t m e n t ...........................................
8
e.
Obey r u le s of county s u p e rin te n d e n t
.....................
3
f.
Obey th e s u p e rin te n d e n t o f s c h o o l s ..................................
3
6 . M iscellan eo u s o b lig a tio n s a.
Blake up l o s t t i m e ............................................
8
b.
A ttend a l l te a c h e r m eetings ...................................................
7
c.
Blake up any tim e as board may r e q u i r e ..............................
3
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
f i e d , seven a s s e r t t h a t he m ast te a c h i n a p r o f e s s io n a l m anner.
Some
o f th e o th e r d u tie s named a r e th a t th e te a c h e r must conduct h im s e lf in a m oral m anner, te a c h to th e s a t i s f a c t i o n o f th e h o ard o f e d u c a tio n , and fo llo w th e c o u rse o f s tu d y .
She l a t t e r one would he o f l i t t l e s ig
n if ic a n c e s in c e th e S ta te D epartm ent o f E d u catio n does n o t f u r n is h c o u r ses o f s tu d y f o r a l l s u b je c ts . The a d m in is tr a tiv e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f te a c h e rs a s re v e a le d by th e c o n tr a c ts a re few.
S ix r e q u ir e th a t th e te a c h e r be a t th e sch o o l a t a
d e s ig n a te d tim e , and f iv e s p e c ify th e tim e a t which th e te a c h e r le a v e th e sch o o l b u ild in g .
may
These a re r u le s and r e g u la tio n s th e in c lu
s io n o f which in a c o n tr a c t i s o f d o u b tfu l v a lu e . Only th r e e o f th e t h i r t y c o n tr a c ts an aly zed m ention any c u s to d i a l d u tie s o f th e te a c h e r .
These a re as fo llo w s :
th e
te a c h e r
must r e
tu r n a l l sch o o l p ro p e rty a t th e end o f th e y e a r , f u r n is h a t th e end o f th e term an in v e n to ry o f equipm ent u se d , and e x e r c is e c a re i n th e o f sch o o l p r o p e r ty ,
use
A gain, th e s e a r e r u le s and r e g u la tio n s t h a t te a c h
e rs sh o u ld know and obey, b u t a re h a rd ly c o n tr a c tu a l p r o v is io n s .
Two
c o n tr a c ts r e q u ir e th a t te a c h e rs make a l l th e r e p o r ts r e q u ir e d . A ll o f th e c o n tr a c ts s tu d ie d r e q u ir e t h a t th e employee obey r u le s and r e g u la tio n s o f th e sch o o lb o a rd .
S ix te e n c o n tr a c ts m ention t h a t th e
te a c h e r must obey th e s t a t e sch o o l la w s, and tw elve s t a t e t h a t a l l r u le s and r e g u la tio n s made by th e board d u rin g th e term o f th e c o n tr a c t
a re
c o n sid e re d a p a r t o f th e c o n t r a c t . Some o f th e m isc e lla n e o u s o b lig a tio n s found i n Wyoming te a c h e r con t r a c t s a-re:
make up a l l l o s t tim e , a tte n d a l l te a c h e r s 1 m e etin g s,
make up such tim e as th e b o ard may r e q u ir e .
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
and
30
P r o f e s s io n a l S t a t u s ♦ The c o n tr a c t forms
used i n Wyoming
have a
v a r i e t y o f item s co n ce rn in g th e p r o f e s s io n a l s t a t u s o f te a c h e r s .
F iv e
r e q u ir e th a t te a c h e rs do th e
th is
p r o f e s s io n a l
c la u s e , no d o u h t, was p la c e d in th e
re a d in g p r e s c r ib e d ;
c o n tr a c ts because
of
th e Wyoming
c e r t i f i c a t i o n r u le s which r e q u ir e each te a c h e r to re a d and r e p o r t two p r o f e s s io n a l books a y e a r .
on
S ix c o n tr a c ts s p e c ify t h a t te a c h e rs mast
a tte n d summer school a t g iv en i n t e r v a l s , one re q u ire s membership i n N a tio n a l E du catio n A s s o c ia tio n .
th e
The re a so n f o r m en tio n in g th e p r o f e s
s io n a l s ta t u s o f te a c h e rs in th e s e c o n tr a c ts i s o b v io u sly th e p r o f e s s io n a l grow th o f a te a c h e r .
to encourage
However, th e im petus f o r
s io n a l grow th sh ould come from w ith in th e te a c h e r group r a t h e r
p ro fe s th a n an
e x te r n a l s o u rc e . S ick L eav es♦ S ick le a v e i s th e o n ly ty p e o f le a v e o f ab sen ce men tio n e d i n any o f th e t h i r t y c o n t r a c t s .
Nine o f them m ention s i c k le a v e
ra n g in g from th r e e days a n n u a lly w ith pay to pay .
f iv e
days a n n u a lly
One c o n tr a c t a llo w s an accu m u lativ e s ic k le a v e whereby a
te a c h e r
may accum ulate up to f i f t e e n days w ith pay o v er
a p e rio d
y ears.
o th e r tw enty-one
I t i s undoubtedly tr u e t h a t some o f th e
of
w ith
sev e ra l con
t r a c t s a n aly z e d a r e supplem ented by r u l e s r e g u la tin g s i c k le a v e , b u t i t i s known th a t th e r e a re sc h o o ls i n Wyoming which make no p ro v is io n s what e v er f o r te a c h e rs who a r e unable to te a c h b ecau se o f i l l n e s s . Nine c o n tr a c ts r e q u ir e t h a t a l l i l l n e s s must be c e r t i f i e d by a phy s ic ia n .
f iv e such c la u s e s a p p e a r in c o n tr a c ts which do n o t m ention s ic k
le a v e b u t th e y s t a t e th a t any te a c h e r a b se n t from sch o o l because o f i l l ness must have such f a c t s c e r t i f i e d by a p h y s ic ia n o r th e c o n tr a c t
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
may
31
"be v o id e d .
There i s
to r e a c t u n fa v o ra b ly
an im p lie d d i s t r u s t in such
p ro v is io n s t h a t ten d s
on th e p r o f e s s i o n a l s p i r i t o f a te a c h e r .
Cause f o r T erm in atio n o f C o n tra c t.
There a re tw e n ty -fo u r item s in
th e c o n tr a c ts an aly zed t h a t c o n s t i t u t e grounds f o r th e te rm in a tio n o f a t e a c h e r 's c o n tr a c t.
Most o f them m ention a n n u lle d c e r t i f i c a t e s ,
which
would a u to m a tic a lly c a n c e l th e c o n tr a c t w hether i t was so m entioned n o t.
or
I t i s o f i n t e r e s t th a t th e N a tio n a l E d u catio n A sso c ia tio n ^ 1 made
th e r e p o r t t h a t when th e number o f re v o c a tio n s o f lic e n s e s and c e r t i f i c a te s i s r e l a t e d to th e number o f p e rso n s in each p r o f e s s io n , te a c h e rs have t h e i r c e r t i f i c a t e s a n n u lle d l e s s o f te n th an p e rso n s in any
o th e r
o c c u p a tio n . Twelve l i s t th e
v i o l a t i o n o f any convenants
ments as cau se f o r d is m is s a l.
o r c o n tr a c tu a l a g re e
The b re a c h o f any agreem ent i n a c o n tr a c t
c o n s t i t u t e s grounds f o r th e a n n u llin g o f s a id c o n tr a c t. Mort uphold t h i s view."^
H am ilton
and
S e v e ra l o f th e c o n tr a c ts used i n Wyoming do no t
enum erate d e f i n i t e causes f o r te rm in a tio n , b u t m erely s t a t e t h a t th e con t r a c t may be te rm in a te d f o r s u f f i c i e n t c a u s e .
The fo llo w in g q u o ta tio n
from H am ilton and Mort e x p la in s th e l e g a l i t y o f such a c la u s e .
The same
e x p la n a tio n h o ld s f o r v e r b a l c o n tr a c ts o r where no m ention i s made
of
te rm in a tio n : Even i f th e r e i s no e x p re ss p r o v is io n in d ic a tin g th e grounds upon which a te a c h e r may be d is c h a rg e d , she may n e v e r th e le s s be d is c h a rg e d under th e common law f o r s u f f i c i e n t c a u se . What c o n s t i t u t e s s u f f i c i e n t cau se i s a ques t i o n o f f a c t to be d eterm in ed by th e c o u rt in each c a s e .9 N a tio n a l E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n , R esearch B u lle t in , S ta tu to r y S ta tu s o f S ix P r o f e s s io n s , W ashington, D. C .: th e A s s o c ia tio n , Y ol. XY1, No. 4 , Septem ber 193^» P* 228. 7 'H am ilton and M ort, op. c i t . , p . 35^. * I b i d , p . 357-
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
By rev iew in g th e c au se s f o r te rm in a tio n l i s t e d in Table b, i t i s obvious t h a t th e r e i s l i t t l e o r no agreem ent as to which o f th e s e , any, sh o u ld a p p ea r i n a te a c h e r ’ s c o n t r a c t .
if
Since a te a c h e r can b e d i s
charged a t any tim e f o r s u f f i c i e n t cau se by common law
th e
in c lu s io n
o f any s p e c if ic c au ses i s u s e le s s and has no v a lu e to e i t h e r
c o n tr a c t
in g p a r t y , u n le s s th e te a c h e r makes a d e f i n i t e p ro m ise, which can be ob j e c t i v e l y e v a lu a te d . Four c o n tr a c ts s p e c i f i c a l l y s t a t e , " I t
s h a ll
be u n d ersto o d
th e board i s th e s o le ju d g e f o r d is m is s a l
and i t s d e c is io n i s
A p e rs o n a l grudge a g a in s t a te a c h e r co u ld
p re c ip ita te
d is m is s a l in such a c a s e .
I t i s d o u b tfu l i f th e
th a t
fin a l."
demand f o r h is
b o ard
can l e g a l l y be
th e s o le judge f o r d is m is s a l o f te a c h e rs u n le s s th e y have s p e c if ic c h ar ges f o r d is m is s a l.
The c o u r ts do n o t uphold th e b o ard s u n le s s th e r e i s
s u f f i c i e n t cau se f o r d i s m i s s a l.9 Manner o f T erm in atio n o f C o n tra c t.
"Three days n o tic e b e fo re
h e a rin g " i s m entioned in s i x o f th e t h i r t y c o n tr a c ts a n a ly z e d .
a
T his
in f e r s t h a t th e means o f te rm in a tin g a t e a c h e r 's c o n tr a c t in such c a se s i s w ith a h e a r in g and i t s outcom e.
This
would have th r e e days in which to p re p a re
seems f a i r s in c e a te a c h e r f o r th e h e a r in g .
A c la u s e which s t a t e s t h a t ch arg es o f d is m is s a l sh o u ld be in w r i t in g ap p ears in two c o n tr a c ts , b u t th e r e i s no o th e r s t i p u l a t i o n
as
how th e a c tu a l te rm in a tio n p ro c e d u res a r e to be c a r r ie d o u t
such
if
to
an o c c a sio n a r i s e s . As s t a t e d b e fo re , fo u r c o n tr a c ts h e ld t h a t th e
b o ard o f
^Bowden v . Board o f E d u catio n 26b 111. a p p . (193^-) •
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
e d u c a tio n
33 TABLE 1+
P r o f e s s io n a l S ta tu s and S ic k Leave A.
P r o f e s s io n a l S ta tu s 1 . Do p r o f e s s io n a l re a d in g p r e s c r ib e d
B.
.........................................
5
2. Space l e f t to s p e c ify amount o f summer sch o o l i n each c a s e .............................................................................................................
2
3 . Perm anent te n u re in te n d e d
.............................................................
1
if. Membership in E d u c a tio n a l A s s o c ia tio n l e f t to d i s c r e t i o n ............................................................... o f s u p e rin te n d e n t
1
5. Must a tte n d i n s t i t u t e , d a te s s p e c if ie d ....................................
1
6 . Must a tte n d summer sch o o l in each fo u r y e a r s .......................
1
7. Must a tte n d summer sc h o o l one summer o u t o f th r e e . . .
1
8 . Must earn s ix sem e ster hours each th r e e y e a r s .................
