Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-03-23
TEACHING
Of SEX HYGIENE

To the Editor of the Evening Star.
The following communication on the
subject of sex hygiene teaching has
been received from Charles Forbes, of
Elizabeth.
| 1 have been much interested in
reading what has been published in
your paper in regard to sex hygiene.
l have been closely associated with
children and young people for many
years in my professional work of
teaching and~the practise of medicine.
There is 40 doubt that the subject de-
mands our most serious consideration.
In this connection certain questions
arise, such as at what g should the
subject be taught, how and by whom
should the instruction be given and
about how much information would
meet the requirements of the case?
As to age, 1t is quite surprising the
amount of information acquired by
quite young children. Some time ago
L heard of a family in which a birth
was expected. 1t was thought best to
send a little daughter to a relative
in a n~eighboring city. After the an
ticipated event the father prepared a
long detailed telegram informing her
that the angels had brought her a
little brother all the way from heaven.
An older brother took the telegram to
the office and returned with more
change than the father expected. The
son explained that 1t was unnecessary
TO send the long telegram. He simply
sent this message: You win; ii is a
boy"
1t would often surprise parents if
they really knew how much informa-
ton their children have in such mat
tiers. 1t would, therefore, seem quite
/ ~h1p that tho nbildrop 1of1 -
in a reliable way. Ten or - years of
age would not be too young.
1t is sometimes stated that God made
the country, man made the cities and
the devil the small towns. From my
experience l should be disposed to say
that the children of the small towns
require the most watchful care.
| The question how and by whom
should the subject be taught is per-
haps the most difficult one to decide.
There Is no doubt that young people,
to gain this information from any and
all sources. Visit any public library
and examine the books on human
physiology. It will be found that the
being, read more than any other. If
the library has medical books the
chapter descriptive, Of certain asso-
ciated diseases will be found to be
the one most read.
This Is not the result of a morbid curl
osity. The children and young people
have a right, TO Information that will be
taught in the schools 1t probably would
be by the regular teacher. The great
majority would be at a loss to know just
what to teach. On the whole, there
might be a great variety of information
impaired. This alone would justify many
of the parents in objecting to its being
taught In such an discriminating man
ner. Taking everything into account. I
am OF the opinion that the best way would
be to have the information printed in
book form. 1t might be a simple text
book with appropriate Illustrations. be-
ginning with plant life and passing to
that of animals. Such a book should be
written from the scientific standpoint.
Naturally. the writer should be a physl-
clan and not a minister.
Such a book should have the indorse-
ment of the medical profession. 1t may be
claimed that there are plenty of books
In reading these books. / have gotten the
impression that most of them have been
written from the commercial standpoint.
A suitable book probably could be pre-
not exceeding ten cents.
In regard to the amount of information
1t might be wise to prepare two books;
One quite elementary, for young children
under Il years of age; and the more adj
vanced for older persons. With properly
prepared books the necessary Information
could be obtained by simply reading
them. Such books would be read with
interest by the older members of the fam
lily. In the more advanced information
the science Of heredity or that science
which deals with all influences that i'm
prove the Unborn qualities of the human
race might be Incorporated. This Is the
science to which the name eugenics a
It would be a very simple matter for
the parents TO place such books in the
hands of their children. How much better
than having the children seeking for this
information on the sly, as is too often the
case.