Highschool Sororities....

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by OTW

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.

Thanks for the clarity.

[Corsulian]

Originally Posted by OTW

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.

Not that this is particularly relevant (but neither are HS sororities outside of hazing issues...so there), but there were few norms in those days. I've often tried to paint the picture of mid 1800s college life to new members who read about our founders like they were a bunch of crazies and laugh about the fact that we even have songs. It's not like there were indie rock bands to see at the club, or electricity, or cars, or much in the way of public education. Liberal Arts degrees weren't too popular either. If you got to college, you probably had a lot of money or you were very smart and got some nice scholarship money. Several of our founders attended academies after elementary school and they were basically college preparation. You could excel and get in college at 15 or be a late arrival at 25. Most founders were probably about 18-20 though since secret organizations are generally created by upper classmen.

[DSTCHAOS]

I don't have the patience to look it all up but Naomi Sewell Richardson passed away at 100 in 1993 so that makes her 20 in 1913. I never checked the ages of blacks in college in the 1900s or of every Founder. I'm almost certain that they weren't overwhelmingly high school age but rather 19+, which is college age and doesn't add any support for high school sororities.

[AOIIRhoDelta]

There were several sororities at the public high school I went to--one in the band (Pi Alpha Zeta? I think...), Kappa Rho, and another that I've forgotten the letters of. Funny thing is that most of the girls in Kappa Rho were also in the other one... it was just an excuse to have 2 extra formals a year and some mild to moderate hazing.

I went to all-girls private school after that and there was an exclusive senior society (the purpose, rituals, etc. were secret, but not the members), a holdover from the days when my school was a college. Most of the girls in it were nice, but I heard about some sketchy hazing (from one of the members) that went on in the school chapel--simulating sexual acts with a banana over the altar, etc. I'm slightly skeptical about that, simply because some of the girls I know in it would NEVER do anything like that. Perhaps, though.

Secret/exclusive societies in high school aren't necessarily horrible, but they can get out of hand. Supposedly societies of their type were not allowed in public school, yet the two non-music sororities had pages in the school yearbook. Also, at my second school, other secret societies/non-registered clubs were banned. Hypocritical, much?