Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-01
|FRA1S AR. CONDEMNED
Teachers Association Adopts
Vigorous Protest Against
School Societies
SCHOOL CHANGES APPROVED
SCHOOL CHANGES APPROVED
Recommendations Of Commission APP
pointed to Revise School Laws
Heartily Endorsee-convention Re-.
fuses to Change Time Of Meeting
From Holiday Season.
Special to Time.-1.cpubltcan.


Des Moines, Jan High school fra
ternities and sororities We're con-
demned by the state teachers associa-
ton as a body. In its closing session
the association indocsed the sts4nd taxi
en- i'll the college ard high school Sec
tlons against the presence OF secret
societies In the high schools OF the
state. Proposed changes in the school
laws were approved
The resolution ex pressing disapprov-
al OF all high school secret societies
was vociferously applauded and adopt
ed by a unanimous vote. Altho 1t was
in Council Bluffs recently that young
Thomas Harvey was seriously injured
during an initiation, the members of
the Council Bluffs delegation were not
leaders in the fight against fraternities.
Sioux CITY,. which was the first city in
the state to have the high school fra
terMty problem, ard the first one to
settle it by entire elimination, led in
the demonstration, and its representa-
tives were instrume 1tal in part in hav-
ing this clause inserted in the resolu
tons
Despite the fact chat 2,6o7 ballots
We're cast last year by the teachers of
the state, in which a majority OF 1900
asked for the charlge of the time OF
the meeting from the holidays to one
of the fall months. the association re-
quested the executive committee to set
aside this referendum vote and con
tinue the meetings in the holidays.E The
majority in the association was aspro-
portionately large for no change as
the vote had been for the change in
the previous ballot.
But the teachers who attended this
years convention will be given another
opportunity to vote on the time Of
meeting. The new executive commit
tee held meeting last night and de-
cided to submit the question to a
referendum vote confined to- the
teachers who enrolled For this years
convention Itsis believed however that
the vote will only confirm the
action of the conve ntion ~
Seerley Fears MASS Meeting"
President Homer H. Seerly OF the
state normal school led the fight for
no change in time of meeting. He
likened the Nebras ka meeting which
is held in the fall months and brings
thousands, to mass meeting Of teach
ers rather than an educational coun-
Gil. Last year he was invited to speak
before the Nebraska meeting and in
order to be heard by the entire repre-
sentation had to give the same lecture
three times in one day.
The association yesterday enthusiast
tically Endorsed the recommendations
Of the educational commission. What
ever differences there had been on min
or details had been thrashed out in
the county superintendent section
Wednesday. The county supervisors of
education are more affected by the pro-.
posed revision of school laws than any
other class of educators in the state
The resolutions recommended that
these minor details be overlooked until
they could be later adjusted to indi-
vidual needs t
The Resolutions.
The resolutions as adopted were as
follows:
Whereas, We Recognize the harm
full influences of secret societies upon
the democratic spirit Of our public
schools; be 1t i
Resolved, That this association
condemns fraterniti,ss and sororities as
connected with high school life, and
urge the hearty cooperation of all
school authorities in eradicating this
evil.
Resolved, That we heartily indorse
the work of the commission appointed
vising and recodify!ng the school laws
of Iowa. We reco gnize that the bill
submitted by the commission may not
be perfect, that 1t may require certain
minor notifications, before it il en-
acted into an adequate law, yet we be-
1ieve that in all essential features 1t
should commend fs'elf to the general
assembly and the people of the state.
We recognize in this report most vital
principles OF school organization and
control principles repeatedly demanded
by this association We believe 1t to
BIZ a wise enlbodn snt of much, of the
most advisable school legislation of
modern society. and. as such, we urge
its adoption by the Thirty-t third gen
eral assembly. We further urge that
all teachers and friends OF education in
the state rally to the support of this
measure, that members of the assembly
be informed as to it's merits and i'm
portance, and that every legitimate eff
fort be made to secure its proper rec
ognition. We believe that the time de-
niands constructive work, that we
should lose sight OF minor differences
and that all educational forces should
center in making tt is bill of the COM
mission the basis o.. our public school
system
Officers Elected.
City Superintendent e. j. H. Beard,
for seventeen, years superintendent of
the Newton public schools, was elected
president Of the ass ociation yesterday.
AS a surprise to the, association, Prin-
cipal Seth Thomas Of Fort Dodge was
nominated for the vacancy on the ex-
ecutive committee over City Superin-
tendent r. S. Whitley. The other of
ficers elected on the state board were:
First vice president-Superinten
A. T.. Hukjll, West Waterloo.
Second vice president-Superinte
dent Miss Jessie Field, Page county.
Third vice president - Professor
George H. Belts, ornell college.