Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-11-20
HIGH SCHOOL FRAT
IS BEING WEIGHED
Proposal to Abolish Secret So
cieties Now Up for
Consideration.
SOME URGE REGULATION

Arrangements for a strong fight on
high school secret societies are being
completed today. The opponents of
high school ''frats' and sororities will
be given a hearing tomorrow afternoon
at 4 o'clock in the Franklin School by
the board of education's committee hav-
ing the matter in charge. This com
mittee is headed by William T. CALI
her
Inquiries made today showed that
Sc. 60. members of the board OF educa-
ton are opposed to the secret societies,
and that the opinions of school OH
Gals. teachers and officers of large
number Of home and school and sim
liar civic organizations are practically
unanimous that the high school secret
organizations are a menace to the
democracy of the school system and are
distinctly detrimental.
Politics in Glass Elections.
Officials of the Central. Eastern and
Mckinley Manual Training schools
freely admit that school fraternities
and sororities have played politics" in
class elections. elections of team cap
tains and in other balloting contests.
thereby causing no little friction and
trouble. The fact is also developed that
the "non-frat" boys and girls have also
effected temporary combinations to de-
feat fraternity members for office. and
that this has brought about similar
friction.
One point was raised by a number
of persons. to the effect that it is not
possible to abolish them entirely, and
that il would be better to recognize
an Yee lot "a fhnv han hor m m r
law the societies.
Delegates from several organiza-
lions are expected to appear at the
hearing tomorrow afternoon. at which
will present their side of the case. In
addition to this. teachers of the schools
Will appear and plead for the abolition
OF the secret societies.
Views on the Subject.
Here are the answers made by various
persons today to the question. DO you
think Washington high schools would be
better off without secret societies.
Members of the board of education
Mrs. Susie Root Rhodes-"They certainly
would be better off There are a number
OF students whose parents can afford
only shoes. clothes and text books for
them. The secret societies, to which these
heartaches We have no place for an
aristocrauc organization in our demo-
cratic schools
Mrs. Margarita S. Gerry: 81 do think
the high schools would be better off
without secret societies. In all the
discussions ] have ever heard j have
heard but one voice raised for them.
and that teacher admitted she was in
favor of them only because she saw
no way of abolishing them effectively.
81 feel definitely that they are a det-
riment to the schools. Adults might
stand out against such organizations.
but children have not the stamina to
do So
Rev. DR.. Van Schaick. president of the
board of education. could not he
reached today, as he was out of the
city. He said at the recent meeting of
the board of education, however. THAI
there are certain evils connected with
the fraternities which we will frankly
admit
Better Off Without Them.
Ernest H. Daniel, vice president of
the board of education, said: IT feel
that the high schoola would be better
off without the secret societies, but
as they are already here we can only
direct them in proper channels; to try
to make them an agency for good in
stead Of outlawing them"
John B. Larner: II haven't fully made
up my mind as yet
William T. Galliher, chairman of the
committee. said he did not wish to
make any statement in advance OF
what the committee might report.
Dr. j. Hayden Johnson: THE high
schools would surely he better off with
out secret societies. but | do not be
lieve they can be stamped out. They
should be put under faculty supervision
for a year or two and then. if this does
not prove satisfactory. we can try to
stamp them out entirely"
Fountain Peyton: Il haven't given
this matter as much consideration as
some other members of the committee.
but 1 think the societies should be per-
mitted under faculty supervision"
Mrs. Coralie +. Cook: I'VE should be
careful not to antagonize our young
people. In some places the fraternities
have worked untold mischief, but it
seems to me the teachers and parents
should be able to let the board of edu-
cation know when conditions were be-
coming bad here"
Ernest l.. Thurston, superintendent of
public schools, said he did not wish to
say anything at the present time on
the matter, fnasmuch as the board of
education has the proposition under
Supt. Thurston has spoken
against the fraternitfes
Oh other occasions. however. and il is
the officials directly under
him are also opposed to the traits.
Opinions of Outsiders.
Here are expressions of opinion from
persons not connected with the schools:
Mrs. William B. Hardy. president OF
the Council of Home and School Assoc
Citations of the District of Columbia
II am a charter member of the Zeta
Chapter of the Alpha Phi Sorority.
college organization. but these are en-
tirely different from high school bodies
am strongly opposed to high school
secret societies. and | do not believe