The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-08

erection to the school authorities in the
matter of enforcement 1t saws:
lit shall be unlawful for pupils of
any high school to participate in or be
members of any secret organization
whatsoever that is in any degree a
school organization.
"'Any board of education OF board
of trustees of county high schools are
hereby authorized and empowered to
deny to any student regularly en-
rolled in such high school who shall
violate section 1 of this act, any or
school or to expe1 such student for
failure or refusal to comply with the
requirements of the act
THE board of education has not ig-
nored or winked at violation of the
law in the past. Every student en-
tering the high school since the pas
sage of the state law has been re-
quired to sign a statement to the eff
feet that he is not a member of any
fraternity and that his intentions are
to refrain from being a member
In the case of students who were
members of fraternities prior to the
passage of the law, a statement was
required that such student was pre-
pared to furnish evidence of with
drawal and a further statement that
promised during his continuance as a
high school pupil not to have any con-
nection with a secret society connect
ed with a high school
These signed statements were ac-
cepted by the school authorities in
good faith, but when it was found
that the law as we'll as the pledges
had been violated, the board of educa-
ton had no alternative except 20 i'm
pose a penalty authorized by the
statute.
1.-THE board of education and Off
re nd Oh Of tn Il fer1 no. 81
have only one object in view, which
is the welfare of the high school as
an institution and every member of it.
Under the circumstances 1 think
that if any of the young people have
retained membership in any of the
fraternities, the wise thing for them
would be to permanently withdraw
and furnish evidence of that fact
That is exactly what the poor boys
did, but they were, nevertheless,
rudely expelled without a hearing.
The letter from parent of one of the
suspended boys emphasizes some of the
points which the State Journal has
brought out in connection with the action
Monday evening. ",roo frequently the boy
does not want to attend school and the
ing everything in their power to keep their
child in school and make education at
tractive," reads the communication ano
Then the letter continues: whether we
believe in the high school fraternity Law
or not, OF whether it be constitutional tht
fact remains that we have the law an6
the question is now as to it's reasonable
and humane enforcement Right here
the writer hits the nail on the head. Any
reasonable thinking person will fail t.
see the justice of Furnishing severely foul
boys and letting scores of others who are
equally guilty go free upon making the
same apologies which were made by the
four victims of the boards harsh Judg
ment. 1t is stated that the high schoo
authorities have in their possession a Ions
list of those who supposedly are as guilty
of breaking the state law and the ruling!
of the board of education. From th'
standpoint of justice to the four suspend
ed frat men, it is up to the board t.
either suspend the many who are guilt!
for the same length of time for which tn
few have been suspended or to .reinstat
1 the latter However, few are in favo
of making any of the boys submit to !;
| longtime suspension, but nearly all ad
NIT that something should be done whicl
will wipe out the secret organization
which exist in the face of the state law