The Washington times., 1909-09-26
Much That Is Good and Something of Evil
Is Found in High School, Fraternities

know fag well that they will not can
ngt. understand the criticism.
Should BE Given
Parents Oversight
Our f.ote-nities today, as I realize.
represent some OF our strongest. most
capable boys: yet it IS not always wise
TO leave boys at this age entirely 20
their own devices. There is an old say
ing, One rotten apple viii ruin bar
rel" That danger is always imminent
under the present conditions. n was
just because OF a lack OF consideration
Of this danger that fraternity scan
dals' originated I'm other cities Th0ugk
the danger does not threaten us at pres
ent, there is always a possibility Of IT,
Children won't admit this. You can't
expect them 10, especially when they
know there is no harm ia the present
situation. But il is for the parent to
exercise some foresight and guard
against the danger
One Of the most spiendId systems ever
devised Tor the moral training or the
youth was as We all knOW that OF the
Spartans. The keynote Of the strength
OF this system was that the Spartsns
never left the youth TO his own de-
vices, but so planned the course on train
ing that the children were constantly in
the company Of older persons.
Under our present system Of educa-
nor would 1 be inclined TO advocate IL
strongly under present conditions. II
is well TO have our boys and girls free
to some extent so as 10 develop their
self-confdence and strength OF charac-
ter. At the same time when, by for
tunate experience IN other cities, this
freedom has been found 70 be TOO great
would it not be well to safeguard
against the danger here?
We who are vitality concerned with the
welfare and success or o. schools want
the matter 10 De dealt with fairly and
squarely- We do not take our stand be-
cause we are not interested in the hap
care. On the contrary, the majority OF
us are deeply interested, but il is just
because we are so keeGly interested
that we want to guard against dangers.
dangers which our pupils do not and
we fear, cannot appreciate
Prevention
Better Than Cure.
We have had enough unfortunate sit
nations rise IN our school system How
gladly would We prevent any more, no
matter what the cause The pupils
themselves would be the first ones 70
object TO any new troubles, yet cannot
emphasize too strongly the fact that
they don't realize the situation-aud we
should not expect il Of them
This safeguarding cannot be done
most successfully BY the teachers be-
cause pupils win not always consult
them. knowing as they do that they
cannot always be sure Of the sympathy
and interest of those who instruct them
In the nome. however, 1t is different
Here they gain confidence through the
love and sympathy offered them by the
family. and fl should be a simple enough
matter for the parents TO so adjust fra
ternity conditions that all dangers
would be eliminated.
Leave the children free TO certain
extent Let their harmless secrets. a
constitution, a ritual OF initiation, 4
motto sad a grip. be their own. but ~
the sa1e time do not leave them too
largely TO their own devices. II IS
solely Tor their own benefit that we
argue this.
Before leave the subject let me
mention one more fault OF the fraterni-
ties-One that could be easily remedied-
Many fraternities have their meetings
on school nights when lessons should
be studied instead Of on Friday or
SATURDAY night when there are no les
sons 10 be prepared for the next day
Altht ugh / know that Wa number some
OF tils best students among the fraterni-
ties al the same time I realize that
the school evening should be the time
for suCdy instead Of for pleasure II
me fraternity member enjoys the bene-
fits of his club he should be willing 70
give up 5lle other smusements which
come on Friday or Saturday.
The fraternity. then, has its dangers.
but its advantages surely outweigh
them Moreover. 1t would be easv
enough 10 safeguard against the dan
gers II parents were but willing to
guide ano direct the work.