The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-05-10
HIGH SCHOOL FRATS
 60 UNDER BAN OF
 BOARD OF EDUCATION

attempting to whitewash the matter, he has not done a, proper thing. In the first place, I contended that the investigation was irregular. Probab- ly for that reason l have been blamed, but disclaim the honor.'
 In conclusion. MT. Brady said: AS each and every member of the board is held in suspicion as a tattle tale, l think that it is the duty of the mem Der who gave out the information to stand up at this meeting and declare himself and thus clear the other mem
 bers of the stigma
 No one arose, but Secretary Hallen asked MT. Brady if he desired to be
 put on record. MT. Brady replied that
 he did k T will see that it is properly recorded then" said the secretary. Commissioner Macdonald then moved
 that James F. Cosgrove be appointed a committee of one to ascertain the member who gave up. "PH make but ! one guess.' replied the elusive James. The report made by the committee appointed to inquire into the matter is in part as follows:
 methods used in the initiation of
 Miss Clark presented by both MT. and
 Mrs. Clark and the members of the | Alpha Alpha Sorority proved conclu- sively that these initiation ceremonies are in no way helpful to the scholars and should be condemned by the Board and action taken to prevent their recurrence. It is the opinion of your committee that the young ladies of Alpha Alpha Sorority did not ad- minister the several ingredients to Miss Clark with any sinister intent. The evidence produced before us showed that they were but following The responsibility for which must therefore be shared by every member of the society during those years. 'It is our opinion that the particular young ladies concerned In the initia- tion acted with the most innocent in- tent and that it is the system, which thAy had inherited, and under which th1sy were acting, which must receive such censure as is warranted.
 'sThe case of Miss Clark has excited widespread interest and has brought
 the question of the desirability of the
 existence of Greek letter societies in
 public High Schools clearly before the public. With a view of obtaining all
 ths information possible upon this question, Superintendent Deane was directed to obtain such information as was obtainable from educational pub lications and from those having charge of public education in High schools in various parts of the United States" The report here included the report
 made to the board by Charles w.. Deane, Superintendent of Schools, up- on the result of his investigation into the attitude of other cities toward school societies. The report showed | that such societies were almost every
 where condemned by educators.
 Ia succeeding paragraphs the report 1 incorporated the views of Principal Siraonds, of the High school, which were that the societies had been de- cidedly harmfula
 A communication, signed by all the members of the High School faculty
 except, three, was included. The so- cieties were said to foster an undem- l ocratic spirit. Three members declin- ed to sign the report, being alumni of | such societies, but were said to be in substantial accordance with the view 1 of the other members of the faculty. The report then gives the opinion of City Attorney Thomas M. Cullinan
 as to the right of the board in for | bidding membership in school societies. The opinion follows:
 r "Mr. William H. Marigold,
 Pyes. Board of Education,
 Dear Sir
 ''Ia reply to the inquiry made by 1 you this afternoon, as to whether the Board of Education of this city would be within it's legal rights in taking action against the secret societies of l the nigh school and in denying to the pupils who persist in continuing mem bership in such societies some of the privileges of the high school, other than the privileges of the class room, I would advise you that the Board of
 Educ ation in so proceeding would be within it's authority. This question is not new, but has been passed up- on by the courts in several states, | among them being Washington and Illinois.
 .In the Washington Case, the facts briefly stated were as follows: The Board of Education of the City Of Seattle adopted a rule forbidding pu- pills in the High school from becom- ing members of secret societies con- nected with the school and providing
 be prohibited from belonging to de- | batting clubs, athletic teams, school bands, glee clubs, orchestras, cadet corps and other kindred organizations l of said school and should also be de- nied the customary honors attending graduation. The Supreme Court (Way- | land YS. Hughes, 43 Wash. AID in SuS- | taining the action of the Board of | Education in adopting said rule said: "The board has not excluded the ap- pellant from the Seattle High school, neither has it threatened to expel or suspend him. He can and does at 1 tend school, and, under our cOnstruc- | tion of the rules adopted, he is at the same time permitted to continue his mem bership in the Gamma Eta Kap- pa Fraternity, although in doing so | he opposes the authority of the board
 and thereby forfeits certain privileges
 which are no necessary part of the