Ninety-nine years ago, all but two of the current twenty-six member organizations of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) had been formed; Sigma Delta Tau and Delta Phi Epsilon would be born in 1917. And, in this very month ninety-nine years ago, this growing umbrella organization decided NOT to give bids to girls who had been members of high school sororities. From Alpha Phi, a member of the NPC in 1914, we read that the NPC "... decreed that no fraternity represented in its ranks shall bid any person who accepts or retains membership in a high school fraternity after September, 1915."
High school authorities were trying to ban fraternities and sororities, and the NPC felt it was doing its best to support this endeavor, because the NPC did not agree with the purpose of high school Greeks. " Because of this widespread legislation and evident confusion by the public of the high school ands Greek-letter college fraternities, it seems best to aid high school authorities in exterminating this undemocratic influence in the secondary schools."
In 1921, NPC annulled this law. The Trident of Delta Delta Delta hinted that this action may have been brought about by the unpopularity of the original ruling. "All fraternity officers whose duty it has been for the past five years to enforce N.P.C. ruling against members of high school sororities, welcomed the repeal of the statute by the 17th Congress." Among the reasons cited included the rumor that "...national officers sometimes condoned evasions of the rules." Parents, legacies of collegiate Greek-letter fraternities, risked their daughters losing the chance to rush a college sorority had they joined one in high school; "...ruling caused hardship to individuals, debarring them from real fraternity life, from life- long alumnae associations, that it caused some hardship to a few chapters, some misunderstanding..." .
Some NPC sororities began at schools in what would now be considered, and very often shortly after the sororities' beginnings, high schools. Beta Sigma Omicron, whose history was explored in this blog, is one defunct NPC sorority who started at secondary schools and two-year colleges before entrance into the four-year college and the NPC.
HIGH SCHOOL GREEKS NOT POPULAR WITH COLLEGE GREEKS
At the time of the NPC's ban on bids to high school sorores, newspapers reported on the problems within such high school groups.In 1908, fraternity and sorority members were speaking out against their high school counterparts. "The sororities have been trying for several years to pass a general rule against high school sororities. What they will probably do in a few years is pass a rule like this: ' No sorority will pledge a girl after four years from this date who has been a member of a high school sorority.' That will knock them. If a girl in high school knows that if she joins a high school sorority she will be ineligible to join a college sorority, she will stay out of the high school affair.' "
SCHOOLS WORK TO BAN HIGH SCHOOL GREEKS
In May 1910, Bridgeport Education Board (Connecticut) banned all fraternities and sororities after a pledge of Alpha Alpha Sorority at Bridgeport HS was injured in February during the group's ten-year old initiation rite.
However, high school sororities continued, regardless of their legal status. California had banned high school fraternities and sororities, but in May 1929, a pledge of a sorority in Long Beach was bedridden for two days after her initiation ceremony, prompting school authorities to suspend the sorority members and the pledge for ten days.
The District of Columbia began measures to ban its high school groups as early as 1916, but as of 1921, the groups still existed.
In May 1930, a fourteen-year old girl in Lakeland, Florida fell into a well while walking around blind-folded during her sorority's initiation rite. Clearwater, Florida banned high school fraternities and sororities in October 1941, prompting Phi Alpha Kappa sorority to close after eleven years of activity.
In 1942, tragedy struck White Plains High School in New York, when a sorority sister committed suicide after her younger sister was to be denied membership; this prompted parents and civic officials to rethink the status of high school fraternities and sororities.
GREEK ISSUE STILL DIVISIVE MID-CENTURY
Beginning in the 1955- 1956 school year, new students who joined fraternities or sororities at Palm Beach High School (Florida) would be not be allowed to join other organizations, ex. cheerleader team, Quill and Scroll, etc.
