Evening star., 1922-01-07
SCHOOL SOCIETIES
WIDELY OPPOSED
Dr.. BaIlou Says Inquiry Has
Shown That Some vio-
late Laws.

Opposition to fraternities and soroh-
ties in the high schools is not only local,
but virtually nationwide. according to
DR.. Frank w. Ballou, superintendent
Of sc;loolA who has just completed an
extensive inquiry relative to high
school secret societies in other Sec
tions Of tho country.
Tho superintendent pointed this out
In q statement he sent today to fra
tsrAity and soroity chapters in the
washington high schools, in which he
makes 1t plain that there are but two
ways IN which tho secret organiza-
tions can gain the approval Of school
authorities under the ruling Of the board
OF education Of last June 1.
Forbidden in Ten States.
"some significant facts have been
brought to light as result Of the super.
intendent's inquiry about high school
fraternitieS elsewhere" said tho state
ment State superintendents of schools
ana city superintendents are as q rule
vigorously opposed to high school fra
tsrnities and sororities. Not q single
superintendent has been found who Is
in favor Of high school fraternities and
sororities.
'Of the twenty-six states from which
information has been secured to date.
ten have passed laws forbidding the
existence of high school fratenities
and sororities. Nevertheless. high
school fraternities and sororities now
exist In hve of these states. in VIOLA
tton Of state laws. In addition,
fraternities and sororities also exist
where the rules of the board of edu-
cation now forbid their existence"
Dr.. Ballou emphasized that he be-
feves the membership on the part Of
Oh
organization is clearly inimical to the
inculcation in high school boys and
girls Of proper respect for law and
Tor duly constituted authority. Ac-
cordingly, the superintendent will not
approve any chapter Of q high school
oranch or chapter Of a fraternity
exists clandestinely or openly in VIOLA
ton OF the law or in opposition to
duly constituted authority.
Requirement N to Control.
Moreover. DR.. Ballou believes that
no organization should be approved
that is not controlled and directed by
persons who are members Of the pub
lie school system. The school board,
desire to exercise control over mem
bers OF organizations when they are
not public school pupils.
II fraternfties and soroities desire
to be approved, they must divest
themselves Of these distinguishing
that. il approved. neither the public
nor the student body will consider
that the board Of education has in
dorsed or approved fraternities or
sororities as such," said DR.. Ballou's
statement.
Two ways appear to be open to
fraternities and sororities that desire
nj hn rnr1HI
thorities of the District of Columbia.
The first is complete withdrawal of all
local chapters from affiliation with
any national high school fraternity
or sorority. their entire organization
In accordance with the rules of the
board OF education and their super
vision by school authorities.
The other way involves q complete
reorganization of the national IRA
ternities and sororities themselves
until they and their chapters in vari-
GUS parts of the country meet with
wherever such chapters exist"
Awaits Developments.
DR.. BalIou said that several fra
approval of school authorities have
materially modified their bylaws and
methods of procedure. While modifi-
cations make these organizations less
Objectionable than formerly, never
theless these changes leave such or
ganizations as chapters of national
fraternities. The extent to which
these local chapters would be allow
ed. II approved, to carry on their
activities in accordance with the
spirit Of the revised bylaws without
direction or interference from ma
tional organizations, he said. is a
question which only time could an
swer.
Fraternity heads express the opin-
ion that the national organizations
could hardly agree to the modifica-
tions proposed by DR.. Ballou.