The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1921-11-17
GIBSON TELLS LUNCH
CLUB OF SCHOOLS

1t costs about 81, 200 per day for ad.
ministering the schools of Hood River
county, according to County School
Superintendent Gibson, who Tuesday
was the chief speaker at the weekly
meeting of the Tuesday Lunch club.
''The cost will remain the same to-
morrow" continued Mr.. Gibson, "un-
less some new method of conducting
the affairs of the schools is devised" "
Mr.. Gibson proposed that one rem
edy for more efficiency in administer
ing school finances would result from
the availability of larger units of tax
alton He expressed belief in consol-
| idated schools and need for an equal
ization in school taxes. He cited how
last year the school taxes of districts
in this county ranged from 2 to 33
mills. Mr.. Gibson suggests that the
state, county and district should each
bear third of the taxation for school
financing. He cited that a law, ap-
proximateIy Of this nature already ex-
lists in Washington.
Here in Hood River county," de-
clared Mr.. Gibson, lone of our high
costs of schooling results from our
blue ribbon idealists. We have the
largest lot of blue ribbon idealists in
existence. We could not get along
without them, but one or two more of
them would ruin us.
Hood River county at present has
but three one-room school houses left.
There is a possibility that one of these
in Middle Valley, where the construc-
tion of the valley trunk line of the
Loop Highway will necessitate the
construction of a new school, may be
consolidated with some adjoining dis
trict. At Viento, where the children
of but two families attend school, is
one of the worst buildings of the coun- |
ty, and it happens, Mr.. Gibson SAYS,
that it is the only school structure the |
motorists, passing through over the |
Columbia River Highway, sees. 1t is |
possible that the VientO school may be |
consolidated with the Wyeth one-room
school. Mr.. Gibson characterized the
latter as one of the best grade schools
in the state.
Mr.. Gibson declared that Hood River
county folk had been stung deeply and
by architects. He charac-
terized the Oak Grove school, despite
it's 10 years of age as one of the best
in the county. The new Odell school,
he says is we'll arranged, but other
schools he declares are very poor. He
as an abomination the
Hood River high school.
The Russell Sage Foundation in its
survey of Oregon schools ranked those
If Hood River country seventh in the
state. The schools of Sherman coun-
.y, Mr.. Gibson stated, are first, accord
ng to the Sage Foundation report.
Mr.. Gibson warned the people against
,verly high taxes. He cited that Hood
River county, at the present time is
from the residence of people
Who come here to live, buying a home,
,ut who leave their funds in more ia
'orable parts of the country, where
he tax rate is not so high.
I'VE need more people Of wealth, "
aid Mr.. Gibson, instead of a mere
Increase population.
Mr.. Gibson had the heartiest praise
or the teachers of Hood River county.
lie declared it an inspiration to know
hem. |
Guests at the meeting Tuesday were:
'. w. Clarke, of Parkdale; Judge
arker, of Condor, and Harold S. Ri n
sy, of Portland. Judge Parker, intro :
uced by Judge Glanville. made few Il
emarks.
Pres. Critics appointed the following h
ommittee to act with similar commit
aes from other city and valley civic
nd commercial bodies in working for
community hospital: f. 0. Blanchar,
ruman Butler, II. G. Ball, C. W. Nc
ullagh and A. NJ. Cannon.
Chas. II. Castner was chairman of
he meeting Tuesday.