In its What Young People Think feature, the Lewiston Morning Tribune reported on teenagers' feelings about high school fraternities and sororities. Students were strongly divided among the pro- and anti- camps. One student declared " ' It's the do-gooders and creeps who hate fraternities and sororities. These groups are an important part of high school life and should be strengthened rather than outlawed." Those against high school Greeks stated that these organizations " 'build up a sense of inferiority in people not invited to join.' " Lamented a fourteen-year old girl from Florida: " ' The sorority sisters at my school are a bunch of phonies.' " A girl from Chicago: " ' The sororities are too clannish for my tastes. Even if they control most of the school events, I feel I am better off steering clear of them. ' " The article continued the debate, with one sorority sister mentioning how her group fixes up girls with boys who otherwise wouldn't have dates, thereby giving the girls confidence; fraternity boys discussed the feeling of camaraderie among members.
Dr. George W. Crane dedicated an entire column to the teenagers' woes in mid-century America, determining that "[m]any teen-agers stampede like sheep. If everybody seems to be joining a high school sorority or fraternity, then they feel it is a life or death matter. Actually, psychologists veto high school fraternities and sororities. For they are juvenile evidences of social egotism."
Advice columnist Ann Landers was not a fan of high school sororities. In her November 3, 1960 column, she answered the complaint of a mother who found that these sororities promote exclusivity with their members flashing their secret hand signs in front of non-members. Ann began her response, "Most public high schools have abolished social sororities. The few remaining ones will probably fold when they catch up with the rest of the democratic, civilized world." Ann then declared that high school sororities give girls a "false sense" of superiority.
On August 20, 1962, Ann responded to the mother of a high school sorority member who felt insulted that a pledge's mom insinuated an event would be in poor taste; the mother of the sorority girl wanted Ann's support. However, Ann felt differently - "Sorry, I don't agree with any part of it- beginning with high school sororities, which I abhor." In October, a very angry alumna of a high school sorority lambasted Ann for "vicious and irresponsible remarks" about sororities, demanding to know why Ann hated these organizations. Ann's response, in part - " I am violently opposed to high school clubs which can deny membership to students for reasons other than scholastic standing. In my opinion, no organization should be tolerated in a tax-supported high school which can discriminate against a student because he is not white, Protestant, good-looking, well-dressed, or because he does not live in the 'right' part of town."
While high school fraternities and sororities died out by the 1970's, some hung around well into the 1980s. A certain area of Florida had at least two sororities. Long Beach Public Schools had a number of groups, albeit underground, as late as 1987.
THE POSITIVE SIDE
High school sororities could also be very positive.One good piece of evidence showing the happy memories of a high school sorority from 1969 is here. The Delta Phi Omega's look back on their sorority days with incredulity- "Whatever were we thinking!?" Still, there is no sense of animosity toward any sister who may have put their pledge through a few too many hi-jinks.
There were many successful national and regional sororities, too. Jewish teenagers found their homes in one of several Greek-letter sororities: Iota Phi, Iota Gamma Phi, Phi Alpha Lambda (Lammies), Sigma Theta Pi, Tau Epsilon Chi. Currently, per wikipedia, Sigma Alpha Rho fraternity organizes its girls into Tau Epsilon Chi, Eta Pi or Zeta Gamma Phi sororities Episcopal girls joined Tau Delta Alpha, which is now defunct.
Delta Beta Sigma is in its 100th year of existence. Nu Gamma Delta is almost twenty years old, and is a "Musical Sorority". Beta Delta Tau was founded in 2004 in Baton Rouge and is still active.
Interestingly, several national and regional philanthropic, community-based sororities started as high school groups:
Delta Theta Tau began in Muncie, Indiana, in 1903, with five high school girls.
Tri Kappa started in 1901 in Indianapolis with seven young ladies at the Girls Classical School. This sorority exists only within the boundaries of the state of Indiana.
Kappa Kappa Sigma, first the Kopy Kat Klub at Arsenal Technical in 1915, became Kappa Koi Ker in 1917, then took on its current Greek-letter name.
Omega Nu started as "a small high school sorority" in San Jose, California, with five founding members, on February 16, 1897.
Phi Beta Psi started in Columbus, Ohio, in 1904, by six girls from North High School.
