El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-09-04

a LII over the country united
~ movement is forming among
parents and educators towards
the adjustment of the Greek letter
fraternity and sorority. at least in
connection with the public high
schools. In New York it practically
has been accomplished throughout the
state. In different towns in Massa-
chusetts, Kentucky, Minnesota. Wash
ington and other states, the frater-
! mites have been refused official recog
milton on the part of the boards of ed
| ucation. The Kansas City manual
training school has debarred all priv
iliges. save of the class room, to stu
dents belonging to secret societies.
There have been several law suits over
this ruling, in which -the Judge decided
for the school, The legislatures of
Ohio, Indiana. Minnesota and Kansas
have already passed laws towards the
adjustment Of the Greek letter frater-
nifty and sorority In the public school
and other states are considering the
same action.
Public School Societies.
With the tendency on the part of the
public high schools to copy the GUS
toms Of the colleges. the Greek letter
organizations in the public schools
have reached an unthought sof proper
ton. and, in many places. have done
incalculable harm. In Chicago, several
Of the high schools have secret organi-
cations which are known to be detri-
mental to the morals of the school. and
at times, the school authorities have
been entirely unable to cope with them
These fraternities and organizations
rent a house or a suite Of rooms as
headquarters. Secret meetings are held
and drinking and gambling INDUCED in
by students whose age would presup-
pose their being in their parents homes
during the evening. Parents as well as
teachers recognize the evils of these
organizations. but in many instances
the independence of young America
makes any interference difficult.
Complaint Against Noise.
A fraternity house in a western
city recently was raided by the police
on complaint of the residents of the VI
cinity- Some 25 girls and boys few OF
them over Is, were brought before the
court. 1t was proved that the young
people were INDUCING in a dance at
which the school fraternity was enter
tanning a sorosity The idea of chaper-
onage for the affair had been secuted
by these uptodate young people The
closing Of this fraternity house
promptly followed, but even this Incl
dent did not altogether abolish the fra
ternity and sorority in the town.
Many people regard 1t as a misfor-
tune that high school children in Amer
lea should be so literally supplied with
money It Is this condition that aids
the growth of the Fraternity or soro-
rity. The expense of supporting head
quarters hinders many students from
joining the organization. Consequently
the existence of a fraternity or sorority
which maintains headquarters. encour-
ages class distinction in a public
school. In a school where fraternal
organizations are prominent. 1t will be |
found that class honors and other dis |
tinctions in the power Of the school are .
apt to go to the members of the organ
ization, to the exclusion OF other stu
dents who may be outside Of these |
ranks. Even in a school where the |
fraternity is comparatively small, its |
influence is great. In one Chicago high |
school Of 1900 students there are ESQ |
members of fraternities and sororities. /
Yet last year 20 out of the % elective
positions were held by members of (
these organizations. The principal |
frankly admitted that the frat ring
In this scnool dominated it as COM
pletely as Tammany controlled New
York politics and the authorities were
powerless to prevent it.
Evanston's Protest.
The mothers of Evanston. Illinois.
recently united in a protest to their
nigh school principal because their
daughters were snubbed by the sorority
girls. The very election of a member
10 sorority causes distinction
class of girls going UP from a gram
mar school will be good friends with
40 distinctions between them Imme-
lately upon their entrance to the high
school the sophomore sorority girls be-
gin to rush" the most desirable new
girls for membership in their organi-
sation That is they pick out the girls
who for some reason. generally wealth
,r social position. will make desirable
additions to their ranks. 1t frequently
happens that with two girls who have
been close friends for years one will be
rushed or invited to join the sorority
md the other left out The humilia-
ion and suffering of the girl left out
s generally very poignant The soro-
-ity girls by their pins. badges and
distinctive articles of clothes. gener-
lily endeavor to impress their superb
,rity upon the girls who do not belong
More than one girl has given the fact
could not stand the humiliation put
Ipon her by the sorority girls as her
eason for leaving the school.
One Girl Excluded.
A girl, who because of her DISPOSE
ion and ability was one of the most 1
popular students in school. was pro-
'osed for membership in a Cleveland
chool sorority. After due considera-
ion however. the sorority decided that |
his student should not be asked to be- |
ome a member because her mother
works." and this fact would frequent
i cause her humiliation at the hands !
I the sorority sisters whose mothers
we're more fortunately situated. The
orority of another school frankly
tates that it won't take girls in
whose families live in a flat IL
support of Fraternities. +,
The heavy demands made upon a {
tudent for the support OF the frater- I
ity or sorority often leads to posi- s
I've crime. Boys have been known to t
teal money to secure the means OF
leeting their fraternity obligations. A 7
Ugh school girl in Cincinnati, who was