Highschool Sororities....

[ZTA72]

I'm from the suburban Nashville area and years ago, hahaha, when I went to high school there were numerous sororities and fraternities. We went to rush parties and if memory serves, we got our invites in the mail...I still have mine.
We did " community service" had car washes, meetings, and formals at the area country clubs.
It was a good experience for me and almost every girl who really wanted a bid received one.
I do know that at least one of the groups is still around today.
ZTA72

[ealymc]

Delta Beta Sigma, I think, is one of the h.s. sororities at Conway High School

[barnard1897]

Long post, but for those who are interested--

During HS, I belonged to Delta Beta Sigma in my city (deep south). The chapter had primarily members from my public high school but also a few girls from neighboring, wealthy private schools. It was very similar to an NPC group in many ways and I wouldn't be at all shocked if it was a feeder into some of the NPC groups at schools like Ole Miss, LSU, and such, because we really did a lot of the same kinds of activities and most of the women who pledged DBS went on to pledge sororities in college. It was not associated with the HS officially--just a lot of us happened to be members. I think we were asked to wear our pledge pins at school.

Our colors were black and gold. There was a crest, pledge pin, and badge. There was a rush period, held over the course of a few days at different members' homes, with themes, nametags, and refreshments. Bids were extended--it was so exciting because they came to your house, rang the doorbell, and when the door opened, 25-50 screaming girls--the cutest and most popular ones-- chanted, sang, and then asked you to join, followed by lots more screams and hugs when you (of course) accepted. It was very thrilling to be extended a bid, much like the feeling you have on bid day in college.

We had a manual to study, pledge meetings, and we had tests, just like the mem ed tests we took for my NPC sorority. There was ritual for pledging if I recall, and definitely an initiation ceremony, which was a mixture of some silly stuff like blindfolds, but also some typical sorority ritual aspects. I can't recall if there was an official philanthropy. The sorority had a long history dating back to the 1800s and there were founders and all the usual stuff you have to memorize. We had to write from memory the creed of the sorority for one exam. We were on watch by actives all the time during our pledge term, and they could issue demerits for behavior unbecoming a DBS member, if we were caught without the pledge pin, or if we could not recite facts about the sorority when asked.

We had a big sister program. There was a very exciting reveal for that, I clearly recall. I had a really popular, pretty senior as my big sis, and I just thought she was fabulous. She's off in Hollywood now!

DBS had a national HQ, even, somewhere in the deep south. I know for certain there were other chapters. One girl had actually affiliated with our chapter from one in another city when she moved into our town. They had national conventions, just like NPC groups do, though not on the same scale!

The women in my chapter were no different from the ones in college sororities. Some nice, some mature, some not. There were cliques within, and of course, some of the usual cattiness and power plays that pervade houses at the college level. Yet, I also met some very nice girls with whom I became close friends, and one of them is still my friend some 20+ years later.

I do not think such a system could have lasted into the 90s in non southern locales--it is amazing to hear it's still around. It was quite firmly rooted in the kind of Southern tradition that just would not have survived in northern cities. We had fun times, for the most part. My mom and dad, total non Greeks, thought the whole thing was frivolous and a waste of money (oh yeah-we paid national dues too). But I bet now, seeing what a loyal alum I am for my college sorority, they would think differently.

If nothing else, this experience was great training for recruitment and pledging once I got to college. I was prepared for rushing. I knew what to expect during the pledge program and didn't complain when we had to memorize all those historical facts about founders, etc. I understood what it meant to have chapter meetings and parliamentary procedure, elections, etc. I didn't know many of the girls when I joined, and so it was while before I learned to be confident around the older ones. I'm really glad I belonged because it gave me some perspective going into the collegiate greek system.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by barnard1897

Long post, but for those who are interested--

During HS, I belonged to Delta Beta Sigma in my city (deep south). The chapter had primarily members from my public high school but also a few girls from neighboring, wealthy private schools. It was very similar to an NPC group in many ways and I wouldn't be at all shocked if it was a feeder into some of the NPC groups at schools like Ole Miss, LSU, and such, because we really did a lot of the same kinds of activities and most of the women who pledged DBS went on to pledge sororities in college. It was not associated with the HS officially--just a lot of us happened to be members. I think we were asked to wear our pledge pins at school.

