School Directors v. Reddick

Citations

• 77 Ill. 628

Syllabus

<p>1. School teacher—right of directors to discharge. Under the statute, the school directors can, at any time, discharge a teacher employed by them, for incompetency, notwithstanding he may have been employed for a definite time to teach.</p> <p>2. Same—burden of proof to show incompetency. If the school directors discharge a teacher before the expiration of the time he is employed to teach, on the ground of incompetency, the burden of proof is upon them to show that fact, in a suit by the teacher for the wages due him for the entire term.</p> <p>3. Same—certificate is prima facie evidence of qualification to teach. If a school teacher has the certificate of the superintendent of schools of his qualification to teach, this will be prima facie evidence of his qualification.</p> <p>4. Pleading — declcwation in suit by teacher for wages. If a school teacher is discharged before the expiration of his term, without justifiable cause, in a suit to recover his wages for the whole term, it is not necessary to allege in the declaration that he kept a schedule after the time of his discharge.</p> <p>5 A declaration in a suit by a school teacher against the directors of schools, which avers that the plaintiff presented his certificate of qualification to teach before being engaged, followed by proof of his employment, and readiness to teach, is all that is necessary to enable him to recover wages for the full time he was employed to teach, when he has been dismissed without sufficient cause.</p>