1
9 . Must a tte n d summer sch o o l ev ery fo u r y e a rs o r re c e iv e s a la r y p e n a lty ........................................................................................
1
10. Membership in N a tio n a l E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n com pulsory
1
S ick Leave 1 . P e rs o n a l s ic k le a v e ( y e a rly ) a.
P ive days
w ith pay ( o n l y ) .........................................................
b.
f h r e e days w ith pay ( o n l y ) .............................
3
c.
Four days
w ith pay ( o n l y ) .........................................................
1
d . F ive days w ith pay (a c c u m u la tiv e o v er a p e rio d o f y e a rs up to f i f t e e n d a y s ) .........................................................
1
e . Blank space l e f t to d e s ig n a te number o f days f o r s ic k l e a v e .....................................................................................................
1
2. I l l n e s s must be c e r t i f i e d byp h y s i c i a n .....................................
9
3 . D eductions on s a la r y made on d a il y b a s is a f t e r s ic k le a v e is ta k en u p ...............................................................................
2
LI FRARY
UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING LARAMIE
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
4
s h a l l he th e s o le judge f o r d is m is s a l o f a te a c h e r w ith no o th e r s ti p u la tio n s .
I t i s d o u b tfu l i f such a c la u s e i s le g a l
s in c e th e
Supreme
Court o f Wyoming h e ld th a t a te a c h e r can he d is c h a rg e d o n ly f o r re a so n a b le c a u s e . ^
Only th e c o u rts can d e c id e what i s re a so n a b le c a u s e , th u s
th e in c lu s io n o f such a c la u s e i n a te a c h e r ’ s c o n tr a c t i s i r r e l e v a n t . H earing o f T eacher in T erm in atio n o f C o n tra c t.
There
a re
a
c o n tr a c ts which g iv e th e te a c h e r th e r i g h t o f a h e a rin g b e fo re th e t r a c t i s te rm in a te d f o r c a u s e .
few con
Only e ig h t o f th e t h i r t y c o n tr a c ts in c lu d e
such a p r i v i l e g e . There i s no s t a t u t e in th e S ta te o f Wyoming g iv in g te a c h e rs
rig h t
o f a h e a rin g b e fo re th e y a re d is m is s e d , th u s th e y may be d ism isse d w ith o u t ch arg es o r w ith o u t a h e a r in g .
T his view was u p h eld by th e Supreme
C ourt o f th e S ta te o f Wyoming in 193^•
11
^k® same c o u rt h e ld t h a t
power o f th e sch o o lb o a rd to a p p o in t te a c h e rs c a r r i e s w ith
it
power to remove them, u n le s s lim ite d o r r e s t r i c t e d by s t a t u t e .
th e
im p lie d The Wyo
ming s t a t u t e s make no p r o v is io n co n ce rn in g th e method o f removing
a
te a c h e r , th u s th e a g e n ts h a v in g power o f removal may a d o p t t h e i r own p ro cedure as lo n g a s i t i s f o r re a so n a b le c a u s e , which as s t a t e d b e f o r e , i s a d e b a ta b le is s u e and c o u ld p ro b a b ly be d e cid e d o n ly by th e c o u r ts .
Few
te a c h e rs e v er c a r r y a case to c o u rt even when th ey have grounds and j u s t re a so n b ecause th e y can n o t a f f o r d to r i s k t h e i r p r o f e s s io n a l s t a t u s . I t i s o f i n t e r e s t to n o te th a t i n th e S ta te o f I l l i n o i s a t th e tim e o f th e Bowden c ase th e r e was no s t a t u t e r e q u ir in g th a t c h arg es te a c h e rs f o r th e te rm in a tio n o f t h e i r c o n tr a c ts be i n w r itin g ■^D urst v . School D i s t r i c t Ho. 2 , 273 p a c . 675* ■^Baird v . D i s t r i c t Ho. 25, 287 p a e . 308.
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
a g a in s t yet
th e
35
ju d g e d e liv e r e d th e fo llo w in g o p in io n : I t i s q u ite a p p a re n t from th e lan g u ag e used "by th e c o u rt in th e fo re g o in g o p in io n s t h a t A p p e llee was e n t i t l e d to a h e a rin g upon th e q u e s tio n as to w hether o r n o t th e i n t e r e s ts o f th e sch o o ls re q u ire d th a t he he d i s m i s s e d . ^ M a r ita l S t a t u s .
Every c o n tr a c t a n a ly z e d as shown i n T able 5 in
c lu d e s a m a rria g e r e s t r i c t i o n c la u s e .
No s t a t e s t a t u t e i n th e
U n ited
S ta te s s p e c i f i c a l l y p r o h i b i t s th e employment o f m a rrie d women te a c h e r s , y e t i t i s a common s t i p u l a t i o n o f lo c a l c o n tr a c ts th a t m a rria g e o f women te a c h e rs n u l l i f i e s th e c o n t r a c t . ^ From d a ta c o lle c te d by th e R esearch D iv is io n o f th e N a tio n a l Educa t io n A s s o c ia tio n i n 1932. i t was found t h a t 77 p e r c e n t o f th e
sch o o ls
do n o t employ m a rrie d women as new te a c h e rs and 63 p e r c e n t r e q u ir e women te a c h e rs to r e s ig n i f th ey m arry . lU
I t can s a f e ly be s a id t h a t
in
Wyoming th e p e rc e n ta g e would be h ig h e r in b o th in s ta n c e s . E leven o f th e c o n tr a c ts an aly zed d id n o t m ention sex n o r le a v e
a
space to w r ite i t in to th e m a r ita l s t a t u s c la u s e s , bu t s t a t e o n ly t h a t i f th e te a c h e r i s m a rrie d d u rin g th e p e rio d o f th e c o n tr a c t i t i s a u to m a tic a lly a n n u lle d .
Such c la u s e s in te a c h e r s ’ c o n tr a c ts were p ro b a b ly
d esig n ed f o r women te a c h e r s , b u t, n e v e r th e le s s , i f a man s ig n in g such a c o n tr a c t m a rrie d d u rin g th e fo rc e o f i t , he would have te c h n i c a lly v io la te d i t s p r o v is io n s .
I t i s e v id e n t t h a t Wyoming b oards a re
not
w illin g to have m a rrie d women te a c h i n th e p u b lic s c h o o ls . •^Bowden v . Board o f E d u catio n 264 111. App. (1931) *• "'■"’Cooke, Dennis H ., Problem s o f th e T eaching P e rs o n n e l, New York: Longmore, Green and Company, 1933* P* 3^6 * lh N a tio n a l E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n , R esearch B u l l e t i n , "A d m in istra t i v e P r a c tic e s A ffe c tin g Classroom T e a c h e rs," W ashington, D. C .: th e A s s o c ia tio n , Jan u a ry 1932 * P* 19*
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
36 tab L jb
5
T erm in atio n o f C o n tra c ts and M a rita l S ta tu s A.
T erm in atio n o f C o n tra c ts 1 . Cause o f p r e c i p i t a t i n g te rm in a tio n a . A nnulled c e r t i f i c a t e .....................................................................
15
t>. V io la tio n o f any convenants o r c o n tr a c tu a l agreem ents
12
c . f a i l u r e to "be a t sch o o l a f t e r v a c a tio n ex cep t i f s i c k
9
d . S u f f ic ie n t cause ( u n s p e c if ie d ) ................................................
8
e. Incom petency ........................................................................................
8
f . I m m o r a l ity .......................................
6
g . D is lo y a lty to a d m in is tr a tio n o r o th e r te a c h e r h . Lack o f c o o p e ra tio n
. . . .
b
...............................................
5
i . l e g l i g e n c e '..........................................................................
4
j . J u s t i f i a b l e d e c re a se in number o f te a c h in g p o s itio n s
3
...............................................................................
3
1. I l l h e a lt h or s o c i a l d i s e a s e ....................................................
3
m. D ischarged a t any tim e i f board deems i t f o r th e b e s t i n t e r e s t ................................................................................................
2
n . Im m orality in th e o p in io n o f th e board o f e d u c a tio n
.
1
o . Hot making a l l r e p o r t s .................................................................
1
p . f a i l u r e to p ro p e rly i n s t r u c t . . . . .
1
k . In s u b o rd in a tio n
...............................
q . f o r d e trim e n ta l c o n d u c t ...................................
1
r . f a i l u r e to renew c e r t i f i c a t e .....................................................
1
s . Smoking on sch o o l grounds
1
.........................................................
t . f a i l u r e to a tte n d amount o f summer sch o o l s p e c if ie d u . Any v i o l a t i o n o f c o n tr a c t w ith o u t f u r t h e r n o tic e . . .
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
.
1 1
37 TABLE 5 (C ontinued)
v.
For d a tin g h ig h sch o o l s tu d e n ts o f o p p o s ite sex . . . .
w, .Apparent i n e f f i c i e n c y ........................ ................................... .... .
1 1
2. Means o f P r e c i p i t a t i n g T erm in atio n ..................
a . Three days' n o tic e in w r itin g b e fo re h e a rin g
6
b.
T h ir ty d a y s' n o tic e te rm in a te s c o n tr a c t f o r cau se . . .
4
c.
Charges w i l l he in w r i t i n g ..........................................................
2
d . The hoard can c a n c e l hy g iv in g t h i r t y d ay s' n o tic e , th e ho ard o f tr u s t e e s h e in g th e s o le judge f o r such c a n c e l l a t i o n .......................................................................................................
2
e . Board and s u p e rin te n d e n t s o le ju d g e (no o th e r s t i p u l a t i o n .....................................
4
3. H earing o f te a c h e r f o r te rm in a tio n
B.
a.
Upon re q u e s t hy t e a c h e r .........................................................
b
h.
H equired f o r t e r m i n a t i o n ........................................
2
c.
T eacher suspended u n t i l c h arg es h eard .....................................
2
d.
T eacher re c e iv e s no s a la r y p en d in g h e a rin g
.......................
1
M a rita l S ta tu s 1.
M arriage an n u ls women's c o n tr a c ts ...............................
11
2.
M arriage a n n u ls c o n tr a c t (does n o t s p e c ify sex)
. . . . .
10
3 . M arriage an n u ls c o n tr a c t ex cep t hy a c tio n o f h o ard . . . .
5
4.
2
Agrees not to m arry i f w om an..............................................
5 . S tatem en t t h a t te a c h e r i s no t o r w i l l no t he m a rrie d . . .
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
2
32
C om pensation.
A ll o f th e t h i r t y c o n tr a c ts m ention th e an n u al s a l
a ry o f th e te a c h e r .
Twenty c o n tr a c ts a llo w payment in tw elve e q u al in
s ta l lm e n t s , s ix do n o t s p e c ify th e number o f payments to he made,
one
s p e c if ie s e lev e n eq u al in s ta l lm e n t s , two c a l l f o r te n paym ents, o n ly one c o n tr a c t p ro v id e s f o r th e payment o f th e s a l a r y in
and
n in e eq u al
p aym ents. In most c a se s th e s a la r y i s to he p a id on o r ah o u t th e end c a le n d a r month.
o f each
One c o n tr a c t s p e c i f ie s t h a t te a c h e rs would re c e iv e t h e i r
s a l a r i e s a f t e r each sch o o lh o a rd m e etin g ,
lo m ention i s made o f th e tim e
o r manner o f payment when i t fo llo w s a sch o o lh o ard m eetin g . Hone o f th e c o n tr a c ts s p e c ify th e manner in w hich th e s a l a r i e s a re to he p a id .
I n many c ase s th e r e a re q u a lif y in g term s re g a rd in g payment
which g iv e s th e im p re ssio n o f u n c e r ta in ty .
A c la u s e from such a c o n tr a c t
i s worded as fo llo w s : The s a la r y i s to he p a id in ____ eq u al in s ta llm e n ts o r when th e y e a r 's s e r v ic e i s com pleted and as soon as th e money i s a v a il a b le . A djustm ents made in t e a c h e r s ' s a l a r i e s a re s u b je c t to many
lo c a l
re g u la tio n s a s shown i n T ab le 6, which may o r may n o t p ro v id e f o r a d ju s tm e n ts .
fa ir
There a r e many c o n d itio n s which a r e beyond th e t e a c h e r 's
c o n tr o l such as la c k o f fu n d s , sch o o l ep id em ics, fa m ily d e a th s , and num erous o th e r s .