Our colors were black and gold. There was a crest, pledge pin, and badge. There was a rush period, held over the course of a few days at different members' homes, with themes, nametags, and refreshments. Bids were extended--it was so exciting because they came to your house, rang the doorbell, and when the door opened, 25-50 screaming girls--the cutest and most popular ones-- chanted, sang, and then asked you to join, followed by lots more screams and hugs when you (of course) accepted. It was very thrilling to be extended a bid, much like the feeling you have on bid day in college.

We had a manual to study, pledge meetings, and we had tests, just like the mem ed tests we took for my NPC sorority. There was ritual for pledging if I recall, and definitely an initiation ceremony, which was a mixture of some silly stuff like blindfolds, but also some typical sorority ritual aspects. I can't recall if there was an official philanthropy. The sorority had a long history dating back to the 1800s and there were founders and all the usual stuff you have to memorize. We had to write from memory the creed of the sorority for one exam. We were on watch by actives all the time during our pledge term, and they could issue demerits for behavior unbecoming a DBS member, if we were caught without the pledge pin, or if we could not recite facts about the sorority when asked.

We had a big sister program. There was a very exciting reveal for that, I clearly recall. I had a really popular, pretty senior as my big sis, and I just thought she was fabulous. She's off in Hollywood now!

DBS had a national HQ, even, somewhere in the deep south. I know for certain there were other chapters. One girl had actually affiliated with our chapter from one in another city when she moved into our town. They had national conventions, just like NPC groups do, though not on the same scale!

The women in my chapter were no different from the ones in college sororities. Some nice, some mature, some not. There were cliques within, and of course, some of the usual cattiness and power plays that pervade houses at the college level. Yet, I also met some very nice girls with whom I became close friends, and one of them is still my friend some 20+ years later.

I do not think such a system could have lasted into the 90s in non southern locales--it is amazing to hear it's still around. It was quite firmly rooted in the kind of Southern tradition that just would not have survived in northern cities. We had fun times, for the most part. My mom and dad, total non Greeks, thought the whole thing was frivolous and a waste of money (oh yeah-we paid national dues too). But I bet now, seeing what a loyal alum I am for my college sorority, they would think differently.

If nothing else, this experience was great training for recruitment and pledging once I got to college. I was prepared for rushing. I knew what to expect during the pledge program and didn't complain when we had to memorize all those historical facts about founders, etc. I understood what it meant to have chapter meetings and parliamentary procedure, elections, etc. I didn't know many of the girls when I joined, and so it was while before I learned to be confident around the older ones. I'm really glad I belonged because it gave me some perspective going into the collegiate greek system.

Hi Sister...I think this is really interesting! There was no hazing involved? You here so much about these HS groups being cruel to their pledges, but then again, I know not to believe everything I hear on TV!

[Bamamom13]

I was in a sorority in HS. I would have to get out the old, old, yearbook to even remember the name. We did some stupid hazing stuff: dropping pledges off in a graveyard and making them walk back to the sister's house where we were, blindfolding them and putting bananas in the toilet and making them reach in and grab one, really stupid stuff. I think it was fazed out after I graduated. But what was wonderful was that one of my 'big' sisters in HS ended up being my Big Sis in college.

[barnard1897]

Hi AOII Angel!! Roses to you!

The hazing in my DBS chapter was nominal. We were never asked to wear anything to school or forced to do anything we did not want to do in public. The worst I recall was that we had to memorize a lot of the sorority history and could be quizzed on the spot for it--we would be issued a "black mark" for not knowing something, and if you had too many black marks, you were not initiated. On the other hand, gold marks were also handed out for doing positive things. No one ever tried to humiliate us.

I think if there was anything negative, it was the typical thing where some girls were not invited to join. And that was very hard, especially because one of my very good friends went to first round and was not extended a bid later. She lived in the same neighborhood and belonged to the same tennis club and church as many of the chapter members. It was a terrible feeling for her and her mother (this was the deep south) that they didn't accept her. Truth-some of the girls in the chapter were just stuck up and didn't like her. Ultimately, I had to decide how much involvement I wanted in a chapter that excluded someone I cared about so much, so, I became less and less a part of it. I remained friends with some of them, but I owed my allegiance to her because she had been my friend through everything, long before the sorority. It was the right decision, as we are still great friends today.

Like any club, it was a learning experience. A bonus of it was that I already knew the greek alphabet by the time I pledged in college!

