Omaha daily bee., 1917-11-09
LINCOLN TEACHER
SCORES GREEKS IN
HIGH SCHOOL LIFE
Miss Olivia Pound Says They
Lead to Many Evils and Prove
Setback to Schools 0rdi-
nary Activities.

Miss Olivia Pound, advisor OF girls
Lincoln High school, severely ar.
raigned fraternities in high schools in
an address yesterday afternoon before
the high school section of the Ne
braska State Teachers association at
Hotel Fontenelle.
1t is impossible to find any excuse
for these fraternities when tested by
the standards applied to other organi-
zations of high schools" she said.
Her conclusions were based upon an
analysis of reports made by 80 high
schools to which questionaires had
been sent.
Lead to Many Evils.
These secret societies." she con-
tinued. lead to cigarette smoking
among the membership. They do not
tend to lead toward health training
nor home training. The atmosphere
OF these organizations are decidedly
immoral. They have all of the faults
of the college fraternities with none
of the good qualities. They set up
false standards of society and my
investigation has shown that smem-
bers of these societies, because of
such membership are less competent
to enter business life. In group OF
l2o boys who were members of fra
ternities there were twice as many
failures as among a like number of
boys belonging to other high school
societies. will quote a few state
ments by high school on the subject
of fraternites:
They are an abomination.'
I'VE have none, praise Jehovah
I'VE can not ignore them and en-
dure.'
"'TShey are undemocratic and set up
false standards of life"
Other Activities Suffer.
In conclusion, on this phase OF her
discussion. she said:
High school fraternities knock
other activities and seldom throw
themselves whole-heartedly into
school projects. They stand in the
way Of giving their members the
benefits Of true civic training Of
school life."
She commended student council
activities as helpful and declared that
pupils may learn citizenship by
practicing it at high school.
She cited Los Angeles high schools
as exemplary in the obtainment of |
discipline through student councils |
operated on the plan of the city COM
missioner form OF government.
Student activities that do not tend
10 ideal citizenship have no place in
! high school. The aim OF high
school education should be to pre-
pare the pupil to be a well-rounded
Individual who will intelligently as
sumo his share of responsibility in
he affairs of his country. she added.
Superintendent A., ]. Stoddard of
Beatrice expressed his belief that
social program In high
school would tend to displacc the OBJ
cctionable fraternities.
Masters for Council.
Principal Masters OF Omaha Cen.
raj High school recommended the
tudent council idea, which permits
'oys and girls to share responsibilities
4 school government.
1T Is time to consider q construe-
I've social policy for our high schools.
The social instinct of the adolescent
eriod must be needed. The high
chool period is part of life itself,
8 well as being a preparation for
fe, said Principal Frank 6. Pickrell
{ Lincoln.
Principal A. r. Congdon OF Free
iont agreed that many high school
ocieties breed snobbishness.
The high school section elected
'rincipal Congdon president and
dwight E. Porter, principal OF Oma-
a High School Of Commerce, secre-
ary.