The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-02
Expulsion Will Be Penalty If
Other Methods Fail.
ENCOURAGE LAW VIOLATION
Lit Is Said That Parents Cater
to Whims of Pupils.
Board Would Legalize the Use
Supplementary Books.

The Topeka school authorities ex-
pect to take steps to weed out the
fraternities, and will go to the limit
expulsion or Withholding diplomas
necessary in accom- pIishing the end 1t
is hoped that no drastic method VIII
be necessary. At the regular March
meeting of the school board Monday
night a resolution was passed wnlcn
took slap at the fraternitieS- 1t
gives fair warning to students as TO
what they may expect II they persist
in their connection with secret organ
H b. Wilson. superintendent of
schools. would not state just what
steps will be taken in the near future
but he intimated that aggressive ac-
ton will be taken to stamp out the
''frats'' which are said TO be running
full blast in violation of the state law
Cat and Dried
The action taken Monday night was
a '-cut and dried affair; there was
no discussion relative to the fraternity
problem. All the arguments NAG oeen
brought out in star chamber con-
ference in order that the various oplh-
ions of the board members would not
be AIRED through the newspapers
After all it is up to the parents,
said l.. NJ. Penwell, member OF tne
board. after the meeting If father
encourages law violation do you sup
nose that his son Will refrain from as
sociating himself with fraternity
no. certainly not" 1t has even oeeh
minated that sons OF two Supreirle
court mem erS are associated WIN
fra ernities in violation of the law
Teunlor even has it that one member
of the supreme bench encouraged one
of these secret organizations by par
tioipation in an initiation But it may
all be hearsay- GOSSIP spreaCs Ike d
ripple cn 4 still pond.
Pins Are Worn.
Fraternity and sorority parties have
been held in the last few months, and
-
conspicuous places, however. H. b
Wilson, superintendent of schools. ad-
mitted that the list of the class or
January IS members was not given
ont until recently for publication be-
cause there was some doubt as TO
whether certain mem bers should be
allowed to graduate because OF their
connection with secret organizations
In the future il is proba BILE that those
who are known to be connected with
a fraternity or sorority will be barred
from graduation
Resolution Passed by Board.
The resolution passed by the school
board follows:
Resolved. That in the interest of
absolute fairness TO the high school
students concerned and to their par
ents as we'll. the board hereby directs
that the superintendent of schools
and the principal of the high school
proceed in their disciplining of mem
bers of secret organizations in such
way that all may be fully advised that
further persistence as members in any
such organizatiO will result in the
boards ultimately invoking the full
penalty against such students permit
ted under the law, namely, expulsion
from the rights and privileges of the
high school"
State Law on "Frats.''
Here is the state law on high school
frats:
at shall be unlawful for the pupils
of any high school to participate in or
secret orga nization whatsoever that is
in any degree a school organization.
Any board of education or board of
trustees of county high schools are
hereby authorized and empowered to
deny to any students regularly enroll
ed in such high school, who shall Vio-
late section l of this act, any or all
of the privileges of such high school,
or TO eXpel such student for failure
or refusal to comply with the require
ments of this act
Want Supplementary Books.
The following resolution, which is
self explanatory, was passed by the
board:
Resolved. That we, the board of
education of Topeka, Kan, in regu-
lar monthly session, hereby urge the
enactment of legislation more def
nitely specifying the books that may
be used in the public high schools and
authorizing the purchase of such sup
Elementary books as are needed in the
elementary schools.
When her attention was called to
this resolution today. DR.. Eva Hard
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