The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-06
THE HIGH SCHOOL FRAT CASE.

Considering all the circumstances in
the case. the action of majority OF
the members of the local board OF edu-
cation is indefensible in continuing the
expulsion for the rest of the school
year of the four boy pupils who were
so misguided as to join fraternity IN
violation of the law. and so unlucky
as to get caught at it and be the ones
chosen for the making of an example.
Inasmuch as membership in fraterni-
ties on the part of pupils in high
schools is against the terms of spe-
cific statute of the state. the school
authorities should take all reasonable
steps to stop the practice. The frm
stand that was taken in the temporary
expulsion of the boys in question was
probably endorsed generally by the
people of the city. But in view of the
fact that these boys have confessed
their error, have written letters OF
apology to the officials of the school
for their untoward actions, and have
stated that they have given up their
membership in the offending frater-
nifty, it would appear that they are en-
titled to considerate treatment. Such Is
not being accorded them by practically
setting back their education one full
year. 1t is against the advice of the
city superintendent of schools. He,
surely, is better qualified by expert
ence to determine what is adequate
punishment for refractory pupils than
are the members of the board of edu-
cation, regardless of whatever abilities
they may have in looking after the
business end of operating the schools.
There's another very important side
to this matter, too. The boys who
have been deprived of years school
ing, or rather, who have had their
graduation delayed year, are only
four of the thirty pupils who belonged
to the fraternity. a new one. which
was placed under the ban. The other
twenty-six were just as guilty of
wrong-doing in this instance as were
the four who were picked out for vic
tins. Each and every one of these
boys should be treated alike. That's
no more than justice, and If the TWEEN
ty-six who were not called to the bar
of judgment are to be permitted to
continue on in school the other four
are entitled to the same privileges.
Not only that. but it is the general
opinion around town that many of
the high school pupils belong to other
and older fraternities which have been
a part of the school life for years. A
reading of the society columns of the
local newspapers will result occasion
ally in the finding of news items tell
ing that this or that fraternity or
sorority is going to give dance. Their
names are familiar as organizations of
hi io1a al
with the high school. In most instances
their old names are augmented with
the word alumni" which purports to
convey the idea that they are made up
of boys and girls who have graduated
from or left the high school. But at
these dances and parties it is not diff
f1cult to find many pupils now at
tending the high schools. It is rea-
sonable to conclude that they are
members of the fraternities which
thinks they have placed themselves
outside the law by merely announcing
that they have severed their connec-
ton with the high school. Such SUBJ
terfuges as these, the school authori-
ties should not permit to be practiced.
They should expel every pupil con-
nected in any way with any fraternity.
But this expulsion should be lifted
when the pupil and his or her parents
give their word that membership in
fraternity is a thing of the past.
It is an old principle in the admin
istration of law that Justice should be
tempered with mercy. Let it apply in
the treatment of school children in
Topeka as we'll as in that of criminals.
-.
MANY CONSERVATIVES STARVE.