At l e a s t te n o f th e c o n tr a c ts c o n sid e re d in c lu d e a d ju s t
ments in s a la r y to meet such o c c a s io n a l c o n d itio n s .
The fo llo w in g
is
an a b s t r a c t from one o f th e c o n tr a c ts which i s re g a rd ed a s a s a l a r y ad ju stm e n t c la u s e :
,
T his c o n tr a c t i s based upon ta x e s , bu t sh o u ld economic c o n d itio n s make im p o ssib le th e c o l l e c t i o n o f ta x e s , th e
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39
TABLE 6 Compensation A. Compensation 1. M ount a . Annual f o r c o m p letin g c o n tr a c t ................................................
3®
b . M o n th ly ...................................................................................................
7
2 . lum ber o f in s ta llm e n ts a.
Twelve e q u a l ..................................................................................
19
b.
l o t s p e c if ie d (b la n k sp ace) ....................................................
6
c.
Ten e q u a l ...........................................................................
2
d.
Eleven e q u al
.....................................................................
1
e.
l i n e e q u a l .........................................................................................
1
f.
E ith e r n in e o r t w e l v e .................................................................
1
g.
E i g h t ....................................................................................................
0
3* When p a y ab le a . L a st day o f c a le n d a r month
................................................
b.
B lanks, b u t n o t s p e c i f i e d ..............................
3
c.
B eginning o f each c a le n d a r month
.......................................
2
d.
L a st F rid a y o f each m o n th ........................................................
1
e.
L a st S atu rd ay a t c lo s e o f each sch o o l month .................
1
f.
A fte r each sch o o l board m eeting ...........................................
1
*)•. A djustm ents i n S a la ry a . I f te a c h e r a b se n t (n o t i l l ) lo s e s s a la r y
based on days
6
b . Board may red u ce s a la r y w ith t h i r t y d ay s' n o tic e i f n e c e s s a r y ............................................................................................
*+
c.
May be c a n c e lle d f o r la c k o f f u n d s ..................................
3
d.
Board may red u ce s a la r y
2
...........................................
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
40
TABLE 6 (C ontinued)
e . Board may re fu s e y e a r ly sch ed u led increm ent in c a se te a c h e r i s incom petent . ........................................... . . . . .
2
f.
I n s t i t u t e s a la r y allo w ed .............................................................
2
g . May he c a n c e lle d f o r la c k o f funds upon t h i r t y days* n o t i c e .................................. ..................................................................
1
h.
1
V a c a tio n s , no p a y .........................................................................
i . School c lo se d f o r epidem ics (1) T eachers w i l l re c e iv e s a la r y ...............................................
2
(2 ) T eachers w i l l n o t re c e iv e s a la r y .....................
1
. . . .
5- T erm in atio n o f Com pensation a . Teacher n o t e n t i t l e d to s a la r y a f t e r s t a t e d tim e (1) D ism issed f o r any c a u s e .......................... ..........................
25
(2) C e r t i f i c a t e a n n u lle d ..............................................................
20
(3) D ism issed f o r m a r r i a g e ..........................................................
16
(4) Breach o f c o n t r a c t ................................................... ( 5) L e g a lly d ism isse d
5
..................................................................
1
6. S a la ry f o r f i n a l month ( n in th month) a . Given e n t i r e summer s a la r y i f c o n tr a c t com pleted f o r sch o o l y e a r and n o t e n te r in g upon c o n tr a c t f o r a n o th e r y e a r ...................................................................... . . . . . . . .
b
b . C o n tra ct p a id on a ten-m onth b a s is , p a id a t th e end o f n in th month i f c o n tr a c t com pleted . . . . . . . . .
1
7 . S a la ry w ith h e ld p en d in g r e e le c te d te a c h e r# r e tu r n a . In s ta llm e n t w ith h e ld pen d in g te a c h e r# r e tu r n
. . . .
b . T eachers c o l l e c t summer accu m u latio n s a t end o f f i r s t week in S e p t e m b e r ............................................................ 3 c . H a lf f i n a l month s a la r y w ith h e ld u n t i l Septem ber 1 pending te a c h e rs ’ r e t u r n ...............................................
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
2
5
TABLE 6(C ontinu ed )
^1
8 . F o r f e i t o f s a la r y f o r r e le a s e o r "breach o f c o n tr a c t d u rin g sch o o l y e a r (m o stly on tw elve-m onth b a s is ) a.
F i f t y d o l l a r s in s ta llm e n t f o r r e le a s e any tim e . . . .
3
b.
One month’ s s a la r y a s liq u id a te d damages .........................
2
c.
T w enty-five d o l l a r s any tim e d u rin g fo rc e o f c o n tr a c t
1
d.
H a lf m onth's s a la r y except f o r u n av o id ab le c au se . . .
1
e . T eachers b e in g p a id on a tw elve-m onth b a s is lo s e a l l summer a ccu m u latio n s ...................................................................... f . D uring f i r s t se m e ste r a l l summer accu m u latio n s and d u r in g second sem e ster 50 p e r c e n t o f summer a ccu m u latio n s
1 1
g . D uring f i r s t s ix weeks o f sch o o l lo s e s a l l summer a c c u m u la tio n s, i f l a t e r , o n e -tw e n ty -fo u rth o f s a la r y . .
1
h . F ive d o lla r s w ith h e ld m onthly, lo s e s a l l f o r r e le a s e d u rin g y e a r ............................................. ............................................
1
i . I f re s ig n s o r q u its p a id o n e - tw e lf th o f e n t i r e c o n tr a c t f o r sch o o l months ta u g h t ..............................................................
1
j . Q uits o r d is c h a rg e d f o r any cau se p a id on n in e month b a s is l e s s te n p e r c e n t s a la r y due t h a t d a te , n o t to e x c e l f i f t y d o l l a r s ........................................................................
1
k . P aid on 3(>0-&ay r a t e s f o r days ta u g h t f o r r e le a s e be fo r e end o f sch o o l y e a r ..............................................................
1
1 . I f t h i r t y d a y s' n o tic e i s n o t g iv en (d u rin g sch o o l y e a r) board s h a l l have r i g h t to ta k e any p o r tio n th e y deem j u s t i f i a b l e ..........................................................................................
1
9 . F o r f e i t o f s a la r y f o r r e le a s e o r b re a ch o f c o n tr a c t (m o stly tw elve-m onth b a s is ) a . For summer r e le a s e o r no t a p p e a rin g in f a l l , tw e lf th in s ta llm e n t r e ta in e d as liq u id a te d damage ......................
2
b . F i f t y d o l l a r s o f tw e lf th in s ta llm e n t f o r not a p p e a rin g i n f a l l .......................................................................................... . .
2
c.
H a lf month’ s s a la r y a f t e r August 1
..................................
1
d.
A fte r June 25, o n e -tw e n ty -fo u rth o f s a la r y .....................
1
e . Five d o l l a r s w ith h e ld m onthly, lo s e s a l l f o r r e le a s e a f t e r A u g u s t ........................................................................................
1
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
42
TABLhi 6 (C o n tin u ed )
f.
R elea se a f t e r August 1 te a c h e r f o r f e i t s August s a la r y
1
g.
P e n a lty f o r d is m is s a l, h u t n o t s t a t e d in c o n tr a c t, h u t in hoard r u le s ...................................................................................
1
h.
For r e le a s e d u rin g J u ly h a lf-m o n th s a la r y
.....................
1
i.
For r e le a s e d u rin g August one m o n th 's s a la r y .................
1
j . Teacher p a id on eleven-m onth b a sis and lo s e s a l l sum mer accu m u latio n f o r r e le a s e d u rin g fo rc e o f c o n tr a c t
1
10. E ig h t o f r e le a s e w ith o u t f o r f e i t o f earned s a la r y (Twelve month b a s is ) a.
D ism issed hy h o a r d ................................................................
5
h.
R eleased f o r m a rria g e (p a id summer a ccu m u latio n s)
c.
S i c k n e s s .....................................................................................
2
d.
B efore J u ly 1
2
e.
B efore August 1
f.
T h irty d a y s’ n o t i c e ............................................................ .... .
2
g.
U navoidable cau se
.........................................................................
1
h.
M ilita r y s e r v ic e ..............................................................................
1
i.
B efore June 25
1
. .
........................................................................ .................................
..............................................................................
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
3
2
*+3
board re s e rv e s th e r i g h t to s h o rte n sch o o l n o t more th an fo u r w eeks. In t h i s c o n tr a c t th e s a l a r y i s s a id to he p a y a b le i n tw elve eq u al in s ta llm e n ts and o n ly th e amount f o r f u l f i l l i n g th e c o n tr a c t i s m entioned. There i s n o th in g i n th e c o n tr a c t which s t a t e s th a t i f th e sch o o l y e a r were sh o rte n e d one month, th e t e a c h e r 's s a la r y would he red u ced , y e t o h v io u sly th e i n t e n t o f th e em ploying a g e n ts .
th a t is
Such a lo o s e ly worded con
t r a c t may e a s i l y le a d to d i s p u te s . A c la u s e re g a rd in g th e te rm in a tio n o f com pensation i s in c lu d e d most o f th e Wyoming c o n tr a c ts .
in
I t i s n o t e s s e n t i a l t h a t a c o n tr a c t in
c lu d e a s ta te m e n t t h a t th e s a la r y o f a te a c h e r s h a l l he te rm in a te d th e c o n tr a c t i s a n n u lle d .
if
A fte r a c o n tr a c t i s l e g a l l y a n n u lle d th e r e is
no f u r t h e r chance f o r c o l l e c t i n g com pensation. The methods o f h a n d lin g th e tw e lf th in s ta llm e n t o f te a c h e r s ' a r i e s v a ry g r e a t l y .
s a l
In te n c a s e s , o r o n e - th ir d o f th e c o n tr a c t s , e i t h e r
a l l , o n e - h a lf , o r an u n s p e c ifie d p o r tio n o f th e r e e le c te d t e a c h e r 's s a l a ry i s w ith h e ld p en ding th e t e a c h e r 's r e t u r n .
Three c o n tr a c ts
th e te a c h e r to te a c h one week o f th e new term b e fo re becoming
r e q u ir e e lig ib le
f o r l a s t y e a r 's f i n a l ch eck . Twelve o f th e t h i r t y c o n tr a c ts c o n ta in p r o v is io n s in th e s a la r y p e n a l t i e s and d e d u c tio n s f o r th e r e le a s e o f r e e le c te d a f t e r c e r t a i n d a te s .
form
of
te a c h e r s ,
Two s t a t e th a t th e tw e lf th in s ta llm e n t o f th e s a l
a ry i s r e ta in e d as liq u id a te d damages f o r n o t r e tu r n in g i n th e f a l l . Here th e r e i s no d a te im p lie d .
F i f t y d o ll a r s o f th e tw e lf th i n s t a l l
ment a s p e n a lty f o r n o t a p p e a rin g in th e f a l l i s a p r o v is io n c o n tr a c ts .
The o th e r p e n a l t i e s a re a s fo llo w s :
$5
of
two
s a la r y w ith h e ld
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
m onthly o f which te a c h e r lo s e s a l l f o r r e le a s e a f t e r A ugust; f o r r e le a s e a f t e r August 1 , th e te a c h e r f o r f e i t s th e August s a l a r y ; and f o r r e le a s e d u rin g J u ly th e te a c h e r f o r f e i t s o n e -h a lf o f a m o n th 's s a la r y o r f o r a r e le a s e i n August th e te a c h e r f o r f e i t s one m o n th 's s a l a r y . The l a t t e r i s hy f a r th e most s e v e re .
S in c e many Wyoming te a c h e rs s e
cu re p o s itio n s d u rin g th e months o f J u ly and A ugust, t h i s
p r o v is io n
g iv e s a te a c h e r v e ry l i t t l e o p p o rtu n ity to seek a n o th e r p o s i t i o n d u r in g th e summer w ith o u t lo s in g a t l e a s t one-half o f a m onth's s a l a r y . S e v e ra l c o n tr a c ts l i s t th e c o n d itio n s under which a te a c h e r he re le a s e d w ith o u t a p e n a lt y , "both d u rin g th e summer months and
may d u r
in g th e sch o o l y e a r .
