much respect...
When I was in high school I was in a high school "sorority".
Fortunately for us we were advised by a member of a BGLO. And it is because of her and her tuteledge(sp?) that we did not become like the other organizations in our high school.
We were "on line" for 3 weeks...but she taught us the value of sisterhood, service, unity, loyalty, trust, a simplified version of Roberts Rules, motivation, ambition, leadership etc.
Yes, we cried and sweated and sometimes hated how we had to wear the same thing (right down to the underwear) on our meeting day...and damn how it was hard to get signatures from our "Big Sisters" on the daily. But we made sure that we stuck together no matter what. And our advisor protected us and expressed to us the respect that we should have for REAL greeks.
I remember the day that we "crossed" and some of her sorority sisters from a nearby university came to visit. They, after our excitement wore off, expressed to us with total seriousness that this was just high school not college. And if we were interested in a GLO black or otherwise we better know the extent of respect that we must show those members.
They implored us to make sure that we have fun, that we give to the community, that we love one another as sisters etc. But when graduation came...this "sisterhood" ended.
And we did. Once we graduated we gave all our jackets and shirts to our little sisters. Anything associated with that part of our life we left behind.
But I do know of people who were in high school "sororities" and "fraternities" that thought..."hey i'm in this and it was advised by such and such and s/he is a member of XYZ soror/fraternity...then that means i'm in!"...oh no my sista/brotha you gots ta get your own!
As far as the miseducation...I can answer yes and no. When I joined the org...my grades shot up! We had a mandatory gpa of 3.0 (4.0 scale)...you had a semester of probation...that meant no participation whatsoever...and then if you didn't pull them up you were out. I also became much more aware of my community...because of the service.
But on the other hand I do know of organizations that were just like gangs...with no concern for grades or community...just about emulating the false ideas of "greek life".
i think organizations that stress service, education, sister/brotherhood etc. are positive for young people...particularly those who feel marginalized. It can be an opportunity to bring their self-esteem up. To give them a positive outlook on life and the world around them. But these organizations need to be carefully regulated and controlled so that they don't become some unorganized opportunity for people to brutalize one another.
*sorry so long*
peace
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