Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-03-29
THE SCHOOL CRISIS

THE SCHOOL CRISIS
Marion county and Salem are direct beneficiaries of the bull
of state taxation. Namely all of the money contributed as taxe
by the people of Oregon is spent in Marion county in support O.
state institutions and state officials. 1t therefore comes witt
rather poor grace for Marion county to take the lead in opposing
taxation that means the expenditure of state money in support
of the few state institutions outside Marion county.
Upon the ballot to be voted in the May primaries are a mum
Der of referendum measures designed to afford relief to the edu
cational institutions, all of which face a financial crisis as the re
suit of increased cost of operation, and stationary income.
Schools of the nation, as well as of Oregon, face a crisis. This
is a country wide shortage of teachers, due to inadequate pay
There is even a shortage of normal school pupils, due to the fact
that educational work is so poorly paid, that young men and
women refuse to devote the time necessary to training for in
structors when they can command so much more money in other
vacations. AS a result, many public schools have had to be closed
for lack OF teachers and unless measures are taken to relieve the
situation, the welfare of education, the most important and vital
feature of a nations life, is threatened.
To remedy the situation in Oregon and insure the welfare of
the schools a referendum measure has been placed on the ballot
providing for a two mill levy for support ofthe elementary public
schools, which will relieve the various districts and enable pay
ment OF adequate salaries to teachers. The measure is not retro
active and while it entails a tax of two mills on the dollar of asses
sed valuation, is not burdensome and not inequitable.
The tax is to be upon all the taxable property of the state
Inc only general tax now levied for the public elementary schools
is the tax which the law requires each country to levy for a
county school fund. This tax produces on the average only about
one-fourth of the money required by the public schools. Last wear
1t was t~wenty-six and fivetenths per cent. Nearly seventy per
cent OF the school funds are raised by local district tax. This means
that all OF the property not organized into school districts does
nothing in support of the public schools. All one-teacher
districts that have a high valuation need to levy only one-fourth
to one-half mill for maintenance, while the districts of low vaIua-
tlon are paying from a five to fifteen mill tax. The main purpose
this tax is to equalize the burden of taxation so that all parts
the county will pay, as nearly as possible their just share of
school taxes.
1t is a matter of regret that the only organized opposition to-
Ihe school measure essential for preservation of the grade schools
the state comes from the local taxpayers league, which blankets
all mlnage measures on the ballot Unfortunately with it's dis
approval.
There are those SO lacking in vision, that as a matter of prin-
;lple they vote against every kind of a tax, regardless of its merits
ana necessity, counting only the loss of pennies and failing to an
ofeclate the profit resulting. Marion county has more than its
snare Oh TINS reactlonary element. If the people of Oregon took the
view they would close every state institution, to save the
Inc people cannot afford to place the dollar above the
mid any more than they can place the dollar above the welfare
state institutions. Such a policy is fatal to progress.
wore Tune and talk and energy are spent in opposing taxation
ny some individuals than in productive effort. If this energy
De diverted to constructive channels, it would realize to
and community many times the cost of taxation. Where
EXCESSIVE taxation only breeds waste, it should be opposed but
mas been no waste in the schools and the future of the state
depends upon school welfare.
Every progressive and far-sighted citizen should not only vote
lr te school mlllage bill, but take off his coat to work for f
anu see that our public schools are sufficiently provided for, our
teachers adequately paid and the future generation receive tha
primary education necessary for citizenship.