Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-15
NEW LINE OF EDUCATION.
Children to BE Warned Against Evil
Due to IunoroRee.

children to BE Warned Against Evils
Due to Ignorance.
An innovation in American educational
methods is contemplated by the Chicago
Board Of Education by the establishment
in the public schools Of a course of lectures
to teach children in a scientific manner
what now they usually learn only by ex-
perience, with resulting injury to their
moral and physical beings and detriment
to the communities in which they live.
Social hygiene, as the new study is to be
termed is now a prominent feature Of the
curriculum OF the schools OF Germany, ac-
cordlng to DR.. Alfred d. Kohn, a member
of the Board OF Education, at whose sug-
%gestion, together with tina Of Mrs. Ella
Flagg Young, superintendent of schools,
the school management committee took up
the question.
Every member Of the committee favors
the Introduction OF the subject, reports the
Record-Herald, but they nave not deter
mined how to establish 1t in the schools
and how to teach 1t. To solve this prob
lem Theodore w. Robinson, chairman, ap-
pointed a subcommittee, composed Of DR..
Kohn, chairman; DR.. John Guerin, Chester
NJ Dawes, Dean Walter 7. summer, Mrg.
Ella Flagg Young and two women and two
men district supeTintendents to be selected
By Mrs. Young.
The subject is discussed in an article o.,
Social Hygiene in the Schools" prepared
by DR.. Kohn for the December issue OF the
Educational B%imonthly, a school board pub
~lication. In his article he says:
For over a century the question OF
whether we should Instruct our children on
this all-important topic lay dormant, but
Of late a number Of circumstances have
again brought 1t prominently to the front.
These are, in. short. -..-
The constant flocking from the country
and small towns to the great cities. and the
great increase in size of these cities.
The spread Of scientific knowledge in
wider and wider circles.
THE Strengthening of the social con-
science through the medium Of the press
women's clubs, social settlements and pub.
lie medical lectures.
'"The widespread knowledge OF the socia
evil and the realization Of the dire conse.
quence thereof. The time for concealment
hypocrisy and false modesty is past, anc
it has become the duty Of the whole com.
munity TO stamp out the evil that is sap.
ping our body polite and social to the
roots"
Mrs. Young declared that a committe,
of district superlntendents had found a woe
Aul ldCh VI ~ " Sube dllOhk ohliuIGHi ah'
said, and 1t was her opinion that ignoranc,
is the direct cause for the downfall Of tn,
majority OF girls who go astray.
II believe DR.. Kohn's suggestion would
strike a body blow at the white slave traf
fic," she said.
The fact that the whole educational sys
tenn of America has ignored this thing vi
to now doesn't mean that we shouldn'
touch IT," said Mr.. Robinson, but it mean
that we should be careful"
II desire to be careful" answered Dr.
Kohn. 1t is a deliberate subject. l be
lievs the time to begin the instruction o
social hygiene should be in the last tw,
years Of high school. The boys and girls
classes should be separate. The lecture
should be clear, concise and to the point
There should be no attempt TO wax to-
scientific, but hard facts should be driver
hSme plainly that they may sink deep"