The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-10-08
FRAT MEMBERS BEFORE BOARD
  Education Officials DeIve Into DOings of New Haven High School Societies. QUESTION GIRLS AND BOYS Supt. Beede Has Already Taken Emphatic Stand Against
 Secret Societies
 in School.
QUESTION GIRLS AND BOYS

New Haven, Oct 8.-Complying with a summons from the Board of Educa- tion several students who leading members in the local High School fra ternities appeared before the commit
 tee on Schools last evening at the
 board rooms, to be placed under an examination by the members of the
 committee. The doings of the fra ternities received an airing, among
 them being the girls societies repre- sented by some of the best known girl students at the High School. The action taken by the board is of the utmost importance in connection with the fraternity problem now being faced by the educators here and the examf- nation last night may be the first step in what is likely to ultimately result in the aboHshment of fraternities at the New Haven High School.
 The action of the board in summon ing the frat members comes but two port Board of Education, which has resulted in the abolishment of the Alpha chapter of the Alpha Delta Sigma fraternity in that city, direct result of the mandate of the board there, which ordered that all secret societies be done away with. The matter of secret societies at the High School has been up for consideration by the board members for months, and the action last night was the first real step in bringing the matter to head.
 The student officers were put under a gruel1ing examination, Philip Troup, of the committee on Schools, taking an active part in the questioning. The board members attempted to bring out every detail in the run ning' of the secret societies and con siderable underground history relat- ing to the doings of the High School organizations, which have gained sur prising strength in the last few years, was brought to light The "snub- INS, @% of fIon i011 School by the societies, the ''black- ba1ling system in use by the frater- mites and the limiting of the mem bership of the secret societies for cer- in the investigation and, it is expect ed, will have an important effect on the boards final decision on a mat ter involving several hundred pupils, and now being watched by both par ents and students.
 The announcement of the action of mind the discussion that arose a few months ago, when the question of the effect of the societies on pupils in general at the High School was brought up. In an interview. Super intendent F. M. Beede at the time stated that he had taken an emphatic stand against the secret societies at the High School. He said the fra ternities promoted a system of cliques in the school and resulted in snob- bishness. Pupils unable to make the SOciet1eS were loOkeo upon as iA- terlopers. Generally, the frats created an unpleasant atmosphere in the insti- tution Other members of the board, 1 when interviewed at the time, came out openly against the societies, many 1 condemning them as an evil The mat ter was actively taken up by the board soon afterwards.
 At late hour last night the stu | dents left the board room while the | committee held meeting to discuss l the matter and determine on the next | course of action. That the board | means business is evident.