These a re i l l n e s s , m a rria g e , and d is m is s a l o f th e
te a c h e r hy th e h o a rd .
Only one c o n tr a c t in c lu d e s a c la u s e c o n ce rn in g
m ilit a r y s e r v ic e , and t h i s p r o v is io n im p lie s th a t th e te a c h e r may
he
p e n a liz e d i n c ase he i s c a ll e d f o r m i l i t a r y s e r v i c e . S in ce a l l h u t th r e e o f th e c o n tr a c ts s tu d ie s p ro v id e f o r th e pay ment o f te a c h e rs on th e tw e lv e - in s ta llm e n t h a s i s , te a c h e rs would h u ild up summer accu m u latio n s d u rin g th e sc h o o l y e a r .
These a ccu m u latio n s
a re used as le v e r s to h o ld te a c h e rs to t h e i r c o n t r a c ts .
This i s e v i
d en t from th e v a r ia b le f a c t o r s g o v ern in g th e p r ic e o f a m id-term le a s e .
re
The s a la r y f o r f e i t u r e o r p e n a lty f o r a r e le a s e d u rin g th e sch o o l
term ran g es from $25 p e n a lty f o r a r e l e a s e anytim e d u rin g th e fo r c e a c o n tr a c t to th e f o r f e i t u r e o f s e v e r a l hundred d o l l a r s .
of
There i s l i t
t l e s ta n d a r d iz a tio n as to th e amount o f money, i f an y , t h a t a te a c h e r sh ould f o r f e i t f o r a r e le a s e d u rin g th e s c h o o l te rm . S p e c ia l B uies in C o n tr a c ts .
Boards o f e d u c a tio n have w r itt e n
v a r i e t y o f r u le s in to te a c h e r s ' c o n t r a c ts .
a
These r u le s l i s t e d i n T ahle
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
i+5 7 were a p p a r e n tly o f lo c a l o r ig i n and t h e i r im p lic a tio n s a r e n o t alw ays c le a r.
The fo llo w in g i s an example;
I t is f u r t h e r a g re ed hy and betw een th e p a r t i e s h e re to t h a t th e s a id te a c h e r s h a l l n o t smoke d u rin g sch o o l ho u rs o r on th e sch o o l grounds a t any tim e d u rin g th e term o f t h i s c o n tr a c t. Three hoards o f e d u c a tio n have iirritte n th e fo llo w in g p a ra g ra p h in th e ir c o n tra c ts ; I t i s f u r t h e r a g re ed by and betw een th e p a r t i e s h e re to t h a t th e te a c h e r w i l l n o t a t any tim e d u rin g th e e x is te n c e o f t h i s agreem ent a tte n d any p u b lic o r p r i v a t e fu n c tio n s o r e n te rta in m e n ts w ith any s tu d e n t o f th e o p p o s ite sex a tte n d in g sch o o l i n sch o o l d i s t r i c t two o r a s s o c ia te in any man n e r w ith any such s tu d e n t o u ts id e th e sch o o l h o u rs and .a v i o l a t i o n o f t h i s p a ra g ra p h s h a l l be c o n sid e re d a b re a ch o f th e e n t i r e c o n tr a c t betw een th e p a r t i e s h e re to and s h a l l s u b je c t s a id te a c h e r to d is m is s a l from h e r p o s itio n as in s t r u c t o r i n s a id sch o o l d i s t r i c t . Examples o f o th e r p r o v is io n s a r e ;
seven do n o t p e rm it a te a c h e r
to engage i n any o th e r g a in f u l o c c u p a tio n , two r e q u ir e t h a t te a c h e rs must r e s id e i n th e d i s t r i c t , and one r e q u ir e s t h a t te a c h e rs r e f r a i n from l a t e h o u rs , e x c e s s e s , o r o th e r d i s s i p a t i o n . O ther b o ard r u le s a re im p lied i n th e d i f f e r e n t p a ra g ra p h s where th e c au ses f o r te rm in a tio n a re l i s t e d .
The fo llo w in g i s an exam ple;
I t i s f u r t h e r a g re ed by and betw een th e p a r t i e s h e r e to , in c o n s id e r a tio n o f th e co v en an ts h e r e in c o n ta in e d , th a t t h i s c o n tr a c t may be re s c in d e d and a n n u lle d by th e board o f d i r e c t o r s o f s a id D i s t r i c t w ith o u t in c u r r in g l i a b i l i t y , f o r n e g le c t o r f a i l u r e on th e p a r t o f s a id T eacher to c a r r y out th e above p r o v is io n s , f o r in s u b o rd in a tio n o r f a i l u r e to c o o p e ra te f a i t h f u l l y w ith th e Board o f D ire c to rs o f s a id D i s t r i c t and w ith th e B oard o f D ir e c to r s ' c h ie f a d m in is tra t i v e o f f i c e r , th e S u p e rin te n d e n t o f Schools o r f o r incompe te n c y o r f a i l u r e to p r o p e r ly i n s t r u c t and govern th e sch o o l o r p u p ils in charge o f s a id T eacher, o r f o r conduct on th e p a r t o f s a id T each er, d e trim e n ta l to th e b e s t i n t e r e s t s o f th e sch o o l i n s a id d i s t r i c t .
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
46
TABLE 7
S p e c ia l F e a tu re s o f C o n tra c ts A.
R ules on C o n tra c ts 1 . T eachers s h a l l not he a b se n t f r e q u e n tly enough to i n t e r f e r e w ith d u t i e s ........................................................................................
5
2 . Ho o th e r g a in f u l employment e x ce p t as p e rm itte d hy h o ard
4
3- T eacher d e p o s its $15 as in s u ra n c e o f f u l f i l l i n g c o n tr a c t
3
4.
Ho o th e r g a in f u l employment p e rm itte d
.......................................
5* Bach te a c h e r must p re s e n t a t l e a s t one assem bly program
.
1
6 . R e f ra in from l a t e h o u rs , e x c e s s e s , o r any d i s s i p a t i o n .
.
1
7 . The board s h a l l have th e r i g h t to renew c o n tr a c t w ith a l l above p ro v is io n s f o r a n o th e r y e a r ................................................
1
5.
1
T eacher s h a l l n o t
he g ra n te d r e le a s e under any c o n d itio n
9 . T eacher must make bona f id e re s id e n c e in d i s t r i c t
B.
C.
3
. . . .
1
10. T eacher employed hy board o f e d u c a tio n only .............................
1
11. T eacher a g re e s n o t to smoke d u rin g sch o o l ho u rs o r a t any tim e on grounds d u rin g c o n tr a c t . . .
1
12. Must r e s id e i n d i s t r i c t .......................................................................
1
13. R equest f o r r e le a s e n o t c o n sid e re d a f t e r August
1. , . .
2
1.
A ll new te a c h e rs must subm it to p h y s ic a l ex am inations . .
4
2.
P h y s ic a l exam inatio n must he tak en i f hoard d e s ir e s hy a p p o in te d p h y s ic ia n .................................................................................
1
Signed p led g e to c h e e r f u l ly conform to a l l la w s, r u l e s , and r e g u la tio n s g o v ern in g th e sch o o ls .........................................................
2
P h y s ic a l Exam inations
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
47
The fo llo w in g r u le g o v ern in g th e a tte n d a n c e a t e d u c a tio n a l m eetin g s i s in c lu d e d i n two o f th e c o n tr a c ts s tu d ie d : That i n c a se th e sc h o o ls a re d ism isse d to g iv e o p p o rtu n ity f o r te a c h e rs to a tte n d an e d u c a tio n a l m eetin g , sh o u ld s a id te a c h e r n o t a tte n d th e m eetings d e s ig n a te d , th e n he o r she s h a l l not have h is o r h e r s a l a r y f o r th e days n o t i n a t t e n dance u n le s s excused f o r re a so n s a c c e p ta b le a s an excuse f o r n o t te a c h in g . One c o n tr a c t r e q u ir e s a p le d g e o f c h e e rfu l co n fo rm ity to a l l r u le s and r e g u la tio n s g o v ern in g th e s c h o o ls , w hereas a n o th e r
r e q u ir e s
th a t
new te a c h e rs d e p o s it $15 a s in s u ra n c e f o r c o m p letin g h is o r h e r c o n t r a c t . P h y s ic a l E xam inations o f T e a c h e rs.
There a r e fo u r Wyoming te a c h e r s ’
c o n tr a c ts t h a t r e q u ir e a l l new te a c h e rs to subm it to a p h y s ic a l examina tio n .
Two c o n tr a c ts s p e c ify th a t te a c h e rs must subm it to a p h y s ic a l ex
am in a tio n a t any tim e th e b o ard o f e d u c a tio n may r e q u ir e .
I n th e l a t t e r
c a s e , th e b o ard s o f e d u c a tio n re s e rv e th e r i g h t to d e s ig n a te
th e p h y s i
c ia n . U n w ritte n R ules A ffe c tin g T eachers * C o n tra c ts Every c o n tr a c t a n aly z e d r e q u ire s te a c h e rs to obey a l l th e r u le s and r e g u la tio n s o f th e s c h o o lb o a rd . a p a r t o f th e c o n tr a c t.
Such r u le s and r e g u la tio n s th e n become
W eller found t h a t (1 ) ab su rd r u le s a re imposed
upon Wyoming te a c h e rs which te n d to a n ta g o n iz e a te a c h e r and to d e s tro y th e pro fes& o n al p r id e he h as i n h is work, (2 ) th e r u le s and r e g u la tio n s d i f f e r in v a rio u s com m unities, due to d i f f e r e n t a t t i t u d e s , o p in io n s , and custom s, and ( 3) th e r e a r e many r u le s and re g u la tio n s which a re n e c e s sa ry f o r th e p ro p e r fu n c tio n in g o f a sch o o l s y s t e m .^ •*-5Weller, C lif f o r d I . , R ules and R e g u la tio n s o f Boards o f E d u catio n i n th e S ta te o f Wyoming R egarding T e a c h e rs’ D u ties and A c t i v i t i e s , T h e s is , U n iv e rs ity o f Wyoming: 193°. p . oS.
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
S in c e W eller has made a stu d y o f th e r u le s and r e g u la tio n s in Wyoming and
e s s e n t i a l and n o n e s s e n tia l
reach ed
th e
above c o n c lu s io n s ,
t h i s stu d y seeks o n ly to sample a sm all number o f te a c h e r o p in io n s con c e rn in g u n d e s ir a b le p r o v is io n s .
I n q u ir ie s were s e n t t h i r t y te a c h e rs in
th e same sch o o ls u s in g th e c o n tr a c ts a n a ly z e d .
They were ask ed to l i s t
aay u n w ritte n sch o o lb o ard r u l e s and r e g u la tio n s which th e y d i s f a v o r . Tw enty-nine o f th e te a c h e rs responded to th e in q u ir y . es th e te a c h e r i s a ls o th e s u p e rin te n d e n t o r p r i n c i p a l .
In s i x c a s
These s i x d id
n o t l i s t any u n w ritte n r u l e s , w h ile a l l b u t two o f th e o th e r s m entioned a t l e a s t one such r u l e s .
T h irte e n
d iffe re n t
r u le s
were
m entioned;
th e se a re l i s t e d in T able g in t h e i r o rd e r o f freq u en cy o f m en tio n . should be observed th a t th e se a re
o n ly
th e
u n w ritte n
It
r u le s and reg u
l a t i o n s which te a c h e rs d is f a v o r . T eachers a re most concerned w ith th e amount o f com pensation a re ex p ected to f o r f e i t f o r a r e l e a s e .
th ey
They a r e u n c e r ta in o f th e c o s t
in v o lv e d in changing p o s itio n s s in c e no d e f i n i t e b a s is e x i s t s f o r ju d g in g t h i s am ount. S ix te a c h e rs r e p o r t t h a t t h e i r system s have d e f i n i t e h o u rs d u rin g which th e y must be i n th e sc h o o l b u ild in g . S ix te a c h e rs s t a t e t h a t th e y a re n o t g iv e n w r i t t e n c o n tr a c ts a f t e r t h e i r f i r s t y e a r o f te a c h in g i n th e sy ste m s.
