Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-07
.FRATS FROWNED UPON
Educational Societies in the
Schools to Be Encouraged.
POLICY is DECIDED ON
Control Is Given Into the Charge of
Principals.
STRINGENT RULES SET DOWN
Recommendations of Committee of
Investigation Promulgated by
Superintendent Stuart.
POLICY is DECIDED ON
STRINGENT RULES SET DOWN


on societies with positive educational
number or influence Of the secret Or
ganizatiOns.'
A T. Stuart superintendent of public
schools. thus outlined to a reporter for
The Star this morning the policy of the
educational authorities in dealing with
the high school fraternities i'm accordance
with the report of the special committee
appointed to investigate them, and thus
epitomized his instructions to the high
school principals regarding the secret So
cieties
The high school principals told the
committee that they could control the
frats and sororities. ] was directed to
notify them to do so, subject to the re-
strictions named in the report he con-
tinued.
I'VE want the principals to encourage
such useful organizations as musical. lit
erary, dramatic and debating clubs-al
educational in their aims-in the hope that
the pupils may see how beneficial they
are.
IF the frats develop mischief the board
will see fit to deal with them. We have
had no trouble with them and expect
none"
Supt. Stuart today sent to principals OF
high schools carefully prepared instruc-
tions outlining how the principals are to
deal with the fraternities and sororities.
Superintendent Decides Policy.
He reviews the report of the Specia
committee. presents its conclusions and
then adds:
AT conference December 21 between
the committee on normal and high schools
DIR. B. w. Evermann chairman. Mrs Jus
tina r. Hill and Mrs. r. II. Terrell pres
ent with Assistant Supts Hughes ant
Bruce the principals of high and manua
training schools with one exception. ont
of the normal school principals and th'
superintendent of schools. the report OF
school fraternities was thoroughly con
sidered and it's conclusions indorsed.
''rhe principals present expressed con
fldence in their ability to cope with anc
control these organizations under th'
terms of the committees recommended
tons. / was directed to notify all the
principals of normal. high and manua
training schools that it is the pleasure OF
the committee to intrust the supervisor
of the existing societies to the respective
principals.
You are to exercise this control with
due vigilance. Whenever these societies
are found to exert upon the activities
or discipline of the school any influence
that manifestly makes for evil you VII
promptly report the facts in the case
/ will submit the same to the commit
tee of the board with a recommenda-
ton for such measures as the gravity
of the circumstances may warrant
Il have confidence that the wise dis
cretion of the respective principals and
the good sense of the pupil members OF
these organizations. helped by the pru
dent counsels of the older heads nc
Il yx-iI ca ri al IN =
duct as to make unnecessary any fur
ther action in the near future on this
subject
Musical. literary. reading and de-
batting clubs and associations. and all
others with purely educational objects
should be fOstered in every way pos
sible by principals and teachers in the
hope that they may ultimately supplant
the numerous clubs OF a social natur"
which spring up everywhere among
secondary pupils without impulse or
patronage from the faculties. and which
usually prove obstacles in the way of
advancement in their studies.
Recommendations of Committee.
The investigating committee presented
a long report on the condition OF tho Sc
,.ret fraternitics in high, normal and man
ual training schools. 1t concluded with
the following statement of recommends
tions:.
in view of these conclusions The
committee recommends drastic
measures in dealing with the secret So
ciety question In our high schools, but
only such regulative measures as VIII,
i'm the opinion of the committee. safe
guard our schools from the evils and
abuses prevalent elsewhere. The com
mittee is unanimous in these recon-
mendations.
Il All meetings of all secret socie-
ties and other social clubs shall he
held only i'm the homes Of parents Of
members No high school society shall
maintain clubroom.
- Meetings may he held only in
the afternoon evening of school
holidays days next preceding school
holidays. q
-. Nopupils OF The high schools shall
become member of secret societies
or other social clubs become pledged
thereto before the third high school
year.
-. limitations into secret societies or
other social clubs shall be unobtrusive
and in no way connected with the
school
-. No insignia except the society
pin shall be worn i'm the school by
members Of societies.
''6. No recognition shall be given to
secret societies or other social clubs i'm
the several high school papers.
The report is signed by w S Small,
Allan Davis. Emerson W. Matthews. John
w. Adams, Mary Plant, Gilbert W. Kelly
Nora Hoegelberger and Katherine Reed.
Principal Davis Comment.
In signing the report Principal Allan
Davis adds:
In accepting this report I wish TO
further insist that the practice of Sc
crecy by associations of minors should
be discouraged. and that members of high
school societies should be bound by no
obligation OF secrecy other than that
which controls the conduct of fair-dealing
citizens OF democratic community
"The secret feature of high school So
cietieS seems TO me to be unneceSSary
undesirable and potentially harmful