Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-02
ANT|-FRATERN|TY
PLEDGE IS ARGUED
Board of Education Commit
tee Fails to Reach Agree
-
ment on Disputed Moves.

Lack of complete agreement on the
merits Of the proposals to eliminate the
anti-fraternity pledge card system and
| to withhold school diplomas for
variety of offenses ranging from I'M
cleanliness of person to immortality. re-
suited in the failure of the Board OF
Education'S committee on rules to reach
any final agreement in its executive
session yesterday afternoon on these two
amendments to existing regulations.
While the seven principals OF the nlen
members of the rules committee tailed
to agree on the advisabihty OF tne
amendments, the absence OF dennite
recommendations at the conclusion OF
the SESSION did not in any way 1noicate
that raging controversy existed
within the school ranks at the session, IL
was indicated by school authorities To-
day.
Behind Closed Doors.
While no comment on the discussions
which took place behind closed doors
at the Franklin Administration Build
ing were forthcoming from the MEM
bers of the committee, it was learned
that the seven principals opened up
with complete franknesS on the meas
ures under discussion.
The anti-fraternity pledge card sys-
tenn. which has been vigorously opposed
by Henry L. Gilligan. board member.
drew particularly full argument yestei-
day, and after extended discussion an
effort was made to have the seven at
tending principals vote their opposi-
ton or favor to the system.
The attempt dwindled however, when
H. l. tAI ant NxYnlI
as difficult for them to give Yes"
or mo" answer to the question OF the
pledge cards as 1t would be for them
to reply in the same manner to such
a question as, Are you the only fool
in your house," The proposal spon-
sored by Mr.. Gilligan had called for
the elimination Of the present system
Of requiring high school students to sign
pledge cards to the effect they are not
members of any unapproved organiza-
tons and requiring further that these
cards be countersigned by their parents.
Parents Refusal Seen.
During the discussion yesterday 1t
was pointed out that the parents them
selves may refuse to sign these cards
and that in the opinion Of the commit
tee member who held this view the
school authorities could have no power
to compel them to af1ix their sigma
lures to the pledge.
Although after the meeting 1t was
announced that the consensus OF opin-
| ion had been obtained during the ses-
sion, It was indicated that the views Of
the principals themselves will prevail
in any future action which the school
board may decide to take concerning
the pledge cards.
Yesterdays consensus Of opinion did
not necessarily embrace agreement, but
rather the individual views Of the
PRINCIPALS. One school offlcer said to-
day that since the principals are the
men in the field, the problem Of admin
istering student activities was theirs,
and therefore their wishes should be
acquieSed to.
Would Add Difyiculty.
One principal yesterday said that If
pledge cards are eliminated the pro-
| cedure of determining which students
are members Of unappruved organiza-
tionS would be made materially more
difYicult and added that If the Board
of Education's specific rules require the
pledge card the method would be sim
| plified.
The proposal which Mrs. Philip Sid
ney Smith, board member. has made,
! asking that diplomas be withheld from
pupils guilty OF immoral conduct,
habitual hardness, uncleanliness of
person or clothing, unauthorized alb
| sence and other such offenSes, which
now are punishable by suspension from
| school. also was the subject Of much
discussion. AS in the case Of the anti
fraternity pledge cards, however, no
agreement was reached, either by the
principals or by the committee men,
| berS.
/ 1t was indicated after the meeting
that another session of the rules COM
nittee will be held before the regular
board meeting next Wednesday for the
| purpose OF framing recommendations
on both issues for the action Of the
board.
Besides Mr.. Gilligan, the members of
the rules committee who were present
included Isaac Cans and Mrs Mary
Mcneil. The principals who presented
their views were those of Central, East
ern, Western, Business, Mckinley, Dun
bar and Cardozo High Schools, O.
David Houston, principal of Armstrong
High School, was unable to be present