New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-04
1.-THE GANG"

1T is a wise father" saith the adage "who
knows his own SON.; and, one might add with
equal TRUTH II is a very foolish parent who
tries to manage a youngster according To the
unadulterated dictates OF reason There Is no
period Of life at which such management is
more certain TO work disaster than that COM
monty called the gang age" When we read
therefore that the Board OF Education in Meri-
den. Conn., has prohibited high school stu
dents from organizing or Joining any OF those
curious institutions called thigh school frater-
mites" we are tempted to doubt the worldly
wisdom OF certain Connecticut Yankees
The high school frat" has long been u thorn
in the flesh OF educators and parents 1t is
the last dangerous manifestation of the gang
age" IL we except those few college frater-
mites which have become degenerate and dis
so|ute In many respects It Is the most dan
gerous form OF gang" simply because II Is
usually composed OF bright ambitious boys
with liberal allowances Of pocket money. Es-
pecialy in small towns such boys are enabled
TO use their high school connections as a means
TO the attainment OF their Juvenile social am
bitions-and in many cases, too as an aid In
business Just old enough TO resist arbitrary
orders from parents or teachers Just ex-
perienced enough to know how to gain their
ends by roundabout ways, and Just raw enough
TO exaggerate their own Importance and that
frat" can cause nearly as much worry rs n
sick mule If there is ever a time when di-
plomacy is needed, II is in dealing with these
Juvenile adults.
BrusQue suppression of a high school frat"
only helps the frat" The youngsters become
martyrs in their own eyes and in those of
their unlnitiated companions. The wise heads
OF the frat come together In solemn conclave
and work out schemes 10 make the order so
secret and mysterious that not even the high
school principal can be sure of its existence
The frat oath being more sacred than or
binary promises, the happy member of the per-
secuted society feels justified in weaving the
most glorious lies wherewith to hOodwink In
QuisltOrial outsiders. To make the matter even
more trying for the OppressOrs, college "frats"
only too frequently take hand in the game
by encouraging the youngsters 10 stand by their
guns Indeed, in Illinois and California men
'higher up" have successfully carried the case
of the high school "frats' through the courts
and who can measure the glory and fame that
come to a frat" which has VIGOROUSLY defed
the Board OF Education before the law? Every
little woman of half skirted sixteen signs to
know the heroes of such a mighty organiza-
ton. and the rank outsiders can hardly get
their lessons for envy.
The truly great diplomats among our high
school principals-and there are not a few
have usually found the Ifats ooJh control
liable and harmless as soon as the latter are
taken into the confidence of the authorities
The same rule holds with high school students
as with the slummlest hOOdlums; let him who
would rule either first take them into his con-
fldence. then ask their advice and finally call
upon them for help. In several large cities
high school "frats' have long been used by
principals in getting honest information about
teachers. the complaints of students, needs of
the school and the maintenance OF order and
good manners. Once instil into the minds OF
frat" members that they are the true aristo-
Gratis and leaders in the school. and hence allies
of the principal, and much of the Stiffness, time
wasting and Sinking viii cease. Suppose the
men Of AIeriden have tho high school principal
try this method of the East Side Settlement
worker. If Merlden children are normal it will
work better than spanking.