Honorary Society Considers Ousting Ed School Chapter

The international education fraternity may expel its Harvard chapter tomorrow for accepting women, Lebaron Moseby, president of Harvard Phi Delta Kappa, said yesterday.

Harvard's chapter of the prestigious honor society has admitted women since 1969, in defiance of PDK International's constitution, Moseby said.

The possible expulsion will be discussed tomorrow at the biennial convention of Phi Delta Kappa in Houston, Tex.

Moseby, last year an assistant dean at the Ed School and currently director of student teaching at Simmons College, said that the Phi Delta Kappa's executive board suspended the Harvard society in January 1973 when Harvard submitted the names of several women for membership. The international board informed Harvard that its chapter would be expelled if it did not conform to the male-only policy.

"The odds don't look too good for us," Moseby said. "In 1971 when we introduced a motion to admit women, we lost, 321-95. Unless the delegates vote to allow local chapters the option of admitting women, we'll be cut off. But I refuse to let women be second-class citizen."

Paul Ylvisaker, dean of the Ed School, said Tuesday in the strongest statement he has made on the issue that he hoped Harvard's suspension would be reconsidered.

"No professional organization can afford to exclude the talents and abilities of a vast number of those dedicated to improving our schools and upgrading the learning process," Ylvisaker said.

"I urge members of the International and the local chapters to amend their policies and admit women to membership," he said.