Not much information is given about the founders of Psi Delta Sigma , except that they were in their late teens when they created their sorority in California in 1921.
Psi Iota Xi was founded by five girls and three teachers at Central High School in Muncie on September 19, 1897. It is considered to be the first of its kind in Indiana.
Sigma Alpha formed at Chicago's Longwood Academy in 1913, with five girls as founders.
Of interest:
Mississippi
http://www.mscode.com/free/statutes/37/011/0043.htm
Missouri
http://www.moga.mo.gov/statuteSearch/StatHtml/1710000141.htm
References
Ballot, Frank W. High School Fraternities and Sororities. School Life (ed. James T. Boykin), vol. VII, Sept. 1921- Dec. 1921
Gilbert, Eugene. Half of U.S. Youths Favor High School Fraternities, But Few Actually Join. Lewiston Morning Tribune, Sept. 8, 1957, p. 5.
Landers, Ann. High School Sororities Hit. Spokane Daily Chronicle, Nov. 3, 1960, p. 45.
Landers, Ann. Ann Landers Answers Your Problems. Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, Aug. 20, 1962, p. 7.
McLeod, Paul. Sororities and Fraternities: " In" Groups Again, but Underground. The Los Angeles Times, Aug. 1. 1987. http://articles.latimes.com/1987-08-01/local/me-40_1_group-pictures
Mills, Margie. Omega Nu Celebrates Service to Communities. The Union-Democrat, Apr. 30, 1997, p. 3A.
The Alpha Phi Quarterly. The High School Fraternity. pp. 175- 176. January 1915.
Boston Evening Telegraph. High School Frats Selfish- That Is the Opinion of a College Fraternity Member. September 9, 1908, p. 5
The Trident of Delta Delta Delta. N.P.C. and H.S. Legislation. pp. 149 - 151. November 1921.
The New York Times. Abolishes Secret Societies: Bridgeport Education Board Acts- Sequel to Hazing Miss Clark. May 3, 1910. Special to the New York Times.
Owosso Argus Press. Sorority Candidate Falls Into Well But Ingenuity Saves Her. May 19, 1930, p. 1.
San Jose News. Long Beach Board Ponders on High School Paddling. May 15, 1929. p. 22
copyright 2013, womensfraternities.com
High school authorities were trying to ban fraternities and sororities, and the NPC felt it was doing its best to support this endeavor, because the NPC did not agree with the purpose of high school Greeks. " Because of this widespread legislation and evident confusion by the public of the high school ands Greek-letter college fraternities, it seems best to aid high school authorities in exterminating this undemocratic influence in the secondary schools."
In 1921, NPC annulled this law. The Trident of Delta Delta Delta hinted that this action may have been brought about by the unpopularity of the original ruling. "All fraternity officers whose duty it has been for the past five years to enforce N.P.C. ruling against members of high school sororities, welcomed the repeal of the statute by the 17th Congress." Among the reasons cited included the rumor that "...national officers sometimes condoned evasions of the rules." Parents, legacies of collegiate Greek-letter fraternities, risked their daughters losing the chance to rush a college sorority had they joined one in high school; "...ruling caused hardship to individuals, debarring them from real fraternity life, from life- long alumnae associations, that it caused some hardship to a few chapters, some misunderstanding..." .
Some NPC sororities began at schools in what would now be considered, and very often shortly after the sororities' beginnings, high schools. Beta Sigma Omicron, whose history was explored in this blog, is one defunct NPC sorority who started at secondary schools and two-year colleges before entrance into the four-year college and the NPC.
HIGH SCHOOL GREEKS NOT POPULAR WITH COLLEGE GREEKS
At the time of the NPC's ban on bids to high school sorores, newspapers reported on the problems within such high school groups.In 1908, fraternity and sorority members were speaking out against their high school counterparts. "The sororities have been trying for several years to pass a general rule against high school sororities. What they will probably do in a few years is pass a rule like this: ' No sorority will pledge a girl after four years from this date who has been a member of a high school sorority.' That will knock them. If a girl in high school knows that if she joins a high school sorority she will be ineligible to join a college sorority, she will stay out of the high school affair.' "
SCHOOLS WORK TO BAN HIGH SCHOOL GREEKS
In May 1910, Bridgeport Education Board (Connecticut) banned all fraternities and sororities after a pledge of Alpha Alpha Sorority at Bridgeport HS was injured in February during the group's ten-year old initiation rite.
