New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-27
ALL SCHOOL FRATS
TO co, SAYS BOARD
Pupils TO Quit Societies
at Once or Undergo
Heavy Penalties.
PINS AND BADGES
BANNED BY BYLAWS
Condemned Bodies Denounced
by SOmerS as Productive Of
Castles and Cads.

No secret society club or organiza-
ton is hereafter to be allowed in any
high school in the city. The Board Of
Education has ordered all pupils who
refuse to quit their fraternities TO be
barred from class and school honors
and participation in athletics.
Even the display Of frat" pins is
barred.
Some Of the frsternities have al
ready notified the board that they will
dlsband. Others are expected 70 do
so Immediately. Thus far none has
given any threat Of contestirg the
order, though some trout le is expected
i'm Brooklyn and Jamaica.
The new order followed complaints
that flowed from those parts OF the
city and the persistent refusal of
one fraternity in the Jamaica school 20
yield 10 the wishes of the board and
become less exclusive and domineer-
ing.
THE rule of the board said Arthur
s. Somers, a member of twenty-five
years standing, has been forced by
the necessity of doing something 10
preserve the democratic nature of the
schools. The fraternities set up
cliqucs and factions, race and relNIous
discrimination, and tended TO make
trouble everywhere
THE public school is no place for
the building up of caste system.
There is no objection TO clubs, 10 which
the tests for admission shall be schol-
arship or general standing. But there
is decided objection to exclusive or
carnations which reject a worthy and
respectable student because Of the
color OF his eyes or the shape Of his
nose.
Tend to Breed Cads.
THAT sort Of thing is bad for those
who benefit by IT, The caste system
NAV help some in some ways, but 1t
hurts I'M many others. IL does no boy
any harm TO get acquainted with the
TACT that his neighbor is human just
the same as he is.
THE boy who gets the idea that only
those admitted 20 the Eata Bita Pie
fraternity are fit 10 associate with
leaves school 70 start in life with a
handicap. The world will knock that
idea out Of him unless the frat idea
makes Of him a hopeless cad.
I'VE want Co turn out something bet
tor than cads"
DR.. Naxwells letter to school prir-
cipals ordering the enforcement OF the
rule says:
"The intention Of the bylaw is to
protibit the establishment or MAIN
tenance of any group Of high school
nupils as secret society, club or or
rarization The Greek letter fraterni-
ties and sororities are organizations
which fall under the ban Of this pro-
b.bition. The Arista. which is an hon
or society. is not 10 be classed as a
Greek letter society
Penalties To Be Imposed.
"The bylaw empowers the commit
tee on high schools and training
schools to impose penalties for the vio-
lation Of this rule by any pupil OF
group of pupils.
mittee on high schools and training
schools 20 notify the principals thaI
all Greek letter fraternitles and sor-
critics. whether local or chapters or
branches. and all secret societies OF a
similar character that may exist IN
any of the high schools of this city
snail tOfLlWllu I4Hbdhh "HN 'NA 49,
their charters or other authority IN
der which they nave been established
you will please give notice that any
pupils of the high schools who have
been members of such societies must
furnish assurance TO you that they
have withdrawn from their respective
societies. 49,,
III any such pupils in the high
schools shall persist in retaining mem,
bership in secret society and shall
decline to submit evidence of Withdraw
al satisfactory TO you, such pupils
shall be ineligible (a) % membership
in any honor society or organization
i'm the school; (b) to receive any schol,
astic honor in the school; (c) to hold
any school or class office; (d) TO par
ticipate in any school or class election,
or in any public school exercise or attn
letic contest.
"You are further directed to pro-
bibit the display of badges, banners or
symbols of any Greek letter society or
other similar secret society IN the hIgh
school building under your charge, or
at any school exercises or junction.
wherever held.
If it should be found necessary TO
send letter to parents Of pupil VINO
may have been members OF societies
prohibited by the bylaw, such a letter
VIII be printed for distribution