Evening star., 1923-04-19
SCHOOL BOARD 0. K.|
SAVES CLUB SUING.
Girls Organization Not Con-
neCted With Western High,
Is Decision.

The board of education yesterday
afternoon averted a legal test in
court of its authority to abolish fra
ternities and sororities in the high
schools when it approved the exist
ence Of the Sphinx Club, nine mem
bers of which are students at West
ern High School. In its decision. the
board held that the club is exclusive
1y social organization, and has no
direct connection with the public
schools. and therefore it's rules relat-
ing to the High School secret So
Cleties have 10 connection with the
club
Had the decision been unfavorable
to the club. it is understood that Err
nest Greenwood. whose daughter. a
student at Western, is member,
planned to test in the courts the
boards power to disapprove such or
ganizations. The boards favorable ac-
tion was due principally to the effortsof
Mr.. Greenwood.
Arguments Presented.
Activities Of the club were investi-
gated by the board at an executive
conference Monday night. at which
Mr.. Greenwood. and his attorney. Ed
ward 5. BrashearS. presented arsu-
ments in support of the organization.
Mr. Greenwood daughter was de-
clared Ineligible for dramatics at
Western more than year ago be-
cause of her connection with the club,
and since that time he has vigorously
&C nducted campaign for Its officia:
sanction by tie board.
The position of the board regarding
the club was outlined in the follow
Ing statement 1t adopted:
"On April 16. 1923. Mr. Ernest
Greenwood, whose daughter attends
the Western High School, and his at
tornev. Mr.. Edward S Brashears, ap-
peared before the members of the
board of education in conference to
discuss the relations of the Sphinx
Club, of which Mr.. Greenwood's
daughter is a member, to the rules
of the board of education as to ap-
proved and unapproyed organizations.
Mr.. Greenwood pointed out that he
appeared as d citizen and Il patron of
the Western High School, and was
speaking also for the fathers of the
other girls who belong to the Sphinx
Club
Characteristics Described.
Mr.. Greenwood described the es-
sential characteristics of the Sphinx
Club as follows: That it's member
ship consists of fifteen girls. nine of
whom at present are students in the
Western High School: that the actiY-
tiles OF the club are entirely social.
consisting of teas on Sunday after
moons, three dances per year and
certain amount of charitable work in
visiting of children's homes and hos
pitalS by its members; that all Of the
activities of the Sphinx Club are ap-
proved in advance and closely super
ViSed by some of the parents of the
girls; that dances are never held with
out chaperons; that the invitation list
is always revised and approved by
the parents and that dances are not
public; that the afternoon teas and
social gatherings OF the club are al
ways held in the homes of club mem
berS as the requirement of the social
graces and amenities sought are to be
had only through home surroundings.
since it appears that the Sphinx
Club consists of group of girls or
ganizcd exclusively for social pur-
poses; since it further appears tina
1T is adequately supervised by the
parents in their respective homes and
since it appears. by Mr.. Greenwood's S
positive averment, to have no direct
connection with the Western High
School, or with any other school. the
board of education is of the opinion
that the rules of the board of educa
tion relating to fraternities and So