I t i s , t h e r e f o r e , e v i
d e n t th a t a t l e a s t s i x o f th e t h i r t y c o n tr a c ts from c i t y sch o o l system s a re n o t used c o n s is te n t w ith th e p ro v is io n s c o n ta in e d i n them. o f s a la r y sc h e d u le s i s m entioned by f i v e te a c h e r s .
They h o ld t h a t each
c o n tr a c t i s an in d iv id u a l b a rg a in and th a t th e boards have no r u le s g o v ern in g s a l a r i e s .
The la c k
d e fin ite
The f iv e sch o o l system s from which t h i s s i t u -
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
49
TABLE g
U n w ritte n R ules Which Teachers D isfa v o r
Number of T eachers
U n w ritte n R ules _________________________________________ No d e f i n i t e amount is s t a t e d f o r r e le a s e from th e c o n tr a c t (u se b a r t e r s y s t e m ) .............................................................. 10 D e f in ite ho u rs e s ta b lis h e d to e n te r and le a v e th e sch o o l b u i l d i n g ..........................................................
6
No c o n tr a c t a t a l l a f t e r f i r s t y e a r
6
........................................
Each c o n tr a c t i s an in d iv id u a l b a rg a in (no s a la r y sc h e d u le ) R equire summer sch o o l a tte n d a n c e
5
................................................
Women te a c h e rs prom ise n o t to m arry d u rin g th e term o f th e c o n t r a c t .................................................................
3
Membership i n P a re n t T eacher O rg a n iz a tio n i s m andatory
3
.
Must l i v e in th e d i s t r i c t and rem ain th e r e f o r o n e -h a lf o f th e w e e k - e n d s ....................................................
3
A c tiv ity i n community a f f a i r s s tr e s s e d
3
...................................
Women te a c h e rs may n o t s m o k e .............................................
3
May n o t " d a te " h ig h sch o o l p u p i l s .....................................
3
No o th e r jo b s p e r m i t t e d ..........................................................
2
D is c rim in a tio n a g a in s t c e r t a i n r e l i g i o n s
...............................
2
Membership i n N a tio n a l E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n i s m andatory
1
U nm arried te a c h e rs may not l i v e in a p artm en ts ......................
1
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
a t i o n i s re p o rte d re p re s e n t a p p ro x im a te ly 125 te a c h e r s . There a re s e v e r a l o th e r u n w ritte n r u le s and r e g u la tio n s which h e ld i n d is f a v o r .
Some o f them a r e :
a re
m andatory memberships i n e d u c a tio n
a l a s s o c ia ti o n s , women te a c h e rs may n o t marry o r smoke, te a c h e rs must l i v e w ith in th e d i s t r i c t and rem ain th e r e a t l e a s t h a l f o f th e w eekends, no o th e r jo b s a re p e r m itte d , a c t i v i t i e s in community a f f a i r s a re s t r e s s e d , unm arried te a c h e rs a r e n o t allo w ed to l i v e in a p a rtm e n ts, summer
sch o o l
a tte n d a n c e i s r e q u ir e d , and te a c h e rs may n o t d a te h ig h sch o o l p u p i l s . P if te e n te a c h e rs gave s u g g e s tio n s f o r im proving la tio n s .
A ll su g g est more uniform and more d e f i n i t e
th e r u le s and reg u c o n tr a c t s .
Pour
s t a t e th a t te a c h e rs should be b e t t e r o rg a n iz e d . D ata G athered from C ity School S u p e rin te n d e n ts Prom a p o s s ib le e ig h ty c i t y sch o o l s u p e rin te n d e n ts who were s e n t in q u i r i e s , f o r ty - s e v e n s u p p lie d th e d e s ir e d in fo rm a tio n .
E leven asked t h a t
th e names o f t h e i r sc h o o ls be no t m entioned i n c o n n e c tio n w ith any rem arks made.
T able 9 shows th e r e s u l t s o f th e in fo rm a tio n re g a rd in g te a c h e r con
t r a c t s s u p p lie d by th e f o r ty - s e v e n s u p e r in te n d e n ts . Prom t h i s corresponden ce th e fo llo w in g f a c t s a r e e v id e n t:
(1 ) to a
la r g e e x te n t Wyoming sch o o l system s a r e u s in g i d e n t i c a l c o n tr a c t forms f o r te a c h e rs from y e a r to y e a r , (2 ) th e r e i s l i t t l e i n t e r e s t i n th e r e v is io n o f th e c o n tr a c ts , and ( 3) s u p e rin te n d e n ts have had some d i f f i c u l t y i n th e in te rp re ta tio n o f c o n tra c ts .
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
51
TABLE 9
In fo rm a tio n F u rn ish e d hy Wyoming S u p e rin te n d e n ts
In fo rm a tio n D e sire d 1 . Does your system use an i d e n t i c a l con t r a c t form each y ear?
Answers and Number o f each Answer Yes No Don* t Know 43
4
2 . Has y o u r c o n tr a c t heen re v is e d in th e p a s t f iv e y e a rs?
3
10
34
3- Were th e c o n tr a c ts used i n y o u r system w r itte n hy an e d u cato r?
27
7
13
4-. Have th e r e heen any d i f f i c u l t i e s over th e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f th e c o n tr a c t form u sed i n your system?
24
23
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
Summary The t h i r t y c o n tr a c ts a n aly z e d were fu rn is h e d th ro u g h o u t Wyoming.
hy
s u p e rin te n d e n ts
Twenty-one c o n tr a c ts came from N orth C e n tra l s c h o o ls .
The t h i r t y forms were drawn from g e o g ra p h ic a lly each county in the s t a t e .
d is trib u te d
sch o o ls
of
C o n tra c ts from th e l a r g e r sc h o o ls were s tu d ie d
so th e a n a ly s is re p r e s e n ts a f a i r sam ple.
A lthough v e r b a l c o n tr a c ts a re
used i n Wyoming, no a tte m p t was made to a n a ly z e them. A lthough s e v e r a l system s a r e u s in g alm o st an i d e n t i c a l s k e l e t a l con t r a c t form , th e r e i s a v a r i e t y o f forms now i n use
i n th e s t a t e .
They
were found to c o n ta in much u s e le s s p h ra s e o lo g y , b u t sim u lta n e o u s ly omit n e c e s sa ry item s o f a p ro p e r c o n t r a c t .
C o n tra c tu a l item s in
th e
th irty
c o n tr a c ts range from n in e to f i f t y - o n e . Most c o n tr a c ts a r e c h a r a c te r iz e d by c la u s e s which would l e g a l l y a p a r t o f th e agreem ent w hether o r n o t th e y a re in c lu d e d .
be
Pew c o n ta in
d e f i n i t e assignm ents o f th e em ployee. Pew r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f th e em ployer form a p a r t o f th e t h i r t y con t r a c t s a n a ly z e d . I n s t r u c t i o n a l , a d m in is tr a tiv e , c u s t o d i a l , r e p o r t o r i a l , and la n eo u s d u tie s as w e ll as m isc e lla n e o u s o b lig a tio n s o f th e
m is c e l
te a c h e r
a re
in c lu d e d i n th e c o n t r a c t s , a lth o u g h th e r e i s l i t t l e u n ifo rm ity among th e t h i r t y forms as to what sh o u ld be l i s t e d . lew c o n tr a c ts m ention s ic k le a v e s w ith none o f th e t h i r t y re c o g n iz in g any o th e r type o f le a v e .
A range o f tw e n ty -fo u r ite m s was found in
th e c o n tr a c ts as grounds f o r te rm in a tio n o f th e c o n t r a c t,
lew g iv e th e
te a c h e r th e r i g h t to a h e a rin g b e fo re d is m is s a l.
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
A lthough a l l c o n tr a c ts m ention th e amount o f s a la r y , few s p e c ify how o r when th e payments would be made.
Most c o n tr a c ts r e q u ir e
f o r f e i t u r e o f d i f f e r e n t amounts o f s a la r y f o r r e l e a s e s .
th e
Many s p e c ia l
r u le s and re g u la tio n s a re in c lu d e d i n th e form s. There i s l i t t l e evid en ce o f u n ifo rm ity among th e c o n tr a c ts used in Wyoming.
The amount a te a c h e r must f o r f e i t f o r a r e le a s e ran g es
from
$25 to s e v e r a l hundred d o l l a r s , some te a c h e rs a r e g iv e n no s ic k le a v e w h ile o th e rs re c e iv e f i f t e e n d a y s, and th e r u le s and r e g u la tio n s a s i n c o n tr a c ts range from none to a d e t a i l e d l i s t , some o f which impose upon te a c h e r s ’ p e rs o n a l l i v e s .
The tendency f o r boards to w r ite r e g u la tio n s
lo c a l i n o r ig i n has re n d e red s e v e ra l c o n tr a c ts i n d e f i n i t e and q u ite p o s s ib ly in v a l i d .
These c o n tr a c ts la c k a m utual u n d e rs ta n d in g as to t h e i r
d u r a tio n , th u s a re not le g a l c o n t r a c t s .
Such an agreem ent i s n o t
fa ir
to te a c h e r s , n o r i s i t f a i r to in c lu d e th e c la u s e i n c o n tr a c t s , a s sev e r a l do, t h a t a te a c h e r 's c o n tr a c t can be te rm in a te d w ith o r
w ith o u t
c au se and w ith o u t h e a r in g . Teachers were found to be most concerned over th e amount o f
fo r
f e itu r e fo r re le a s e s .
S e v e ra l d e s ir e d d e f i n i t e s a la r y sch e d u le s
fo r
t h e i r sch o o l system s.
O th er te a c h e rs re s e n te d numerous u n w ritte n demands
made by t h e i r boards upon t h e i r o u t- o f - s c h o o l tim e . From co rresp o n d en ce w ith c i t y s u p e r in te n d e n ts , i t was
found
th a t
Wyoming sc h o o ls u se i d e n t i c a l c o n tr a c ts from y e a r to y e a r w ith l i t t l e i n t e r e s t shown in re g a rd to r e v is io n o f th e form s.
F i f t y p e r c e n t o f th e
s u p e rin te n d e n ts had had some d i f f i c u l t y o v er th e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f te a c h e r s ' c o n tr a c ts is su e d by t h e i r b o a rd s , w ith tw enty-one such d is p u te s d e a l in g w ith r e le a s e s .
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
CHAPTER I? EVALUATION OF TEACHERS' CONTRACTS C r i t e r i a f o r E v a lu a tin g a T each er' s C o n tra c t The c r i t e r i a f o r e v a lu a tin g te a c h e r s '
c o n tr a c ts
a re
as fo llo w s ;
(1 ) th e y sh ould he w r i t t e n , (2 ) th ey should he d e f i n i t e , ( 3) th e y sh o u ld he h r i e f h u t com plete,
(*+)
th ey sh o u ld he
f a i r to h o th p a r t i e s , and
( 5) th e y sh o u ld have some u n ifo r m ity . W ritte n C o n tra c ts . have i t w r i t t e n .
The h e s t ev id en ce t h a t one has a c o n tr a c t i s to
A v e rb a l c o n tr a c t is v a l i d ,
s ta n d in g th e r e i s l i t t l e ev id en ce ta in e d .
fo r
h u t in c a se o f m isunder
p ro o f o f what th e c o n tr a c t con
V erbal c o n tr a c ts a re good f o r one y e a r o n ly
ment i s made.
a f t e r th e
Each o f th e s tu d ie s summarized in C hapter
th a t te a c h e r s ' c o n tr a c ts sh o u ld he w r i t t e n .
II
a g re e
ad v o cate
Many s t a t e s t a t u t e s r e q u ir e
w r itt e n c o n tr a c ts hy law . D e f in ite n e s s .
A t e a c h e r 's c o n tr a c t sh o u ld he d e f i n i t e .
The
word
in g sh o u ld he such t h a t th e r e is l i t t l e p o s s i b i l i t y o f m is in te r p r e tin g th e meaning in te n d e d .
