36 Conn. 280 | Conn. | 1869
This case comes before us on a motion for a new trial and presents two questions only.
The first relates to the admission of evidence, and as the ruling was in favor of the defendants they cannot complain of it.
The second question is whether the decision of the court was right. There is no finding of facts on the record, and the facts are but partially found in the motion. The whole case is presented as it was presented in court, and much of it is a mere presentation of the evidence offered to prove the respective claims of the parties, without a finding that the claims were proved. This method of presenting the case is objectionable under our statutes and the rules of this court, and if the case was not clearly with the plaintiff upon all the points presented we should follow its equity and dismiss it for irregularity.
The plaintiff was hired for a year by the committee of the district, and discharged at the end of the third quarter by a new committee, ostensibly for two reasons, viz: first, that the committee who employed him had no power to make a contract with him, binding on the district, beyond the time of their term of office ; second, that he had not a certificate of his qualifications as a teacher from the school visitors or
1. It is familiar and correct doctrine that the legislative body of a state, clothed with the legislative power of its government, cannot by its action bind subsequent legislatures in regard-to the general legislation of the state, but it is equally true that such a legislative body may authorize a contract to be made on behalf of the state, or make a contract by way of grant, extending beyond the election of a new legislature, and which such new legislature cannot repudiate or repeal. It would he a novel and most mischievous doctrine that the officers who manage the governmental corporations of tire state could have no power to make a contract which was not to he performed within the time for which they were elected to office. We cannot assent to that claim of the defendants.
On these facts, we are of opinion, first, that the district having contracted with the plaintiff in view of that certificate and without requiring any re-examination- or new certificate, cannot now he permitted to repudiate or rescind the contract on the ground that the plaintiff had not a new certificate for the year. We are further of opinion, secondly, that under a reasonable construction of the law no new certificate for the year was necessary. The statute indeed says that no new certificate shall he necessary when the teacher is continued in the same school more than one term, unless the visitors shall require it, hut that provision of the statute is not applicable to a case like this. It is an exception to the general provision. That general provision requires that the teacher
For these reasons a new trial is not advised.
In this opinion the other judges concurred.
The statute on this subject is as follows:
“ No teacher shall be employed in any school, supported by any portion of the public money, until he has received a certificate of examination and approbation, signed by a majority of the hoard of visitors, or by all the committee by them appointed, nor shall any teacher he entitled to draw any portion of his wages, so far as the same are paid out of any public money appropriated by law to schools, unless he can produce such certificate, dated previous to the opening of his school; but no new certificate shall be necessary when the teacher is continued in the same- school more than one term, unless the visitors shall require it.’' Gen.. Statutes, tit. 16, see. 109.