However, high school sororities continued, regardless of their legal status. California had banned high school fraternities and sororities, but in May 1929, a pledge of a sorority in Long Beach was bedridden for two days after her initiation ceremony, prompting school authorities to suspend the sorority members and the pledge for ten days.
The District of Columbia began measures to ban its high school groups as early as 1916, but as of 1921, the groups still existed.
In May 1930, a fourteen-year old girl in Lakeland, Florida fell into a well while walking around blind-folded during her sorority's initiation rite. Clearwater, Florida banned high school fraternities and sororities in October 1941, prompting Phi Alpha Kappa sorority to close after eleven years of activity.
In 1942, tragedy struck White Plains High School in New York, when a sorority sister committed suicide after her younger sister was to be denied membership; this prompted parents and civic officials to rethink the status of high school fraternities and sororities.
GREEK ISSUE STILL DIVISIVE MID-CENTURY
Beginning in the 1955- 1956 school year, new students who joined fraternities or sororities at Palm Beach High School (Florida) would be not be allowed to join other organizations, ex. cheerleader team, Quill and Scroll, etc.
In its What Young People Think feature, the Lewiston Morning Tribune reported on teenagers' feelings about high school fraternities and sororities. Students were strongly divided among the pro- and anti- camps. One student declared " ' It's the do-gooders and creeps who hate fraternities and sororities. These groups are an important part of high school life and should be strengthened rather than outlawed." Those against high school Greeks stated that these organizations " 'build up a sense of inferiority in people not invited to join.' " Lamented a fourteen-year old girl from Florida: " ' The sorority sisters at my school are a bunch of phonies.' " A girl from Chicago: " ' The sororities are too clannish for my tastes. Even if they control most of the school events, I feel I am better off steering clear of them. ' " The article continued the debate, with one sorority sister mentioning how her group fixes up girls with boys who otherwise wouldn't have dates, thereby giving the girls confidence; fraternity boys discussed the feeling of camaraderie among members.
Dr. George W. Crane dedicated an entire column to the teenagers' woes in mid-century America, determining that "[m]any teen-agers stampede like sheep. If everybody seems to be joining a high school sorority or fraternity, then they feel it is a life or death matter. Actually, psychologists veto high school fraternities and sororities. For they are juvenile evidences of social egotism."
Advice columnist Ann Landers was not a fan of high school sororities. In her November 3, 1960 column, she answered the complaint of a mother who found that these sororities promote exclusivity with their members flashing their secret hand signs in front of non-members. Ann began her response, "Most public high schools have abolished social sororities. The few remaining ones will probably fold when they catch up with the rest of the democratic, civilized world." Ann then declared that high school sororities give girls a "false sense" of superiority.
On August 20, 1962, Ann responded to the mother of a high school sorority member who felt insulted that a pledge's mom insinuated an event would be in poor taste; the mother of the sorority girl wanted Ann's support. However, Ann felt differently - "Sorry, I don't agree with any part of it- beginning with high school sororities, which I abhor." In October, a very angry alumna of a high school sorority lambasted Ann for "vicious and irresponsible remarks" about sororities, demanding to know why Ann hated these organizations. Ann's response, in part - " I am violently opposed to high school clubs which can deny membership to students for reasons other than scholastic standing. In my opinion, no organization should be tolerated in a tax-supported high school which can discriminate against a student because he is not white, Protestant, good-looking, well-dressed, or because he does not live in the 'right' part of town."
While high school fraternities and sororities died out by the 1970's, some hung around well into the 1980s. A certain area of Florida had at least two sororities. Long Beach Public Schools had a number of groups, albeit underground, as late as 1987.