The N a tio n a l E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n 's Committee on
Tenure c i t e s th e fo llo w in g example o f an i n d e f i n i t e p ro v is io n : ...T o u r e le c tio n i s s u b je c t to th e a llo tm e n t and a p p ro v a l o f th e S ta te School Commission. The s a la r y w i l l he _ _ _ _ _ _ f o r th e sch o o l y e a r , s u b je c t to a p p ro v a l o f th e S ta te School Commission and th e C ity C o u n cil. Your assignm ent w i l l he th e same a s d u rin g 19__-19__ > 'in t i l you a re o th e rw is e n o t i f i e d .
^ N a tio n a l E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n , op. c i t . , p . lH .
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
55
H am ilton and Mort s t a t e : The te a c h e r ’ s c o n tr a c t must he s u f f i c i e n t l y d e f i n i t e to in d ic a te what th e p a r t i e s in te n d e d and conform to any sp e c i a l s t a t u t o r y p ro v is io n s t h a t may he a p p lic a b le . I f a c o n tr a c t were n o t d e f i n i t e n e ith e r p a r ty would he p r o t e c t e d .2 A w r i t t e n c o n tr a c t sh o u ld c o n ta in th e fo llo w in g ite m s:
(1 )
d a te s n e c e s sa ry to e s t a b l i s h th e d u r a tio n o f th e c o n t r a c t ,
a ll
(2 ) a d e f i
n i t e assig n m en t and agreem ent to te a c h , (3 ) amount o f s a l a r y w ith d e f i n i t e method o f paym ent, (H) p ro v is io n s go v ern in g a r e l e a s e , (5) p r o v i s io n s a llo w in g f o r s ic k le a v e s , (6 ) c o n d itio n s under which a te a c h e r may r e s ig n , ( J) s ig n a tu r e o f th e te a c h e r , and (8 ) s ig n a tu r e o f an a u th o riz e d sch o o lh o ard member. B r e v ity .
A te a c h e r 1s c o n tr a c t sh o u ld c o n ta in o n ly th e e s s e n t i a l
item s needed, h u t a t th e same tim e i t sh o u ld he co m p lete.
N o n -e s s e n tia l
item s such a s a l i s t o f c au ses f o r d is m is s a l need n o t he l i s t e d s in c e any c o n tr a c t can he te rm in a te d f o r re a s o n a b le c a u s e .
A ll h o ard
r u le s
and r e g u la tio n s c o u ld n o t p o s s ib ly be p la c e d i n a te a c h e r ’ s c o n tr a c t o f re a so n a b le le n g th and s in c e most o f them in c lu d e th e p r o v is io n th a t th e r u le s and re g u la tio n s form a p a r t o f th e c o n tr a c t s , th e r e i s no n e c e s s i t y f o r in c lu d in g any o f them .
I t i s s t a t e d hy W eller t h a t most
such
r u le s and r e g u la tio n s p la c e d i n te a c h e r s ' c o n tr a c ts a r e d e sig n e d to im p re s s th e te a c h e r .3 f a i r n e s s ♦ A t e a c h e r 's c o n tr a c t sh o u ld he f a i r to b o th p a r t i e s , h u t s in c e th e hoard is is s u in g th e c o n t r a c t , th e te a c h e r i s th e one most o f te n s u b je c t to u n f a ir s t i p u l a t i o n s . ^H am ilton and M ort, op. c i t . , p . 239• ^W e ller, op. c i t . , p . l 6 .
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
The Committee on Tenure** f o r th e N a tio n a l E d u c a tio n ’A sso c a tio n ex p la in s t h a t te ac h e rs* c o n tr a c ts a r e o fte n
u n f a i r due to th e sch o o lh o ard
r u le s which th e y a r e c o n tra c te d to obey. A te a c h e r should alw ays have th e r i g h t o f a h e a rin g
b e fo re th e
te rm in a tio n o f h is c o n tr a c t, some s t a t e s re q u ire such a h e a rin g by law , y e t w hether i t i s law o r n o t i n f a ir n e s s any p e rso n has an in h e re n t r i g h t in a democracy to be The l i n e betw een what
h e a rd b e fo re condemned. i s f a i r in a te a c h e r 's c o n tr a c t and what i s
n o t, i s i n d e f i n i t e and th e r e sh o u ld be c o n c lu s iv e ev id en ce to su p p o rt a view one way o r a n o th e r . U n ifo rm ity .
Each o f th e s tu d ie s m entioned in C hapter I I recommends
t h a t te a c h e r s ' c o n tr a c ts be more u n ifo rm .
DuShane recommends th e use o f a
m andatory s ta te - a d o p te d te a c h e r c o n tr a c t: The d a ta show t h a t th e p r a c t i c e o f s ta te w id e uniform con t r a c t s has much to recommend i t . . . . one re a so n f o r s t a t e c o n tr a c ts i s t h a t th e y make i t p o s s ib le f o r c o n d itio n s o f em ploym ent tOp.be more e f f e c t i v e l y in flu e n c e d by th e o rg a n iz e d p r o f e s s io n .- 5 A te a c h e r moving from
one p o s i t i o n to a n o th e r w ith in a s t a t e sh o u ld
have some id e a as to what he ex p ects as u n ifo rm ity .
a c o n tr a c t.
There i s a tendency in t h a t d i r e c t i o n .
There sh o u ld be some I n 1937» th e r e were
t h i r t e e n s t a t e s u s in g uniform c o n tr a c ts and a t p r e s e n t th e re a r e s i x t e e n . Two o f th e s e have adopted s ta te w id e m andatory c o n tr a c ts w h ile U tah i n i t i a t e d th e use o f a s ta n d a rd iz e d form through i t s s t a t e
has
e d u c a tio n a l
a s s o c ia ti o n .
^ N a tio n a l E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n , Committee on T enure, op. c i t . , p . 39* 5 lb id , p . 3 .
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
C o n tra c t R e g u la tio n s .
There a r e c e r t a i n laws g o v ern in g th e execu
tio n and v a l i d i t y o f a l l ty p e s o f c o n tr a c ts to which te a c h e r s ' c o n tr a c ts should
conform .^
Some o f them a r e :
(1 ) n e i th e r p a r ty has a r i g h t
to
v i o l a t e a c o n tr a c t, (2) any employer has th e r i g h t to d is c h a rg e any em p lo y e e and th e re b y te rm in a te h is com pensation f o r re a so n a b le c a u s e , ( 3) a c o n tr a c t must be betw een two com petent p a r t i e s , (4 ) i t must in d ic a te what th e p a r t i e s in te n d e d and conform to any s p e c ia l s t a t u t o r y p ro v is io n s which may be a p p lic a b le , ( 5 ) th e r e must be o f f e r and a c c e p ta n c e , and (6) o nly te a c h e r s ' c o n tr a c ts r a t i f i e d in l e g a l l y - c a l l e d sch o o lb o ard m eetings a re v a lid . E v a lu a tio n o f Wyoming T e a c h e rs' C o n tra c ts The c r i t e r i o n th a t c o n tr a c ts sh o u ld be in w r itin g i s f a i r l y met i n Wyoming s c h o o ls .
w e ll
xhe f a c t t h a t v e rb a l agreem ents a re in u se in
th e s t a t e shows t h a t th e r e i s some room f o r improvement i n t h i s r e s p e c t. The com bination o f w r itt e n and v e rb a l c o n t r a c ts , t h a t i s , w r it t e n one o r more y e a r s , th e n v e r b a l, shows t h a t th e re i s a la c k i n th e concept o f s e t- u p by th e c r i t e r i o n .
fo r
of c la r ity
A lthough th e is s u e o f whe
th e r a c o n tr a c t i s w r i t t e n o r v e rb a l is n o t a le g a l one, i t would p e a r th e p a r t o f wisdom to p la c e a l l agreem ents to te a c h in
ap
w r i ti n g .
Such an agreem ent to te a c h i s ev id en ce o f f a ir n e s s and o f b u s in e s s lik e manner o f c o n d u ctin g sch o o l a f f a i r s . The c r i t e r i o n t h a t c o n tr a c ts should be d e f i n i t e i s p a r t i a l l y
m et.
such item s as amount o f s a l a r y , number o f days re q u ire d to te a c h , num b e r o f in s ta llm e n ts o f paym ent, amount o f f o r f e i t u r e f o r r e le a s e s
H am ilton and M ort, o p . c i t . , p . 1 7 .
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
a re
f a i r l y d e f i n i t e in th e d i f f e r e n t in d iv id u a l c o n tr a c ts , which i s as th ey should h e .
The i n d e f i n i t e item s found in c o n tr a c ts a r e ;
th e y f a i l to
e x p la in th e method o f s a la r y paym ent, few in c lu d e any p ro v is io n s
fo r
s ic k le a v e , and th e y in c lu d e c la u s e s which make even y e a r ly te n u re and s a la r y payment dependent upon v a r ia b le f a c t o r s .
A h ig h p e rc e n ta g e
of
them om it s i g n i f i c a n t c la u s e s and c o n ta in i r r e l e v a n t s t i p u l a t i o n s which im ply th e la c k o f s e c u r i t y .
To om it s i g n i f i c a n t ite m s i s as d e trim e n ta l
to th e d e f in ite n e s s o f a c o n tr a c t a s to in c lu d e e l a s t i c c la u s e s . e r a l o f th e c o n tr a c ts an aly zed a re n o t tr u e c o n t r a c t s .
Sev
C o n tra c ts which
may he te rm in a te d w ith o r w ith o u t cau se la c k m u tu a lity and t h e i r
v a l
i d i t y i s q u e s tio n a b le , t h u s ' th e y a re h ig h ly i n d e f i n i t e a g reem en ts. few Wyoming te a c h e r s 1 c o n tr a c ts meet th e c r i t e r i o n o f b r e v i t y . There a re e ig h t e s s e n t i a l item s o f a c o n tr a c t l i s t e d .
Most
te a c h e rs
over th e s t a t e a re giv en c o n tr a c ts which in c lu d e a v a r i e t y o f r u le s and r e g u la tio n s . handbook.
Such forms c o n ta in item s which sh o u ld be in a te a c h e r s 1
A h ig h p e rc e n ta g e o f c o n tr a c ts s p e c ify t h a t te a c h e rs
be p ro p e rly c e r t i f i e d .
must
Such a s t i p u l a t i o n i s u n n e ce ssa ry d e t a i l s in c e
d i s t r i c t s a re p r o te c te d by c e r t i f i c a t i o n la w s.
There i s a d e cid e d te n
dency by sch o o lb o ard s to make te a c h e r s ’ c o n tr a c ts lo n g and d e t a i l e d , b u t sim u lta n e o u s ly om it im p o rta n t ite m s .
This i s a d i r e c t v i o l a t i o n o f
th e c r i t e r i o n th a t a c o n tr a c t should be b r i e f b u t c o m p le te. W hile a h ig h p e rc e n ta g e o f Wyoming te a c h e r s ’ c o n tr a c ts a re f a i r to b o th p a r t i e s , because th e y a r e m utual agreem ents w ith no ad v an tag es g iv en e i t h e r p a r t y , some a r e found to be u n f a i r .
Schoolboards a re q u ite p ro b
a b ly n o t e x e r c is in g t h e i r due r ig h t s when th e y f a i l to in c lu d e in t r a c t s p r o v is io n s f o r te a c h e r s ' r e l e a s e s .
con
The o m ission o f p ro v is io n s
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
f o r r e le a s e s g iv e s te a c h e rs an u n f a ir ad v an tag e whereby th e y can b re a k th e ir c o n tr a c ts a t any tim e w ith o u t f i n a n c i a l a d ju stm e n t.
Teachers
most o f te n tr e a te d u n f a i r l y in th a t th e y a re re q u ire d by c o n tr a c t
a re to
f o r f e i t an u n re a so n a b le amount f o r r e le a s e o r th a t th ey may be d ism isse d w ith o u t h e a r in g s .
Every te a c h e r sh o u ld have an o p p o rtu n ity to
advance
in th e p r o f e s s io n , and sh o u ld have th e in h e r e n t r i g h t o f a h e a rin g b e f o r condem nation. M arriage r e s t r i c t i o n c la u s e s as found i n Wyoming te a c h e r s ' c o n tr a c ts a re n o t f a i r to women te a c h e r s , to th e c h ild r e n o f A m erica, n o r to th e te a c h in g p r o f e s s io n . t h e i r c o n tr a c ts .
