The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-04-15
FRATERNITIES AND THE HIGH
SCHOOLS
By Elizabeth Sears

BY Elizabeth Sears
1t has been ten years, perhaps
since secret societies, termed fratern
tiles. came into the high schools as {
factor to be reckoned with. Unit
that time they had been confined tt
college may account for the imitation
few high school graduates entered
college may account for the imitation
Of college frats in the secondary
schools.
Be that as 1t may, with the coming
of the fraternity came an element OF
discord, of snobbishness, of jealousy
and such heart burnings as to
strengthen the decision of the school
| authorities to bar them, as inimical
to the best interests OF the school.
These fraternities aped the college
fraternities as far as possible. They
had their yells, their colors, their Sec
ret limitations, their cliQues. Princi-
pals were at first inclined to contem-
plate them with Indifference as harm
less amusements. But as the years
went on, a reaction set in. Just at
present the tide against high-school
fraternities Is so strong that only one
principal has been found who openly
encourages fraternities and declares
that they are benefit to the school.
This is principal of Brooklyn high
school, and he not only advocates the
fraternities,- but encourages them in
his own school in every way possible.
States are legislating strongly
against them and school authorities
are fighting this question in every
quarter of the nation. The courts
have upheld the decision of the
schools against the existence of the
fraternity in every case that has been
brought. The members of the fra
ternities have in nearly every in
stance arrayed themselves strongly on
the side of their respective "frats"
and in many instances the dispute
threatens to disrupt the schools un-
less summarily settled.
A high school boy VINO had earned
his way through school amid many
difficulties told something of his
point of view.
Il believe that had to 60 through
he experience over again, | would be
almost tempted to give up my educa-
ion rather than to endure the ostrac-
SIN / underwent because was too
'oor to belong to frat he said.
My education meant much to me,
nd had been taught to believe that
merit won in high school as in other
fairs in life.
My standing was good, for stud
ed hard. But was absolutely left
ut of the social life of the school.
was not invited to any of the frolics, {
ecause I was too poor to belong to t
paternity I could not afford the ex, t
ense. Being naturally of a social t
opposition, spent four lonely years I
school. Only my own lonely heart S
new how immeasurably I longed to t
taken in with some of the jolly a
roups and to be one of them. Four t
ears on the outside of all the good
mes Is apt to tinge a boys outlook v
life with few drops of bitter .
sss." Fl
Gilbert Morrison, a high school A
'incipal Of st. Louis, who advances +
rong arguments against fraternities, a
sists that there Is no legitimate 81
ed in the child nature that calls for a
cret or dark room proceedings. b
Therein lies one Of the secrets of d
e boys belief that the teacher is his
tural born enemy. Either Mr.. Nor az
sons early education was neglected
ong these lines, or he forewent W
UGH OF the delights and privileges of A
ing a small boy. For from the time A
has learned to spell the words on pc
first page of his primer, the en- W
'prising small boy has a yearning re
the gang" He aspires indifser-
thy either for the position of a If
ndit chief or the leader of a band ba
Indians. Anything will do as by
lg as 1t Is gang" and has a flu
ret initiation and a mysterious
citing place.
It Is this spirit that leads him to vo
* cave or to dig one in bank. ers
nothing better offers-and he can joi
ely get away with the goods---he liza
nufactures tent in the back ward if
IN some vacant lot, from any wo
nee bed clothes or old pieces of He
pet he can manage to "swipe" for
m the house. He turns to the
ret gangs as easily and as~natural- STR
Is the sunf1ower turns to the sun. ooh
% bow nature tho aoornc,, - IT, on,