The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-02-09
PLAN TO ABOLISH ALL HIGH SCHOOL
 SECRET ''FRATS"

New York, Feb. 9.-What may de- velop into a. Nationwide movement on the part of school authorities to abolish Greek letter fraternities and. sororities in the high schools has been started by recommendation made to the Board of Education in this city by the Board of Superinten- dents, favoring the abolition of such secret organizations in the local high schools.
 The recomm endation, made on the basis of questionnaires sent to School Superintendents of twenty-seven of the chief cities of the country, all but one of whom expressed himself in disapproval of the secret societies, charges that such fraternities in high schools are harmful, in that they foster an undemocratic spirit, lead to exceSses and the formation of vicious habits, and to the organization of cliques to control school affairs. Above all, fraternities in the high schools are condemned as encouraging an un- wholesome spirit of secrecy among adolescents at a time of life when 1t is most necessary that there shall be the frankest and most unreserved confidence between parent and child.
 It was pointed out yesterday that if the Board of Education adopts the resolution against fraternities in the high schools, as it apparently intends to do, school authorities in other cit ies throughout the country will soon follow it's lead, as they are wont to do in matters of school administration and reform.
 The recommendation made by the Board of Superintendents and it's Committee on High Schools, consist ing of Edward l.. Stevens, Andrew W. Edson, and B. B. Shallow, urges the, adoption of this bylaw by the board of Education:
 No secret society, secret club, or
 secret organization shall be permit
 ted in any high school. The meet
 ings of any student society, club, or
 organization in any high school
 shall be open to the Principal or
 teachers of the schooLor any school
 official. The constitution, bylaws
 and minutes of the proceedings of
 any such society, club. or organiZa-
 ton shall be open to the inspection
 of the Principal, a duly authorized
 teacher, or any school official.
 No pupils of any high school shall sbe permitted to join or obtain
 membership in any society, club, .
 or organiza ton which makes use of
 the school name or which purports
 to be school organization, and
 which does not comply with the
 above regulations. The name or
 style of any such society, club, or
 organization formed or existing in
 any high school shall not. be ex-
 pressed in Greek letters oF by any
 secret symbols.
 In explaining the reasons that led the Board of SuperintendentS to pro- pose this bylaw. the committee says:
 Your Committee on High Schools in September last was requested to make an investigation of student or ganizations in high schools, particu- ties and sororities, which are fre- quently styled by Greek letters.
 'An investigation had been pre- viously made concerning the number and identity of such organizations in the public high schools of the City of questionnaire relative to this subject has been .curculated in some twenty-five or m6re of the principal school systems of the United States.
 With one exception, School Super with whom correspondence has been had do not approve of such societies. In this city some of the high school Principals not only ap- prove of them, but encourage them in their schools.
 ''The objections which have been raised to such societies, stated in in- be:
 1. eff meetings are to be held i1 school buildings, additional expendi- lures are necessary for heating, light ing and janitor service.
 2. "If meetings are held outside of school buildings, that fact itself con- duces to irresponsibility, leads to ex- cesses, and in many cases has result ed in acquisition of vicious habits by pupils.
 3. "The membership of teachers in such societies and their attendance at meetings may be irregular and un- certain. The direction and restrain ing influence of such membership, is uncertain.
 4. Such societies as these are un- democratic; they lead to the forma- ton of cliques; combinations are made which control school and class many students strive to se cure election and find dues and as- sessm ents burden.
 ITO your committee the objections reviewed above seem to be sufficient, but there are three objections which in themselves seem succient and which may be stated as follows:
 1. "The high school period is the period of adolescence. Between the and eighteenth years the ,1,-, s