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In 1921, NASSP officially established the National Honor Society. Though many local and regional honor societies existed prior to 1921, no nationwide organization had been founded. Under the lead- ership of Dr. Edward Rynearson, principal of the Fifth Avenue High School, Pittsburgh, the organization grew from the original Alpha Chapter at the Fifth Avenue School to more than 1,000 chapters by 1930. Equipped with a constitution, an emblem and motto, and a group of dedicated principals as coordinators, the new NHS organization quickly developed into one of the country’s leading educational groups.
Four main purposes outlined in the NHS constitution have guided chapters from the beginning: “To create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of secondary schools.” These purposes also translate into the criteria used for membership selection in each local chapter.
In 1929, NASSP turned its attention to younger students and established the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). With its own constitution and handbook, NJHS has established criteria that parallel the emphases found in NHS with one added purpose—to encourage citizenship.
Both NHS and NJHS are programs of NASSP, which appoints a National Council—the controlling body of NHS. In addition, National Council members serve as the selection committee for the prestigious NHS scholarship, which has been administered annually in schools with NHS chapters since 1946. |
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