New Britain herald., 1921-06-11
DIPLOMAS GF H. 5.
 BOYS ARE WITHHELD
School Board May Also Act to
 Suppress FraternitieS

| meeting of the school board yesterday | afternoon on the recommendatin of | Capt Clark that the diplomas of three seniors at the High school be withheld until next September. The boys "funked" in military training. An | nouncement by the authorities that the | young men would not be allowed to | graduate caused their parents to take up the matter with the High school authorities, and as a result the school board was asked to make a final threshing. Supt. Holmes was informed by the principal at the school that the parents of the boys had not been warned that the youths were not pass ihg their subjects. as is the procedure | in other subjects, and he admitted to the board that that was the only weak l point in the committees argument for upholding the captain. The youths will receive their diplomas next Sep tember. If their conduct warrants such action, they will not be required | to return for another term but will be privately awarded the certificate of the school.
 In a statement as to why the boys were not to receive diplomas, Supt Holmes remarked that they had been deficient in military science, consist ing of insolence, insubordination, fail ure to attend drills. failure to be prop erly uniformed and a general insolent attitude"
 Supt. Holmes warned the members of the commission that they have made an agreement with the govern ment which they are bound to respect. He was not in favor of the recom- | mendation to take away from the boys their chance to graduate. but he felt that the diploma should be with held for a probationary period. The point had been raised by the parents | of the youths. he said. that deficiency | cards had not been sent out.
 A communication was received from Principal Louis F.. Slade of the High school. asking that the school rules relative to fraternities be amended with the addition of a set of rules which he proposed. Tn sub- stance the amendments would give the principal greater discretionary powers in determining what a fra I etrnity was, who were its members and what punishment should be in- | ficted for violation of the rules Fraternities have been barred at the | school for several years, it being felt that they were undemocratic and have a bad influence. Pupils who are known to be identified with one on the organizations are barred from participation in the activities of their class with the exception of regular class recitations.
 Commissioner H. H. Pease felt that fraternities, properly supervised, were a good influence. He favored having a mark in class set as a qualification for entrance into a fraternity. Under those conditions, the dangers of up- town club rooms would be eliminated, he explained.
 Mrs. A. c. Kimball felt that fra ternities. if they are to exist. should have the proper supervision by school authorities.
 Because of a school com mittee ruling which required 30 day lapse between the introduction and the adoption of changes in rules, the matter was continued until the next | meeting.
 The school accommodations com mittee recommended that the Nathan Hale school contract for furnishings, amounting to s1S.543. be let to John A. Andrews. B. c. Porter Sons, J. NJ Curtin & Sons. and the Adkins Print ing company.
 Summer school classes will con- vene five days a week. The principal will receive $500 a day and the teachers s2.25, the committee re- ported.
 Miss Avis Kemp was named head of the school attendance bureau to succeed Miss Mary Campbell, who is to be principal of the Nathan Hale school.
 A request was made by the Swedish Lutheran summer school for the use Of room in the Grammar school during the month of July. The matter was referred to the finance committee with power
 The following teachers were elected: Junior High school. Miss Clara Powell and Miss Elizabeth Smedley for commercial subjects: Miss Leah Adelman. general science; Miss Kathryn Andrews for art in the | elementary prades