The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-10-11

TIL, thought OF the society is rather
glory to itself than service to the indi-
viduals
I'm the school there Is more or less
feeling against what Is called the 'trat
crowd especially when there Is an cleo
ton among students or an opportunity
for appointment to some place OF honor
or trust. The belief that fraternity
members are combining for certain can
didates may be entirely imaginary. but
such belief is nearly as harmful in its
effect on the school as though 1t were
true. 1t has been claimed that fraterni-
ties are of value because the members
are associated under wise leadership.
but sometimes the leadership Is not
wise. or. as l think more often happens.
there is lack of leadership. What might
have been useful becomes positively
harmful Ha bits are formed and ex-
cesses are INDUCED in. to the injury of
the boy and the regret of his parents.
In my judgment there can be no
adequate faculty supervision because
the school has no real authority"
Michael II. Lucey. Julia Richman
High School. Manhattan, said he was
opposed to secret societies in high
schools "even If they are subject to
faculty supervision" Stuart II. Rowe
of the Wadleigh High School, Manhat-
tan. said: 1T has taken tremendous
amount Of hard work to thoroughly rid
the schools of the snobbishness which Is
associated with secret societies. 4.
1t Is not necessary to have a society
secret to have good, live social or
ganization." To Francis II. j. Paul or
De Witt Clinton High School. Manhat-
tan, it seemed that the existence of the
secret orders under attempted faculty
supervision would mean that the edu-
cational authorities approved the crea-
ton and emphasis of undesirable class
distinctions"
Fraternities Flourish.
Ernest r. Won Nardrofr. Stuyvesant
High School, Manhattan, thus expressed
himself: II have always felt that. on the
whole, student fraternities are perni-
cious influence in high schools and
should be given no encouragement what
soe,er. I realize that 1t is quite impos-
sible to stamp them out completely, as
it Is quite easy for pupils to conceal
the facts as to the fraternity Affiliations
On the other hand, it is quite unneces-
sary for the school to give fraternities
any helpful recognition or sanction"
Edward c.. Zabriskie, Washington
Irving High School, Manhattan, deemed
1t quite possible" for the fraternities to
be 'the means of developing closer
friendships amongt mutually congenial
students along worthy lines" IL spon-
sored and supervised by school facul-
ty He said secret societies never had
existed in Washington Irving so far as
he had any knowledge.
Arthur A. Boylan, George Washington
High School. Manhattan, conceded that
unsupervised fraternities developed vi
cious tendencies but added THE attempt
to prohibim our public school boys from
seeking admission to fraternities is un-
wise. Since 1914 this prohibition has
been in effect and yet during the last
eight years fraternities have flourished
in our schools. To continue such prohi-
bition is to encourage our boys to evade
the law. would strongly urge that high
school fraternities be permitted to exist
subject to faculty supervision"
Brooklyn. incubator for several Of the
boy and girl Greek letter societies, gave
this testimony:
Milo F. Mcdonald Of Bushwick High
School: 1.-The experience Of secondary
school principals throughout the country
has proved conclusively, to my mind,
that the high school fraternity Is opposed
to the best interests OF the schools and
of the students. ] do not believe that
faculty supervision of secret societies
would solve the problem. They are fun
damentally wrong, thoroughly undemo-
cratic and should be combated."
William r. Vlyman, Eastern District
High School: I'm my judgment such So
cieties should not be permitted In the
high school. Any endeavor to have them
and to keep them under supervision has