The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-04-12
BOARD OF EDUCATION TO GIVE THIRD DEGREE
 TO OFFICERS OF FRATS.

should be pursued during the investi- gation of the societies. Some members. perhaps a majority, believe that expulsion should be the fate of the ringleaders in some of the worst pranks that have been brought to the attention of the board. Others are opposed to so drastic a policy, al though it is admitted. especially in the matter of the Alpha Alpha. and Miss Clark. that some punishment should
 A few unpleasant moments seem to be ahead for the officers of both members of the board have obtained the names of the boys and girls in authority. and these will probably be plain.
 Under these circumstances these pu- pils will be in a very delicate posi- tion. Upon the one hand will be their duty to the State. to the law. and to the city that is equtpping them with an education:
 Upon the other hand will be the paths which bind them to certain so- cieties, and which require them not to reveal the secrets of these societies. A wholesale investigation has been determined by the board, partly to as- certain whether the young people re- gard their duty to their secret socie- board.
 If 1t should be discovered that any pupil has burdened himself with an oath which he regards as superior to
 
 will be confirmed in it's opinion that not the least evil of these societies is that they teach young people. at the plastic period of their lives. contempt for law.
 The test will come. when a pupil. who is asked to describe the initia- to answer the question upon the ground that his oath will not permit him to do so.
 In such a case the expulsion of the recalcitrant may become necessary, both as a punishment. and as an ex- ample.
 Members of the board hope. how ever, that pupils who may be examin- ed will speak frankly. and not make harsh discipline necessary.
 One thing seems certain, which is that the frats will be cut off root and branch from all connection with the school system.
 will prevent any pupil from complet- ing his High school course who n1afn- tains 8 connection with a school frat
 F.ayette c. Clark. father of Miss Clark, who was so severely treated by Alpha Alpha, said this morning to a Farmer reporter that the whole matter had been most painful to himself and his family. T do not wish to regard this thing as personal, he said. the place where my daughter was sub jected to the i'll treatment she receiv- ed. It is the system that permits such things that I wish to amend. If injured in health or mind by the cere- monies of school societies. it is high time that such societies were abolish ed.''
 Naturally there is some curiosity in school circles to know in what home Miss Clark received the connections that were poured into her.
 At least the ceremony was not lack ing in novelty. It has been learned that the ceremony of eating macaroni boiled in soap was part of 8 wider program, which was to convince Miss Clark that she was swallowing worm. The macaroni was boiled in soap to into Miss C1ark's mouth and she was told that it was a worm, and that she must swallow it or be forever regard ed as recreant to the sisterhood
 This joke is on plane with an- other. practiced by the boys societies. in which the members make a sound of clearing the throat, and then pour into the mouth of the victim a spoon ful of oysters, leaving the rest to his ina agination.
 There is an evident determination upon the part of Representative Clark to shield from publicity the family in whose home the initiation took place. He feels that such publicity is not es- sential to the reform that he wants to accomplish. It is said. however. that the young woman who escorted Miss Clark through at least a portion of her long trudge. before she was sub Initted to the ordeal which destroyed her health, is the daughter of a menH- Der of the Board of Education.
 Indeed. members of the Board of Education are well represented by children in the school societies.
 It must not be supposed that these members on this account favor the continuance of the societies. On the contrary, they are the more determined that the societies should be abolished, because the danger is more clearly brought home to them than to mem bers not directly concerned.
 The Farmer reported yesterday a case an which g. boy was tucked in