Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-21
HIGH SCHOOL FRATERNIrIEs.
Progress Of the war Against Them in
Chicago and Elsewhere,

Nhhthko " bhAGN hGEes
Obedience to lawful authority and re-
spectful department are two qualities sadly
wanting in the education OF some students
Of both sexes in the high schools of Chi
The rule Of the Board Of Education
abolishing high school fraternities and re-
quiring students to sign pledges not to Join
such societies, and to resign II already a
member, went into effect on the opening Of
the school year. A small number OF the
total high school enrolment, probably 200,
inaugurated a rebellion against the rule,
hired a lawyer to take the case into court,
and issued a series of clustering resolu-
lions" against the tyranny of the school
board" Parents of the rebellious students
are encouraging the dlsobedience and are
supplying the sinews OF war for a strug-
81 in the courts. Gently, but firmly. the
school authorities insist on obedience to
the rule on penalty, of exclusion.
A committee Of the rebellious students
who were excluded for refusing to sign the
pledges waited upon the president Of the
board. Otto c. Schneider, and Superintend-
ent Cooley last week and made a spectacle
of themselves. AS a result of the inter-
view both officials are convinced that cor
poral punishment, vigorously applied, would
do more good in five minutes than all the
talk a battery OF monographs could real
off in a week.
"since our conference with the boys and
girls yesterday the president is quoted
as saying, IT have become pretty clear as
to what they need, the boys, I mean. If
thy could be taken out behind the school
building and given a good old-fashioned
spanking It would do more real good than
all the rules the board can pass.
The conduct OF the boys who attended
that conference showed exactly why we are
stamping out the fraternities. They were
lmpudent and Ill hammered. When we went
into the committee room it was a general
rush for seats and 1t was almost impossible
for Superintendent Cooley and me to find
chairs. When we gave them an opportunity
to state their case they were impudent and
cockey. l never saw such an exhibition of
demoralization in youngsters in my life"
Superintendent Cooley did not advocate
the corporal punishment remedy, but he
was even more emphatic than the presi-
dent in commenting o nthe boys conduct.
'There was enough evidence right on the
floor OF that COMMITTEES room to convict
every high school fraternity in Chicago"
he said. They were not only impudent-
they were insolent."
~ N"N AASNN - oNiAOOA NAC igoSte
Of the recalcitrants were accepted, signed
under protest" and all returned to their
classes during the week with the single ex-
ception Of Edward Mcdonald, the Phi
Sigma member, who was selected az palm
tiff in the test case in the Circuit court.
AS each pledge was presented, Principal
Loomis told the signer that the promise
would be interpreted to mean, that all con-
nection with secret organizations had been
abandoned except such connection as was
necessary for prosecuting thir cases in the
courts. No visible evidence of Identification
with the societies, such as the wearingy of
frat pins. will be tolerated.
Commenting on the ruction the Chicago
News forcibly observes:
Secret societies among growing boys and
girls who need at all times the intelligent
guidance of parents and teachers are harm
full to their members and to the schools
which their members attend. This is the
deliberate verdict of school authorities in
many cities. Parents who feel that they
must keep themselves fully informed in
regard to the influences surrounding their
children can scarself fail to acquiesce in
this verdict.
THE fathers and mothers Of Chicago are
| deeply indebted to the board of education,
the superintendent VI SCuOOls anu the pEIH-
cipals and teachers who have taken It upon
themselves to eliminate the problem of
secret societies from among the many
problems which beset the school and the
home. The Influence of the home will be
stronger upon the child in consequence and
the democracy of the public-school system
will be something more than a name.
80 far as the boy and girl are con-
cerned, they will have compensating ad-
vantages. Each. for example, will learn
the wholesome truth that not artificial bar
rlers but personal worth and common in
terests are the best tests by which to
choose friends and companions"
The reopening of the schools In Topeka.
the capltol OF Kansas, was marked by the
determination of the board of education of
that city to do away with the high school
fraternities. A pledge not to join or main
tain membership in these organizations is
as it is in Chicago. This move is based
on a law passed by the legislature giving
the educational authorities power in the
premises. There are also laws prohibit
ing fraternities or sororities in Illinois, In
dinana, Ohio and Washington.
INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION.