State Ex Rel. Mitchell v. Thompson's School of Beauty Culture

285 N.W. 133, 226 Iowa 556
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedMarch 7, 1939
DocketNo. 44480.
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 285 N.W. 133 (State Ex Rel. Mitchell v. Thompson's School of Beauty Culture) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State Ex Rel. Mitchell v. Thompson's School of Beauty Culture, 285 N.W. 133, 226 Iowa 556 (iowa 1939).

Opinion

Miller, J.

The appellants are the proprietors of various schools of cosmetology. While other issues are presented by the pleadings, at the trial, the issues were narrowed by stipulation to the question whether or not a school of cosmetology, that holds itself out as charging for students’ work, is engaged in the practice of cosmetology contrary to law.

The record shows that appellants, in the operation of their schools of cosmetology, do hold out to the public that work is done by students and that certain charges are made therefor. The evidence shows that it is not possible to furnish an adequate course of instruction in cosmetology unless the student is given practical work. The evidence also shows that the application of facial massage, marcels, permanent waves, etc., to a patron should be doné only at stated intervals, otherwise the effect would be harmful to the patron. Because of this feature, the students cannot get sufficient practical experience if they are limited to working upon each other.

The attorney general and the trial court do not challenge this issue of fact, biit proceed on the theory that a violation, of law arises only when a charge is made for students’ work. It was the position of the trial court, and is the position of the attorney general in this court, that the students might do necessary practical work upon patrons from the public, under the supervision of their instructors, who are licensed cosmetologists, provided that no charge is made for such services.

Appellants contend' that if the students are required to. render such services gratuitously, the existence of any school of cosmetology in this state is seriously jeopardized, if not made *558 impossible. The record shows that approximately 50 per cent of the gross income of appellants is derived from the tuition fees charged the students and the balance of their income appears to be derived from the charges made to the public for the work of the students. The record also tends to show that the expense of operation is approximately 90 per cent of the gross income, from which it is apparent that, if the students are compelled to do such work gratuitously, the tuition would be increased approximately 100 per cent before appellants would be able to continue to operate their schools. Appellants contend that such rates of tuition would force the students to attend schools in other states.

The determinative issue of this controversy is presented by the claims of appellants that the statute, insofar as it compels the students to render such work gratuitously, is unconstitutional. Appellants assert that the statute violates sections 1 and 9 of Article I of the Constitution of this State, as well as section 10 of Article I and the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

The chapter of the Code involved herein is chapter 124-B1. Section 2585-bl defines the classes of persons deemed to be engaged in the practice of cosmetology. This statute clearly includes the students engaged at appellants’ schools under the circumstances shown by the record herein. 1

*559 Section 2585-b2 sets forth tbe exceptions to the preceding section, which exceptions do not eliminate appellants’ students from the definition set forth in section 2585-bl. 2

Section 2585-cl2 provides that appellants shall not use “any person as a practitioner of cosmetology unless such person is a licensed cosmetologist, or an apprentice as defined by this act. ’ ’ Section 2585-b3 provides that an applicant for a license to practice cosmetology shall pass a physical examination and also an examination prescribed by the cosmetology examiners. Section 2585-b4 provides that no person shall be eligible to take the examination prescribed by the examiners unless he presents a diploma issued by a school of cosmetology approved by the examiners and licensed by the department. Obviously, appellants’ students cannot qualify for a license to practice cosmetology until they have completed their course of study and received diplomas.

Section 2585-clO defines an apprentice as one who has obtained a diploma from an approved school of cosmetology, has made application to take the examination and has been issued a temporary license to work as an operator from the date of his graduation to the date of the next examination. Accordingly, appellants’ students do not qualify as apprentices.

It is apparent that if chapter 124-B1 is to be applied to appellants, they cannot use their students to do the class of work, falling within the provisions of section 2585-bl, upon members of the public and make a charge for such services. The trial court enjoined appellants from so doing and held that to give such effect to the statute is within the provisions of the constitution. We hold that this was error.

*560 Chapter 124-B1 of the Code provides for schools, ■ such as operated by appellants. The purpose of these schools is to equip students for the taking of examinations for licenses as cosmetologists. Under the record herein, an adequate course of study cannot be given without including therein practical experience. The statute intends that the students shall be afforded such practical experience, as a part of the training in appellants’ schools: While this’is not as apparent as it might well be, analogous statutes would seem to demonstrate that such must have been the intention of the legislature.

Chapter 121 of the Code provides for the regulation of the practice of dentistry. It is obvious that dental students should be afforded practical experience as a part of their work. Specific provision is made therefor by section 2566 of the Code, which provides that the definition of persons engaged in dentistry shall not include students who practice dentistry upon patients at clinics in connection with their regular course of instruction at the state dental college.

Chapter 124-B2 of the Code sets forth the regulations of barbering. Students of barbering obviously should have practical experience. It is specifically provided for by section 2585-bl2, which provides that the definition of the practice of barbering shall not include apprentices who are in good faith pursuing the study of barbering under the direct supervision and tutelage of a licensed practitioner.

Chapter 124-C1 provides for the regulation of the practice of embalming. It is obvious that a student of embalming should have practical' experience. It is specifically provided for in paragraph 3 of section 2585-c3, which provides that no applicant for examination shall be issued a license unless such applicant shall, during his studentship, arterially embalm not less than 25 human bodies under the direct supervision of a licensed embalmer.

Chapter 120 -of the Code provides for the regulation of the practice of nursing, and makes provision that applicants for a license receive proper experience in practical nursing.

By reason of the foregoing, it seems readily apparent that the legislature must have contemplated that the students of cosmetology should be afforded an opportunity for practical training in their _ course of study.

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Bluebook (online)
285 N.W. 133, 226 Iowa 556, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-rel-mitchell-v-thompsons-school-of-beauty-culture-iowa-1939.