Boards a r e in c lin e d to w r ite u n f a i r r u le s
in to
They a re o f a type which im ply d i s t r u s t and impose up
on th e p r o f e s s io n a l i n t e g r i t y o f te a c h e rs whom need no r u le s
g o v ern in g
t h e i r p e rs o n a l l i v e s . The item s which sh ou ld a p p ea r i n a p ro p e rly drawn c o n tr a c t been e s ta b lis h e d .
have
The minimum req u irem en t o f a p ro p e r t e a c h e r 's
t r a c t should a ls o be th e maximum.
con
I t i s e v id e n t from th e a n a ly s is
t h i r t y c o n tr a c ts t h a t th e r e i s no s ta n d a rd form b e in g used in The extrem e i r r e g u l a r i t i e s i n th e c o n tr a c ts used th ro u g h o u t
of
Wyoming. th e
s ta te
in s a la r y a d ju s tm e n ts , f o r f e i t u r e s f o r r e l e a s e s , number o f days f o r s ic k le a v e , and r u le s and r e g u la tio n s imposed upon te a c h e rs and o th e rs a re e vidence o f th e la c k o f u n ifo rm ity among c o n tr a c t fo rm s.
They ran g e
from sim ple agreem ents to e la b o r a te p r o v is io n s in c lu d in g a m u ltitu d e o f d e t a i l e d and u n n e c e ssa ry ite m s .
I t i s d i f f i c u l t to en d o rse
such
c o n d itio n s s in c e th e tre n d in o th e r s t a t e s i s tow ard more s ta n d a rd iz a t io n and u n ifo rm ity o f c o n tr a c t form s.
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
In g e n e r a l, th e m a jo rity o f th e w r itt e n c o n tr a c ts an aly zed
v io
la t e d one o r more o f th e c r i t e r i a o f a p ro p e rly drawn t e a c h e r 's
con
tra c t.
When th e c o n tr a c ts a re c o n sid e re d as a w hole, th e y each e i t h e r
om it o r in c lu d e s t i p u l a t i o n s which v i o l a t e some one c r i t e r i o n .
The
most s i n i s t e r o f th e s e a re c la u s e s which r e a l l y re n d e r th e agreem ent in v a lid .
As s ta t e d b e fo re , s e v e r a l o f th e forms b ein g used in Wyoming
a r e n o t tr u e c o n tr a c ts becau se th e y la c k m u tu a lity as to t h e i r p e rio d s o f d u r a tio n . The e v a lu a tio n o f te a c h e r s ' c o n tr a c ts shows c l e a r l y th a t th e forms b e in g used do not fa v o ra b ly m easure up to th e e v a lu a tiv e c r i t e r i a o f a p ro p e r and v a l i d c o n tr a c t form .
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
GHJUPTIR 5
CONCLUSIONS S u p e rin te n d e n ts o f c i t y sch o o l system s were r e l u c t a n t to subm it t h e i r c o n tr a c ts f o r a n a ly s is .
From a p o s s ib le e i g h t, o n ly t h i r t y con
t r a c t s were g a th e re d a f t e r second and t h i r d r e q u e s ts . There a re Wyoming sc h o o ls u sin g v e r b a l te a c h e r s ' c o n t r a c ts . The t h i r t y c o n tr a c ts a n aly z e d av erag e th ir t y - o n e item s p e r con tra c t.
I t h as been e s ta b lis h e d t h a t e ig h t to tw elve would be s u f f i
c i e n t f o r a p ro p e rly drawn c o n tr a c t. Most c o n tr a c ts a re sig n ed by th e p ro p e r a u t h o r i t i e s , b u t a re b e in g sig n e d o nly by th e s u p e rin te n d e n t o f s c h o o ls , which
some c o n s ti
t u t e s an in v a lid c o n t r a c t . The n e c e s sa ry d a te s to e s t a b l i s h th e d u ra tio n o f c o n tr a c ts a re found on most c o n tr a c t forms i n one o r more o f s e v e r a l im p lie d manners e i t h e r by th e number o f days to be ta u g h t by th e number o f sch o o l weeks, by th e number o f sch o o l months o r by an a c tu a l te rm in a tio n d a te .
The
d u r a tio n p e rio d s o f s e v e r a l c o n tr a c ts a r e no t e s ta b lis h e d , due to th e c la u s e s which make d u r a tio n dependent upon v a r ia b le f a c t o r s . JJ’ew c o n tr a c ts in c lu d e th e d e f i n i t e assignm ent o f th e te a c h e r , how e v e r, th e y a l l s p e c if y t h a t th e te a c h e r must be l e g a l l y q u a lif ie d
to
te a c h . The te a c h e r s ' r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s as found in th e c o n tr a c ts were d i v id e d in to s i x d i v is io n s , nam ely: i n s t r u c t i o n a l , a d m in is tr a tiv e , c u s t o d i a l , r e p o r t o r i a l , m isc e lla n e o u s d u t i e s , and m isc e lla n e o u s o b lig a ti o n s .
They were a l l re a s o n a b le , b u t a com petent te a c h e r would c a r ry
th e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s w ith o u t h av in g them l i s t e d in th e c o n tr a c t.
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62 Some sch o o lb o ard s a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n th e te a e h e r s .
S e v e ra l c o n tr a c ts r e q u ir e
sch o o l p e r i o d i c a l l y .
O thers re q u ire
p ro fe s sio n a l s ta tu s
a s p e c if ie d th a t
of
amount1 o f summer
te a c h e rs do
re a d in g and in some c a se s th e membership i n p r o f e s s io n a l
p r o f e s s io n a l o r g a n iz a tio n s
i s m andatory. Yery few te a c h e rs a re g iv en c o n tr a c tu a l p r o v is io n f o r s ic k le a v e . C o n tra c ts a llo w in g such le a v e s re p re s e n t a range from th r e e days
w ith
pay to f i f t e e n days w ith p a y . Among th e d i f f e r e n t c o n tr a c ts s tu d ie d , th e r e i s a range o f tw e n ty fo u r cau ses f o r te rm in a tio n o th e r th a n
by m arriag e o f women te a c h e r s ,
They a l l re p re s e n t c au ses which would have to be d e cid e d by c o u rts e s t a b l i s h i n g w hether th e y a r e re a so n a b le and j u s t i f i a b l e c au ses f o r d i s m is s a l. I n ev ery c a s e , th e m a rria g e o f a woman te a c h e r i s grounds f o r th e annullm ent o f h e r c o n tr a c t.
I t i s e v id e n t t h a t th e Tifyoming p u b lic does
n o t approve o f m a rrie d women te a c h e rs i n th e sch o o l sy ste m s. A ll c o n tr a c ts s t a t e th e amount o f y e a r ly s a la r y p a y a b le i n s e v e ra l in s ta llm e n ts .
The m a jo rity o f c i t y sch o o l system s pay te a c h e rs i n tw elv e
equal in s ta llm e n ts a t th e end o f o r th e f i r s t o f each c a le n d a r month. The payment o f s a l a r i e s , i n some c a s e s , i s dependent upon v a r i a b le f a c t o r s , such a s , th e c o l l e c t i o n o f ta x e s , o r th e c lo s in g o f sc h o o ls f o r j u s t i f i a b l e c a u se .
T eachers p a id i n tw elve eq u al in s ta llm e n ts who a re r e
e le c te d f o r th e e n su in g y e a r , re c e iv e th e tw e lf th in s ta llm e n t o f t h e i r s a la r y p en ding t h e i r r e tu r n i n th e f a l l . The amount o f f o r f e i t u r e in s a la r y a te a c h e r must s u s ta in f o r
a
r e le a s e i s v a r ia b le w ith n e a r ly ev ery c o n t r a c t , a few c o n tr a c ts making
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no p r o v is io n f o r r e l e a s e s . s id e r e d a t any tim e ,
Some s t a t e th a t a r e le a s e w i l l n o t be
con
The c o s t f o r r e le a s e s among th e d i f f e r e n t c o n tr a c ts
range from n o th in g to s e v e r a l hundred d o l la r s in summer a c c u m u la tio n s. Two c o n tr a c ts r e q u ir e th e te a c h e rs to d e p o s it $15 a s in s u ra n c e o f f u l f i l l i n g th e c o n t r a c t s . P h y s ic a l exam inations a r e r e q u ire d o f th e s ig n e r s o f s e v e r a l o f th e c o n tr a c ts .
In s e v e r a l c a s e s , a l l new tea-chers a re asked to subm it to an
exam in atio n w h ile a few o th e rs must c o n se n t to a p h y s ic a l ex am in atio n by a d e s ig n a te d p h y s ic ia n any tim e th e b o ard o f e d u c a tio n so r e q u ir e s . T here a r e a v a r i e t y o f s p e c ia l r u l e s and re g u la tio n s p la c e d i n Wyo ming te a c h e r s ’ c o n tr a c ts which sh o u ld be in te a c h e r handbooks.
There a re
o th e rs which impose upon th e p r o f e s s i o n a l i n t e g r i t y o f te a c h e rs and should n ev er be re c o rd e d .
In most c a se s l o c a l b o ard s have made t h e i r own forms
o r re v is e d o th e r s , w ith l i t t l e re g a rd f o r th e elem ents which do o r
do
n o t c o n s t i t u t e a te a c h e r ’ s c o n tr a c t te n d in g to f u r t h e r th e p r o f e s s io n a l i z a t i o n o f te a c h in g . There a r e d is f a v o r a b le u n w ritte n r u le s imposed upon te a c h e rs
which
a re in r e a l i t y a p a r t o f t h e i r c o n tr a c ts s in c e a l l c o n tr a c ts r e q u ir e t h a t th e te a c h e rs obey a l l th e r u le s and r e g u la tio n s o f th e board o f e d u c a tio n . T eachers r e p o r t t h a t th e y must b a r t e r f o r r e le a s e s , th e y must keep d e f i n i t e sch o o l h o u rs , each c o n tr a c t i s an in d iv id u a l b a rg a in , women te a c h e rs may n o t smoke, t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s in community a f f a i r s a re o v e r s tr e s s e d , unm arried te a c h e rs may n o t l i v e i n a p a rtm e n ts , and o t h e r s , a l l o f which te a c h e rs lo o k upon w ith d is f a v o r .
T eachers ten d to fa v o r a more uniform
c o n tr a c t form . Prom th e co rresp o n d en ce w ith th e d i f f e r e n t c i t y sch o o l s u p e r in te n d e n ts in Wyoming, i t is e v id e n t th a t th e same c o n tr a c ts a r e b ein g used
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6k
from y e a r to y e a r w ith l i t t l e i n t e r e s t in r e v is io n , and th e r e have heen d i f f i c u l t i e s over th e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f te a c h e r c o n tr a c ts in Wyoming. The c o n tr a c t forms a n aly z e d in t h i s stu d y do n o t fa v o ra b ly
meet
w ith th e c r i t e r i a o f a p ro p e r t e a c h e r 's c o n tr a c t . The c o n tr a c tu a l s ta t u s o f te a c h e r s , as a w hole, who s e rv e under th e c o n tr a c ts a n aly z e d i n t h i s s tu d y , i s no t such a s to p ro p e rly prom ote and f u r t h e r th e p r o f e s s i o n a liz a ti o n o f te a c h in g in Wyoming.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
65 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Anonymous, "A S chool-T each er T alks B ack," R eaders D ig e s t, 4l:2*+3, J u ly , 19*12. B e a le , H. K ., Are American T eachers F re e ? , Hew York: C h arles S c r ib n e r 's Sons, 19 3 b™ Cooke, D ennis H ., Problem s o f th e T eaching P e rs o n n e l, Hew Y ork: Longmore, Green and Company, 1933* Grandy, C. W., "T eachers C o n tra c ts ," H ebraska E d u c a tio n J o u r n a l, m , Ho. 2 , 19*11.
V ol.
