The New York herald., 1922-03-15
HIGH SCHOOL 'FRATS'
AGAIN UNDER FIRE
Principals Asked if Official
Recognition Should Be
Given by Board.
NOW EXIST SUB ROSA
Harry b. Chambers Suggests
Faculty Supervision Might
Be Introduced.

Recognition OF high school fratern-
titles. which have never ceased 70 exist
in most schools. although technically
barred by the Board OF Education, may
be brought about through question
naire which Harry B. Chambers, a new
member OF the Board, has had sent to
the high school principals.
The QUESTIONABLE was sent out on
Monday by A. Emerson Palmer, sec
retary of the Board II asks for in
formation on the advisability Of per-
hitting secret societies in the high
Edward c. Zabriskie. principal OF the
Washington Irving High School, said
last night:
IT have no opinion to express on the
question propounded, for the reason
that we have never had any practical
experience In Washington Irving High
School with fraternities. Hence I have
had no opportunity to form an opinion.
Ny belief lis that fraternities were large
ly confined to the boys of high schools
Arthur A. Boylan. principal of the
George Washington High School. said:
II think II would be a great mis-
tairs. perhaps, to allow legislation at this
time on this topic, but ! do feet thar
Z frank recognition of the fraternities
rirft to exist might be good. There
is now a bylaw prohibiting fraternities
In high schools. but as matter of fact
tho fraternities have never gone out oi
existence They have flourished in prac-
tical1y every high school in the city, so
that in effect we have been teaching the
Youngsters to evade a law by subter-
fuge-
s.The fraternity in itself does no harm
ana at the same time 1t does no good.
But these young animals are social ami
mails and will gather in groups. II
matters very little. in my opinion,
fraternity"
William L. Felter. principal OF the
Girls High School in Brooklyn. Will ad-
vance another view. He said:
Other cities took the lead in abolish
ing the secret societies and New York
followed them. The secret societies de-
veloped social butterflies and set of
snobs. We have had faculty supervision
and found that it did not work. The
fraternities can be abolished in any high
school IL some spneless principals Will
take a firm stand"
Gilbert J. Raynor Of Commercial High
School in Brooklyn asserted that the
fraternities are undesirable and "a ban
thing for students" He recalled, as did
Mr.. Boylan, that a few years ago. when
fraternities were recognized, a teacher
was assigned to each and sat In the
meetings Tie said these teachers be-
iieved the "frats' were undesirable.
Mr.. Chambers. who has been men
toned as a possibility for president Of
the Board of Education. says he has an
open mind on the question.
ct have not decided whether the fra
ternities should be permitted or not" he
said yesterday. 'They may work a lot
Of harm, but on the other hand. under
faculty supervision, that might not be
true. If they are to be permitted at all
IL certainly should be under supervision.
Some fraternity members asked me to
took into the matter and I thought the
hest way to investigate was to request
the opinions OF high school principals
who are betetr able TO judge than any
one else"