Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-12-30
A HIGH SCHOOL ABomlNA7!oN.

lrOf, w. III. TNpTlCIl, Oh NscIIlCii, ~
| his address to the college section of
| the teachers association at Des MONIES
Yesterday, dealt with the "frats' In an
address that should be given strict at
| tention by high school men MS well as
college faculties. The high school frat
was used as an illustration of the
worst feature OF the collegiate ifsti-
tuition, the undemocratic and exclusive
snobbishness that gives the fraternity
Its most undesirable aspect. He said,
following out his illustration:
They forbid friendships except with
in the narrowest limits. They nrrogate
to themselves the social life of the
university, and with their round OF
dances. house parties and other func-
TONS initiate the osteration of high
society There Is. emerging In our
higher schools a social life well organ
Ted entirely distinct from intellectual
activities and wholly aristocratic In Its
standards. 1t is directed largely by the
student leisure class who live their
lives Of Incidence and consistently ex-
emplfy their maxim of college morals
that to win a grade higher than a c
is conduct unbecoming gentleman.
And this condition he asserted was
typical especially OF the western
"frats."
1t would be well for the effectiveness
of the schools and to the good Of the
community at large if high school SUI
perintendents. principals and teachers
in authority, would listen and learn.
The high school frat is essentially q
manifestation OF snobbery pure ana
simple 1t belongs with the snobbery
Of the mother who overdresses her
children for the school room In the
fear that some one will fall to recog-
nize that these, belong to the hrst
| families If they are not arrayed as TOR
| q function OF the high society into
which their newly rich parents nave
broken. The high school frat is
snobbish organization and it's effect
upon children ever prone to snobbery'
is vicious as It's effect upon the schooi.
It's organized strength affords the few
the privilege to direct all social func-
lions connected with the school or a
particular class; to enforce lavtshness
| and create expense that makes grad
Netting wear a terror to girls whose
parents are sacrificing much even to
give her the chance to be graduated;
| it puts merit on the waiting list and
drags out mediocrity or worse than
mediocrity to the spotlight.
1t Is beyond the scope and purposes
of the common school to teach common
sense and good taste to parents who
lack these desirable qualities, but If we
must have s,lobs it is within the pow
or Of school boards and school men to
see that school children learn snobbery
at home and not at the school. The
western college fraternity which lies
under the contempt OF the Cornell pro-
lessor gains it's unenviable reputation
nv accessions from the snobs trained
in the high school fraternity and In
the homes where good prospects for
future citizenship are being spoiled by
silly mothers and careless or incompe-
tent fathers. The frat" ought to be
quietly and firmly put to death as
diseased and dangerous animal Is
culled out of herd. And 1t is up tc
the school men to do it they have the
sand and board with sense back Of
them