Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-03-17
SOCIETIES
UNDER BAN IN
KEARNY SCHOOLS
Board of Education Acts Follow
ing Complaints--Member Re-
buked for Alleged Remarks.

If the pupils of the Kearny public
schools have any more secret societies
in the future they will have to be so
secret in their workings that no one
outside the members will ever know
that there are such organizations. I'M
mediate dismissal will be the penalty
that will be. visited upon the pupils who
offend. The attitude of the Board OF
Education of the tow was clearly de-
fined last night. in the adoption, with
out only the dissenting vote of Trustee
ingalls,, the following resolution pre-
scented by Trustee Adam:
"Resolved, That all secret societies or
fraternities, or organization among stu
dents having any portion of its pro-
| ceedings secret, be forbidden to hold
| meetings in any school building or on
any school grounds in the town of
Kearny; and that all such societies or
fraternities be forbidden to use the
name of any public school or high
school in the town of Kearny in con-
nection with the name of the society,
and that all property of any society be
Immediately removed from the nigh
| school and other schools. Nothing in
| this motion shall be construed to pro-
hibit the organizing of any club whose
purpose is literary, scientific or hlstorl-
cal research, but the organization OF
such a club must have the approval OF
the principal of the school in which IL
is formed, and of the superintendent OF
schools, who shall report to hte Board
of Education the purpose, plan and
need of such an organization"
The adoption of the foregoing is the
seuueal to an incident which gave
members of the board much anxiety.
Miss Grace Irwin, daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Charles O'Connor Irwin, of IA
Grand place, Arlington, a been a
member of an alleged secret fraternity
for girls in the Kearny High School,
and it is said that she was blamed by
her fellow-members for letting out
some of the private doings of the
society.
She denied the charge, but was, it is
claimed, subjected to so much annoy
ance and humiliation that she was con-
fined to her home with hysteria for
three weeks. Her father sought an
explanation from Principal Thad. J.
Knapp, and also looked for redress from
School Superintendent Herman Dressed,
jr. The matter was also brought be-
fore the school board and a quiet in
v~estigation has been in progress. one
result being the resolution adopted last
night.
Recently Mr.. Irwin heard that at one
of the boards committee sessions Trus-
tee vii c. ingalls,, who is also presi-
dent of the Arlington Board of Trade,
speaking to Principal Knapp. made the
following remark: "If the Twins carry
his thing any further it will be a
sorry day for Miss Irwin, for other
things will come out that they won't
Ike
Last night Mr.. Irwin appeared before
the school board and bluntly demanded
an explanation from Mr.. ingalls,. Ibid
you or did you not make such a state
ment in the hearing of members of this
board" asked Mr.. Irwin holly. land
what did you mean by it? 1 insist that
as the young lady's father / have q
right to know why any reflection
should be cast upon her.
Her honor and that of her family
dlt at SLdhtf alio L mai bt SdllSlltu
with nothing a proper explanation
Such a remark either means something
or it means nothing. Now, Mr.. ingalls,
I call upon you to give your reason for
making such innuendo."
Trustee ingalls, deliberately replied
Il think. Mr.. Chairman, this matter of
which Mr.. Irwin speaks is entirely q
personal one with him and is hardly a
r-1~1- r.,nt4a, a. hrino hofnrn thiS
board. 1 shall not discuss purely per-
sonal matters here, but shall be glad
to consider them at n other time and
in a proper way with the gentleman
who puts the question. l might say
that I never used n language reflect
/ ing on the young lady, as there would
be no reason for doing TO-"
Here President James Cox remarked
that the matter had been referred to
the supervising principal nj he felt
| sure that the outcome would be a salts
factory settlement. Mr.. Irwin, how
ever, wanted an earlier v%indication.
"Mr. Chairman he said. II feel that
I am entitled to either a frank admis.
sion or denial of this damaging remark.
You heard Mr.. ingalls, make it, didn't
your"
ItSiuCiil AOA saw h1
that some such remark had been made
in his hearing.
"You. Mr.. Newell said Mr.. Irwin
/ addressing trustee Gerrish I. Newell
heard Mr.. ingalls, utter those words
didn't your
Yes replied MIR. Newell.
WELL returned Mr.. Irwin, there
Mr.. Ingalls,, two at least of your fellow
members say they heard you make thai
reflection on my daughter. What die
you mean by ,it?'
Il can only tell the gentlemen" sait
Trustee ingalls,, addressing the chair
that I did not make any reflection OF
his daughter. If she has suffered he
suffering is more likely due to the agi
tation of this matter by her father ant
the publicity given to it than to any
thing else"
You cur. you coward shouted MI
Irwin. as the trustee took his seat AM
a motion to adjourn was put and car
ried.