“Memories often die, and photographs fade away. I can only thank you for the past, I know we cannot stay.” This quote, although taken from a Sam Barlow yearbook referring to the graduating class of 1978, is still very relevant to our modern-day world. High school is such a short blip in our lives, and we are likely to forget it through time because it hopefully isn’t a major defining moment. Despite this, our high school years take place during a key developmental stage of life; they are the gateway to our future careers and the application of critical thinking skills. Because of this, wouldn’t you think that having the opportunity to learn in not-so-prison-like environments that fully equip its students with skills, interests, and knowledge to succeed would be more beneficial to the students and therefore their future? Well, Sam Barlow in 1978 seemed to think so.
Here are some classes, clubs, and activities Sam Barlow used to have but now doesn’t:
- Driver’s Ed
- Future Day
- Campus Carousel
- Seven annual theatrical productions
- International Food Fair
- Barber Shop Singers
- Glee Club
- Gymnastics
- Ski Team (Different from Ski Club)
- Outrec
There were many traditions continued throughout Barlow’s years, such as Springfest and some version of all the sports; there were many traditions I’m glad weren’t seen through, such as T-day (a day when the principal would tow cars without parking passes) and the Mock-Wedding (exactly what it sounds like). However, in 1978, Sam Barlow was still very different from how we presently know our school in terms of what we have decided to pull the trigger on for one reason or another. What it really comes down to, though, is money.
This year at Barlow, forecasting was delayed due to unknowns about district budgeting. On April 2, a decision was reached on how to address its “projected $10.2 million funding gap for the 2026-2027 school year due to rising costs and declining enrollment,” according to KATU News.
It was decided that in order to combat the district’s budget crisis, significant staff and program cuts would have to be made. “The district also said there will be program reductions and reduced spending on supplies and materials.” (KATU News).
This isn’t the GBSD’s individual fault, but rather a larger issue that reflects society’s selfish priority of instant gratification, and more specifically, the Trump Administration. According to Education Week, the “Trump administration’s hold on $6.8 billion in federal funds Congress already allocated for education will disproportionately harm students from low-income families, students with disabilities, and English learners.”
Despite this deeply entrenched societal flaw, there are small changes that can be made within the Gresham-Barlow District. GBSD Board Chair Blake Petersen urges community members “to join us as our state school board association has in continuing to engage with lawmakers who set the budget that ultimately allows us to keep pace.”
Our children are the future, and this lack of funding for them really just shows older generations’ lack of interest in their investment in them. They would rather fund the bombs that commit genocide in Palestine than teach the children who will one day be the ones making these funding decisions. Take a look at yourself and what you want for your future because the current trajectory of it is not sustainable.