H am ilton, R obert R. and P a u l M ort, The Law and P u b lic E d u c a tio n , Chi cago: th e F oundation P r e s s , I n c . , 19*11. Idaho E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n , P ro ceed in g s o f th e Idaho E d u catio n Asso c i a t i o n , 1937-3S, V o l. X. L e tte r from J e w e ll J . Rasmussen, D ir e c to r o f R esearch , U tah E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n , w r itt e n on J u ly 1 5 , 19*11. Lew is, A. C ., C o n tra c ts and Tenure o f C anadian T e a c h e rs , T h e s is , Ab s t r a c t su b m itte d f o r re q u ire m e n ts f o r th e Degree o f D octor o f Peda gogy* U n iv e rs ity o f T o ro n to : 19*10. Monroe, W alter S . , E n cy clo p ed ia o f E d u c a tio n a l R e se a rc h , Hew York: th e M acm illan Company, 19*11. H a tio n a l E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n , Committee on T enure, T e a ch e rs1 Con t r a c t s : With S p e c ia l R eferen ce to A dverse C o n d itio n s o f Employ ment , W ashington, D. C .: th e A s s o c ia tio n , 193&• H a tio n a l E ducation A s s o c ia tio n , Committee on T enure, M andatory S t a t e Adopted C o n tra c t fo rm s, W ashington, D. C .: th e A s s o c ia tio n , 1937* H a tio n a l E du catio n A s s o c ia tio n , Committee on T enure, A n a ly sis o f School Board R u le s , W ashington, D. C .: th e A s s o c ia tio n , 1938. H a tio n a l E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n , American A s s o c ia tio n o f School Admin i s t r a t o r s and R esearch D iv is io n , Employment S ta tu s and Leaves o f Absence o f T e a ch e rs, 1937-38, W ashington, D. C .: th e A s s o c ia tio n , J a n u a ry , 1938. H a tio n a l E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n , Committee on T enure, C ourt D e cisio n s on T en u re, W ashington, D. C .: th e A s s o c ia tio n , A p r il, 19*11. H a tio n a l E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n , R esearch B u l l e t i n , S ta tu to r y S ta tu s o f S ix P r o f e s s io n s , W ashington, D. C .; th e A s s o c ia tio n , V o l. XVI, Ho. 4 , Septem ber, 1938.
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b6 BIBLIOGRAPH? (C o n tin u e d )
H a tio n a l E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n , R esearch B u lle t in , A d m in is tra tiv e P ra c t i c e s A ffe c tin g Classroom t e a c h e r s , W ashington, D. C .: th e A sso ci a t i o n , Ja n u a ry , 1932. Slocum, Jam es, A Study o f th e Elem ents o f T each ers* C o n tra c ts and Teach e r C o n tra c t P r a c tic e s i n South D ak o ta, th e U n iv e rs ity o f South Da k o ta : 19^ 1 . W e lle r, C lif f o r d 1 . , R ules and R e g u la tio n s o f Boards o f E d u c a tio n in th e S ta te o f Wyoming R egarding T e a ch e rs* D u tie s and A c t i v i t i e s , M a s te r's T h e s is , U n iv e rs ity o f Wyoming: 1936*
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
c ism o H or
couht decisions
B aird v . D i s t r i c t No. 25, 287 p a c . 308. B ir d v ille Independent School D i s t r i c t v . Deen, 141 SW (2d) 680. Board o f P u b lic I n s t r u c t i o n v . A rnold 19^ So 33^* Bowden v . Board o f E d u c a tio n 264 111 ap p . (1931)• D urst v . School D i s t r i c t No. 2, 273 p a c . 675Ryan v . Humphries 50 O k la ., 3^3*
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APPENDIX
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68
(FACSIMILE) UTAH EDUCATION ASSOCIATION O ffic e o f th e E x ecu tiv e S e c re ta ry
J u ly 15. 19^+1
Mr. D. D. D arland Men1s D orm itory Laram ie, Wyoming Dear Mr. D arland; W ithout knowledge ab o u t th e p a r t i c u l a r problem s con c e rn in g te a c h e rs c o n tr a c ts on which you a re w orking, I am a f r a i d I can g iv e you b u t l i t t l e a s s i s t a n c e . However, under s e p a r a te c o v er I am sen d in g you some o f o ur com m ittee r e p o r t s , recommended c o n tr a c ts and a few sample c o n tr a c ts from th e v a rio u s d i s t r i c t s . For a number o f y e a r s i t h a s been a p o lic y o f o ur a s s o c ia tio n to recommend a c o n tr a c t f o r use among th e f o r ty sch o o l d i s t r i c t s . In 1936-37 a com m ittee worked ou t a c o n tr a c t w hich has been recommended up to t h i s y e a r . Dur in g th e p a s t y e a r and a h a l f a com m ittee has been r e v is in g th e recommended c o n tr a c t and made i t s f i n a l r e p o r t to th e House o f D e leg a te s on A p ril 12, 19^1. I n c i d e n t a l l y , th e p e rs o n n e l o f t h i s com m ittee changed d u rin g th e c o u rs e o f i t s work. The com m ittee a t f i r s t c o n s is te d o f te a c h e rs and p r i n c i p a l s o n ly b u t th e f i n a l r e p o r t was made by a com m ittee c o n s is tin g o f two te a c h e r s , two d i s t r i c t s u p e rin te n d e n ts and two board members. I hope th e s e m a te r ia ls w i l l be o f some a s s is ta n c e to you. Very c o r d ia l ly y o u rs J e w e ll J . Rasmussen (s ig n e d ) D ire c to r o f R esearch JJR:VM
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r
69
SUGGESTED TEACHER COIIRACT FORM Utah. E d u catio n A sso c atio n THIS AGREEMEET, made t h i s day o f ______ 1 9 _ , A. D. by and betw een th e BOARD OP EDUCATION, ______ __________ C ity o r D i s t r i c t , U tah, h e r e i n a f t e r d e sig n a te d as th e PARTY Of THE FIRST PART, and h e r e i n a f t e r d e s ig n a te d as th e PARTY OP THE SECOHD""P'AKT, WITmESSETH; 1 . That th e P a r ty o f th e f i r s t P a r t hereby employs th e P a rty o f th e Second P a r t to te a c h in th e p u b lic sc h o o ls o f s a id d i s t r i c t f o r e q u al th e sc h o o l y e a r o f a t a s a la r y o f $_______ p a y ab le in p aym ents, b e g in n in g _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and c o n tin u in g u n t i l p a id , She "sch o o l y e a r" as used in t h i s c o n tr a c t s h a l l c o n s is t o f _ _ _ _ _ w eeks. 2 . That th e P a r ty o f th e Second P a r t h ereby a g re e s to s e rv e a s te a c h e r d u rin g th e tim e h e r e in d e s ig n a te d and in th e p la c e o r p la c e s a p p o in te d by th e P a r ty o f th e f i r s t P a r t and f a i t h f u l l y to p erfo rm th e d u tie s a ss ig n e d to him o r h e r to th e b e s t o f h is o r h e r a b i l i t y , under th e c o n tr o l, d i r e c t i o n , and gu id an ce o f th e S u p e rin te n d e n t, and to be s u b je c t to th e r u le s and r e g u la tio n s o f th e P a r ty o f th e f i r s t P a r t , and to meet a l l ap p o in tm en ts and a tte n d such m eetings a s may be a rra n g ed by th e S u p e rin te n d e n t o f S c h o o ls. 3 . I n th e event th e P a r ty o f th e Second P a r t i s co m p elled , a f t e r r e p o r tin g f o r d u ty , to be a b se n t ffom sch o o l on a cco u n t o f i l l n e s s o r on a cco u n t o f th e d e a th o r s e r io u s i l l n e s s o f a member o f th e immedi a te fa m ily , f u l l pay s h a l l be allo w ed f o r th e f i r s t f i v e days o f such absence and h a l f pay f o r th e n e x t tw enty days o f such ab sen ce d u rin g th e term o f t h i s c o n t r a c t . In e a se th e second p a r ty re c e iv e s l e s s th a n f i v e days s ic k le a v e b e n e f it in one y e a r under th e term s o f t h i s c o n tr a c t th e d if f e r e n c e betw een th e amount re c e iv e d and a t o t a l o f f iv e days s h a l l be cu m u la tiv e d u rin g th e p e rio d o f employment o f s a id p a r ty any accum ulated b e n e f it from p a s t y e a rs to be i n a d d itio n to c u r r e n t b e n e f its p ro v id e d above; e x c e p t, t h a t s a id accum ulated b e n e f its added to th e amount allow ed f o r absence w ith f u l l pay s h a l l n o t exceed tw enty days i n any one f i s c a l y e a r . When d e d u c tio n s from pay a re made f o r absence from s c h o o l, th e amount to be d ed u cted s h a l l be d eterm in ed by c o n s id e rin g one d ay ’ s pay a s 1/lSO o f th e above s t a t e d a n n u al s a l a r y . The second p a r ty s h a l l f u r n is h such ev id en ce o f th e n e c e s s ity f o r b e in g a b se n t from sch o o l under t h i s s e c tio n , a s th e f i r s t p a r ty may r e q u i r e . 4 . This agreem ent may be c a n c e lle d and th e p a r ty o f th e Second P a r t d is c h a rg e d by th e P a rty o f th e f i r s t P a r t a t any tim e f o r im m o ra lity , in s u b o r d in a tio n , incom peten ce, o r m en tal o r p h y s ic a l in c a p a c ity , p ro v id e d th a t th e P a r ty o f th e Second P a r t s h a l l n o t be d is c h a rg e d w ith o u t a th orough in v e s t ig a ti o n and a h e a r in g a t which he o r she s h a l l be g iv en an o p p o rtu n ity to be h e a rd . 5 . I f th e Second P a r ty , a woman, m a rrie d d u rin g th e l i f e o f t h i s c o n tr a c t, s a id c o n tr a c t s h a l l be te rm in a te d im m ediately u n le s s o th e r w ise recommended by th e S u p e rin te n d e n t and approved by th e Board o f Ed u c a tio n .
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To 6 . I t i s ag reed t h a t d u rin g th e norm al y e a r , i n c a se o f u n s a ti s f a c to r y work, to g iv e th e P a r ty o f th e Second P a r t a r a t i n g on o r b ef o r March 1 o f th e sch o o l y e a r . 7 . That th e P a r ty o f th e Second P a r t s h a l l s e c u re , "before th e opening o f th e sch o o l y e a r and r e g i s t e r w ith th e C lerk o f th e Board o f E d u c a tio n , th e r e g u la r l e g a l c e r t i f i c a t e re q u ire d to te a c h in th e S ta te o f U tah, p ro v id in g such c e r t i f i c a t e i s no t a lre a d y on f i l e . S. T hat a t any tim e , upon re q u e s t o f th e P a r ty o f th e F i r s t P a r t , th e P a r ty o f th e Second P a r t s h a l l f u r n is h a c e r t i f i c a t e from a rep u ta b le p h y s ic ia n , showing th e p h y s ic a l c o n d itio n o f th e P a rty o f th e Second P a r t . 9 . That in th e even t sc h o o ls s h a l l "be fo rc e d to c lo s e d u rin g any p a r t o f th e c o n tr a c t p e r io d , e i t h e r to p re v e n t th e sp read o f d is e a s e o r f o r any o th e r u n fo re se e n c a u s e , th e P a r ty o f th e Second P a r t s h a l l "be g iv e n f u l l pay d u rin g th e p e rio d o f en fo rc ed c lo s in g , ex cep t t h a t i f i t sh o u ld "become n e c e s sa ry to c lo s e sc h o o ls e a r l i e r th a n th e d a te shown on th e o f f i c i a l c a le n d a r on acco u n t o f re d u c tio n i n a n t ic ip a te d re v e n u e, th e P a rty o f th e Second P a r t s h a l l n o t be p a id f o r th e p e rio d o f such e n fo rc ed c lo s in g . IB" WITNESS WHEREOF, The s a id p a r t i e s have d u ly ex ecu ted t h i s con , 19__ • t r a c t t h i s ________ day o f BOARD OF 1D U U A T I0I
By __________________
P r e s id e n t
B y ________________________
Teacher
B y _________________________________
C le rk
This c o n tr a c t i s n o t v a l i d u n le s s re tu rn e d on o r b e fo re Subm itted by S a la ry and C o n tra c t Committee C h arles B. W alker, Chairman J . D. Gunderson J . C. K o f f i t t W. K arl Hopkins James H. Smith Wilmer C. Je n se n
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