Imperial Valley press., 1923-02-20
Riverside, California.


Governor Friend William Richardson
Sacramento, California,
Dear Governor Richardson:
The Los Angeles Times of Wed.
nesday publishes a disptach from
Sacramento in which you are quot.
ed as follows:
"The State Board Of Education
is allowed 1926, 900, or $4,000 less
than last year.
" Fifty eight thousand of the
$4,000 cut is in elimination of
unnecessary POSITIONS said Gov
ernor Richardson, 1911 900 is tax
en- away from travelling expenses
which in reality will only put
stop to many junketing trips to
summer resorts. The remainder
is in miscellaneous items but
should in no way Interfere with
the board s functioning prop
erly.'
Governor Richardson called at
tcntion to the fact that the Board
of Education, in 1915, was oper-
ated for $64, 900. "That board
was just as efficient as the pres
ent board and had many distin-
guished men on the body"
] assume that you are correctly
quoted and am therefore taking the
liberty of calling your attention to
certain facts regarding which il
seems to me your information is
not complete.
Asked No Increase
/ want to assure you that | fully
recognize the difficulties you have
faced in your efforts to plan a pro
gram of economy in state affairs
such as you promised to put into
effect; AMI / venture to call your
attention to the fact that the state
board of education was the only
state department that did not ask
for an increase in funds for the
coming biennial period, in spite of
the fact that the school enrolment
had greatly increased and that add
ed duties and responsibilities had
been given the board by the last
legislature. This, think, shows q
disposition and desire to co-operat
on the line of economy.
Law Change Effects
You refer to the increase in the
budget of the board since 1915. Per
nit me to call your attention to
the fact that at that time the three
commissioners of education were
paid not from our funds but from
the general salary fund of the state
Two years ago the law was amended
transferring this item Of $4,000 to
our budget. When the physical ed
ucation law was enacted in 1917, q
special budget of $4,000 was pro
vided for that work. This was later
consolidated with the state boar(
budget. Those two items alone in
volve an increase of practically
$4,000 that is apparent but not
real. By various amendments to the
law at different occasions the legis
lature has transferred from the
counties to the state board of edu
cation the work of certification OF
teachers. That was, done on thu
theory that uniformity Of standard.
and procedure is highly desirabl,
from the standpoint of educational
efficiency. The change has mad,
necessary the development of rath
er & large department. This change
however, has been in part self.sup
porting; and if the increase in fees
we are asking power to enforce
were made, would be wholly self
supporting. If the state board is to
continue to do the work (and some
agency must do it) then adequate
facilities must be provided; other.
wise long delays in handling certifi
cation eases will be inevitable and
the schools will suffer.
Added Duties
Since the early days of the history
of the state board Of education, i'm.
portant responsibilities have been
added to its work in the matter of
physical education, vocational edu.
cation, vocational rehabilitation
teachers colleges, certification, au
thorization and supervision of jun