[hannahleigh<3]

im in a high school sororiy and like one of the posts above we dont do that much we have fundraiseres and meetings, and we get tshirts but otherwise not that much. its pretty much just like a big clique but as was mentioned there is tons of hazing for example we couldnt was our hair for a week we could shave at all we had to wear tacky clothes everyday for a week and the poored things (old milk, rotten eggs, cat litter, sardeens, etc) and it got worse every night. they ended up criscoing our hair twice, and we still couldnt wash it. we had to do really embarising things called "air raids" in the middle of hallways. im still not sure it was worth it but i like the idea of having "sisters"

[TNPhiMu]

Originally Posted by MTSUGURL

There are two highschools sororities here that I know of - Delta Beta Sigma and Alpha Delta Kappa. The ADKs used to make their pledges walk around in these gingham aprons and bows... I had heard that they tended to become AOIIs. We didn't have sororities at my highschool, but there was a fraternity - I don't remember what they were called.

I actually know people that were in both of these orgs! One of my Phi Mu sisters was a DBS in Forrest City, Arkansas. And my mom(who is a ZTA) was a Alpha Delta Kappa in Ripley, TN in the 70's.

I also know of one other one, in the Nashville area. I know that Brentwood HS has "BGC" (Brentwood Girls Cotillion). They have rush and formals and the like but I think are viewed as a service organization. The girl I know who was in it is a Phi Mu at UTK now.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by hannahleigh<3

im in a high school sororiy and like one of the posts above we dont do that much we have fundraiseres and meetings, and we get tshirts but otherwise not that much. its pretty much just like a big clique but as was mentioned there is tons of hazing for example we couldnt was our hair for a week we could shave at all we had to wear tacky clothes everyday for a week and the poored things (old milk, rotten eggs, cat litter, sardeens, etc) and it got worse every night. they ended up criscoing our hair twice, and we still couldnt wash it. we had to do really embarising things called "air raids" in the middle of hallways. im still not sure it was worth it but i like the idea of having "sisters"

People who do that kind of crap to you aren't sisters.

[Empress0105]

are a waste of time....


there is no way someone of that age can truly understand what it means to be in a sorority and fraternity in the sense of you being in it for life....the only letters they should be worrying about are SAT, ACT and GPA

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by Empress0105

are a waste of time....
the only letters they should be worrying about are SAT, ACT and GPA

Agreed.

[ms_gwyn]

Originally Posted by Empress0105

are a waste of time....


there is no way someone of that age can truly understand what it means to be in a sorority and fraternity in the sense of you being in it for life....the only letters they should be worrying about are SAT, ACT and GPA

Playing devil's advocate ...

1) Some can say the same thing for being in college and focusing on GPA, BS, BA, MCAT, LSAT, GRE, GMAT, etc....

2) Most of the women who created our organizations were in this age group, some were in their 20s but most were in between 15-19.

Every body needs a social outlet and we all know that we have cliques...these are cliques....with community service.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by ms_gwyn

Playing devil's advocate ...

1) Some can say the same thing for being in college and focusing on GPA, BS, BA, MCAT, LSAT, GRE, GMAT, etc....

2) Most of the women who created our organizations were in this age group, some were in their 20s but most were in between 15-19.

Every body needs a social outlet and we all know that we have cliques...these are cliques....with community service.

Good points, Ms gwyn!
I do, however, think someone should make sure that the hazing is eliminated from these groups. The thing about kids that age is that their brains have often not developed enough to make reasonably enlightened decisions.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by ms_gwyn

Playing devil's advocate ...

1) Some can say the same thing for being in college and focusing on GPA, BS, BA, MCAT, LSAT, GRE, GMAT, etc....

2) Most of the women who created our organizations were in this age group, some were in their 20s but most were in between 15-19.

Every body needs a social outlet and we all know that we have cliques...these are cliques....with community service.

As I always say, the devil doesn't need an advocate.

1) All of our organizations should be interested in college students who focus on GPA, BS, BA, LSAT, etc. The difference is that young adults are more capable of multitasking which is why our colleges and young adult/adult lives aren't structured the same as high schools and children's lives are.

2) Whose organizations?

I'm not opposed to these high school organizations. I think they are lame if they are aided by fraternity and sorority members and taught to mimick them. I also think it's lame if the children wear Greek letters and think they are in a lifetime commitment type of organization or in a stepping stone to GLOs type organization. It's cutesy high school stuff and that's it.

I was the president of a community service organization without Greek letters. We didn't have sororities at my school. Thank God.

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

2) Whose organizations?

I'm not familiar with the histories of organizations other than my own, but I remember reading somewhere that many founders of NPC sororities were in the 15-19 year old age group when their organizations were established. These women were students at their respective college/university, and being that this was in the mid-1800s to early 1900s, I'm assuming being that young and in college was the norm.