THE POSITIVE SIDE
High school sororities could also be very positive.One good piece of evidence showing the happy memories of a high school sorority from 1969 is here. The Delta Phi Omega's look back on their sorority days with incredulity- "Whatever were we thinking!?" Still, there is no sense of animosity toward any sister who may have put their pledge through a few too many hi-jinks.
There were many successful national and regional sororities, too. Jewish teenagers found their homes in one of several Greek-letter sororities: Iota Phi, Iota Gamma Phi, Phi Alpha Lambda (Lammies), Sigma Theta Pi, Tau Epsilon Chi. Currently, per wikipedia, Sigma Alpha Rho fraternity organizes its girls into Tau Epsilon Chi, Eta Pi or Zeta Gamma Phi sororities Episcopal girls joined Tau Delta Alpha, which is now defunct.
Delta Beta Sigma is in its 100th year of existence. Nu Gamma Delta is almost twenty years old, and is a "Musical Sorority". Beta Delta Tau was founded in 2004 in Baton Rouge and is still active.
Interestingly, several national and regional philanthropic, community-based sororities started as high school groups:
Delta Theta Tau began in Muncie, Indiana, in 1903, with five high school girls.
Tri Kappa started in 1901 in Indianapolis with seven young ladies at the Girls Classical School. This sorority exists only within the boundaries of the state of Indiana.
Kappa Kappa Sigma, first the Kopy Kat Klub at Arsenal Technical in 1915, became Kappa Koi Ker in 1917, then took on its current Greek-letter name.
Omega Nu started as "a small high school sorority" in San Jose, California, with five founding members, on February 16, 1897.
Phi Beta Psi started in Columbus, Ohio, in 1904, by six girls from North High School.
Not much information is given about the founders of Psi Delta Sigma , except that they were in their late teens when they created their sorority in California in 1921.
Psi Iota Xi was founded by five girls and three teachers at Central High School in Muncie on September 19, 1897. It is considered to be the first of its kind in Indiana.
Sigma Alpha formed at Chicago's Longwood Academy in 1913, with five girls as founders.
Of interest:
Mississippi
http://www.mscode.com/free/statutes/37/011/0043.htm
Missouri
http://www.moga.mo.gov/statuteSearch/StatHtml/1710000141.htm
References
Ballot, Frank W. High School Fraternities and Sororities. School Life (ed. James T. Boykin), vol. VII, Sept. 1921- Dec. 1921
Gilbert, Eugene. Half of U.S. Youths Favor High School Fraternities, But Few Actually Join. Lewiston Morning Tribune, Sept. 8, 1957, p. 5.
Landers, Ann. High School Sororities Hit. Spokane Daily Chronicle, Nov. 3, 1960, p. 45.
Landers, Ann. Ann Landers Answers Your Problems. Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, Aug. 20, 1962, p. 7.
McLeod, Paul. Sororities and Fraternities: " In" Groups Again, but Underground. The Los Angeles Times, Aug. 1. 1987. http://articles.latimes.com/1987-08-01/local/me-40_1_group-pictures
Mills, Margie. Omega Nu Celebrates Service to Communities. The Union-Democrat, Apr. 30, 1997, p. 3A.
The Alpha Phi Quarterly. The High School Fraternity. pp. 175- 176. January 1915.
Boston Evening Telegraph. High School Frats Selfish- That Is the Opinion of a College Fraternity Member. September 9, 1908, p. 5
The Trident of Delta Delta Delta. N.P.C. and H.S. Legislation. pp. 149 - 151. November 1921.
The New York Times. Abolishes Secret Societies: Bridgeport Education Board Acts- Sequel to Hazing Miss Clark. May 3, 1910. Special to the New York Times.
Owosso Argus Press. Sorority Candidate Falls Into Well But Ingenuity Saves Her. May 19, 1930, p. 1.
San Jose News. Long Beach Board Ponders on High School Paddling. May 15, 1929. p. 22
copyright 2013, womensfraternities.com
No comments:
Post a Comment