The San Francisco call., 1907-01-22

but sorority girls were Gerald Ken
ne6y, Robert Weber and Ted Everett
Kennedy denied that he was a member
Of any fraternity and insisted yester-
day that he had never pledged himself
to shun the society OF girls who were
not in Greek letter societies.
MERRILL,S CONDEMNATION
Principal Merrill of the Lick School
has been fighting the fraternities ever
since the organization of the Gamma
Eta Kappa in the old Boys High School
in 1882, which is said to be the Oldest
high school fraternity in America He
took active part IN the fight made
a year ago and was Instrumental in
the passage by the California High
School Teachers Association in Decem-
Der, 1905, Of a resolution condemning
fraternities. denying them the use OF
school buildings for meetings and thj
privilege OF hanging their charters on
the classroom walls.
Principal Merrill said last night:
4 was a student in the old Boys
High School when the first of these
organizations was effected and was
then so disgusted by the snobbishness
OF its leaders and the fact that its
members were principally dudes that
have had aversion to fraternities ever
since.
MY reasons for Sisliking them are
many. They do not advance the pupil
in any manner and are formed prin-
cipally for the purpose Of social
meetings, and for the reason that ita
members are ambitious to be 'exclu-
sive.
I'm our school we have numerous
movements among the students that
we encourage. but they are in no sense
secret societies, and we prohibit any
entertainment OF any kind that is not
for the entire student body We even
say that these entertainments cannot
be given in the name of the school. and
within the last few months lave re-
fused several requests OF this charac-
ter. We have debating societies. ath-
letic and outing clubs and literary cir
cles, and any student is at liberty to
join any OF these because we believe
in assisting in the accomplishment of
useful things outside Of school hours
as well as within them.
SOCIETIES ARE oUTLAWED
There are two secret societies that
have members in the Lick School, but
they have been outlawed since their
organization two years ago. We do
not know who belongs TO them, nor do
we know where they meet, but 1 do
know that the great majority of the
students are opposed to them, and that
not more than a dozen belong. They
are the Delta Gamma Omega for boys
and the Gamma Delta Omega for girls.
will say that have found that gen
orally the members Of these societies
are not students in good standing
"As remedy for this I can see only
one way. The parents must do the
work. If they realized how much
heartburning the fraternities caused
and how demoralizing they were in the
student body they would assist in erad-
icating the evil The principals of the
schools can do nothing. While the fra
ternities are not recognized by school
authorities. they exist in secret, and
only the parents can break them up
Fathers and mothers whose off,
spring have risen TO places OF honor
in the fraternity are prone to counte-
nance It because they are proud of the
leadership which placed their children
in the high places. This has done much
TO propagate the evil.
Numerous instances have arisen
showing how evil are the frats'
The principals OF the Mission and
Polytechnic High schools have strue-
gled with the problem in vain, and
have had much trouble with the unruly
leaders Crimes have been committed
by members of the organizations. as.
for example, the painting of the Lick
the Polytechnic. These wild boys had
the effrontery to spread the story that
II was our own students who had
done IT,
PRAISE FOR MISS MCNEIL
1T seems hard, in view OF all the care
have taken. that the baleful effect of
the fraternities should reach our school
and that one OF our most popular stu
dents should be a victim
"Jeanie McNeiFs record was absolute
ly clean and she was beloved by a ma
jority OF her schoolmates. She was
particularly anxious 10 carry out the
instructions which are periodically
given the student body regarding CON
duct. We always cautioned them not
10 loiter gossiping in the corridors, and
that II boy accompanied a girl to her
home after school both must observe
the proprieties and not linger by the
way"
AS student Miss McNeiTs record, as
carried by the school. was commendable
in every respect and she was particu-
iarly proficient in German and Eng
lish. She had never been reprimanded
at the school.
KNOWLES BLAMEs SOCIETIES
AT that Professor Merrill had to say
On the evils OF the Greek letter socie-
ties in the high schools was concurred
in by DR.. William A. Knowles, father
Of Phoebe Knowles, the girl friend of
Mics MrRafl nr KnoWIan has hoI civ