Despite being ranked 45 out of 50 states as one of the worst performing school systems in the country, Oregon’s ultra-progressive teachers’ union is threatening to pull support for Democrats who finally decided to force them to fix their failed education policies and actually enforce the diversity goals they claim to stand for. Goals that red states like Mississippi are doing better than Oregon.
The [teacher’s] union has opposed successful strategies used in Mississippi and other states that have boosted reading scores, including a statewide reading curriculum based on the “science of reading”; mandatory standardized testing that measures student growth; and funding targeted at the neediest schools rather than just by student head count.
It’s a big open secret that Portland and Oregon Public Schools are some of the worst in the country – last year ranking 45th out of 50 states. Ranking well behind every southern state, Texas, Mississippi, Florida, and well – just about everybody. This isn’t because of funding that ranks as some of the highest per student in the country nor from a lack of complete Democratic party control over all levels of the government for more than 30 years. It has some of the highest funding per student, while delivering some of the worst results in the entire country.
But maybe it’s lack of funding. Despite passing multiple bonds at or over a billion dollars, they have failed to modernize nor make schools earthquake safe as was promised in EACH of the 4 bond measures passed in the last decade. Each one seems to assume people forgot they gave them over half a billion dollars to fix school buildings 4 times in a row.
2012 School Building Improvement Bond – $482 million
2017 Health, Safety and Modernization Bond – $790 million
“Unless those harm reduction studies include the harm to the community … I fail to see how any harm reduction study could be taken seriously” – public commentary
I personally have seen and dealt with the results. There were countless people slumped on sidewalks surrounding the distribution areas after every handout. Even worse, the Portland People’s Outreach Project that were doing these programs often became physically hostile and intimidated anyone that would complain or question them. (more comments here if you can stomach them)
Sadly, “harm reduction” activities like these programs have not saved lives – quite the opposite. Even better, as should be 100% expected from non-profit organizations with absolutely no academic or other credentials, the policies have directly caused deaths to have more than tripled since they started.
I loved the movie Short Circuit. It was filmed here in Oregon in various locations, but mostly in Astoria, OR (the same place Goonies, Kidnergarden Cop, and a few other films were made).
For it’s 40th anniversary during the Astoria Film Celebration, June 5-7, 2026 there will be Cast & Crew appearances, Panel Talks, Licensed Merchandise, Film Screenings, Workshops, Trivia, an 80’s Prom and more across multiple venues.
I’ve personally notice that in the last few years, that Portlanders have become increasingly paranoid. They report gunshots and explosions that turn out to be fireworks, they shine laser pointers at aircraft thinking they are spy helicopters, and so forth. It seems like local forums seem to have an increasing claims of tinfoil hat type paranoia.
Yes, you read that right. Over 12.4 million pounds of garbage is generated by homeless camps a year in Portland. That’s often waste that ends up in rivers, burned under bridges, or just clutters the city.
I have tried to use this program in Oregon a few times – but the amount of passes they have is limited and I’ve never been able to actually score one for anything I really wanted to attend. But if you’re looking for cheap and have the time to keep trying, you may be able to score one.
If you live in the Portland area, you might also check out Portland Living on the Cheap as they sometimes have links to free/discount programs like this.
Multnomah County Library (Portland) – My Discovery Pass [multcolib.org] Patron access – mydiscoverypass.quipugroup.net [quipugroup.net]. 16+ partners: Artists Repertory Theatre (2 adults), Portland Center Stage (2 people), Portland Opera (2 adults), Portland Columbia Symphony (2 people), Friends of Chamber Music (2 adults), Northwest Children’s Theater (2 people), Portland Art Museum (2 adults, children 17 and under always free), Japanese American Museum of Oregon (2 people), Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education (4 people), Five Oaks Museum (2 adults, youth 17 and under free), Portland Japanese Garden (2 adults 18+ plus 8 children 17 and under), Boom Arts (2 people), Rose City Comic Con. Passes limited by availability.
