Evening star., 1938-05-08

Exist Today, Recognized
by Teachers and
Board.

victory. 1t was mentioned early in
the dispute and became the stand Of
the third group, or second minority.
who were neither for the extermina-
ton nor continuation of the societies.
They favored their continuation-but
under restrictions and regulations by
the school, This argument Of theirs
was once quoted as follows: The
question of just how far the schools
can go toward abolishing them is one
of the angles in the question which
has to be considered"
It is doubtful, however. that many
Of that minority had the foresight to
predict the boards ruling wouldn't be
successful. Rather they were in favor
of the restrictions as compromise.
According to the boards edict. expul-
sion from school was set as the PEN
atty for belonging to one Of the organ
izations. Certainly there were few
persons. though, who imagined that
pupils would dare disobey SO strict an
order.
In less than two months the Frat
Committee. whose duties were thought
to have been finished, was forced to
convene again to meet situation OF
hushed revolt in the schools. The
board ruling allowed those who already
belonged to continue as members, but
prohibited them from pledging pros
pective new members. Accordingly, in
two years all the members would have
graduated, and the fraternities would
have died natural death. However.
they were still pledging under the
guise of Sunday school organizations
or school clubs. The committees an
swer was threat of revoking the two
year period of grace.
Plans were devised to provide sub
stitutes for the societies. Clubs were
organized to cover the varied interests
of the students Except perhaps sociaD.
But violation continued for four years.
On the evening of February 81, 1918,
an article appeared in The Star an
nouncing that another meeting on
secret societies would be held by the
Board Of Education. A member OF
the board was quoted as saying that
the board was cognizant of the active
ness of the frats. No action was taken
however, and the question remained
dormant until 1921.
Despite the action of the board
high school fraternities and sororities
continued to exist and do exist at the
present time" Those are the words
which DR.. Frank w. Ballou, superin-
tendent of schools, used in his report
to the board on June l, 1921, intro
ducing q new plan in regard to the
secret societies. The public wasn't
aware of the continued existence of the
societies. but when traffic was held ur
on downtown F street while sorority
initiates calmly performed their antics
they laughed.
DR.. Ballou had been personally con-
Quoting a survey into the question
however, In other cities as we'll as
Washington. Finally, he drew up re-
port in which he recommended re-
scinding the 1916 edict and the substi-
tuition of rule whereby all fraternity
and sorority members would be barred
from positions and honors in the
schools. In the wording of the report
membership in an organization which
has not been approved by the super
intendent Of schools Is forbidden" A
procedure was drafted whereby to be
approved an organization must submit
its constitution, bylaws and member
ship roster for approval. This pro-
vision was meant to apply to school
clubs, though, and to differentiate such
organizations from the secret societies
The report was accepted by the board
and put in effect.
In 1925 high school teacher was
shopping when she happened upon q
familiar group Of faces displayed in a
photographers studio. The photo was
labeled as such-and-such fraternity.
yet she recognized every one of the
boys as her pupils. It developed that
they all held various positions in the
school, too, such as cadet commits
sions and places on the athletic teams.
When their honors were revoked more
than 40 other pupils In the same
school voluntarily admitted member
ship in other fraternities and sorori-
ties. Then, while the faculty and ON
cials were criticizing this dishonesty
more and more confessions came in
to the principals and the board. Whole
groups Of students would 60 to their
principals ONCE together to be stripped
Of their honors. The final count was
about $50, leaving the athletic teauaa