The Detroit times., 1913-11-03
OUTLINES PLAN
FOR COURSE in
SEX KNOWLEDGE
Head of Ypsilanti Normal Fav'
OSs Sex Hygiene in Public
Schools of State
BELIEVES STUDY SHOULD
START IN HIGH SCHOOLS
In Time This Would Provide
Teachers For the Lower
Grades, He Maintains

LANSING. Mich, Nov. 3.-Al-
though recognizing certain obstacles
TO the introduction of sex hygiene in
the school curriculum. President
Charles Mckenny, of the. Michigan
State Normal college at Ypsilanti. in
an Interview. today declared himself
in favor OF the teaching OF the sub
ject In all public schools
The story Of social sin that an.
nually drags TO the bottomless pit of
shame and despair tens of thousands
OF young girls, curses possibly one
half OF the young manhood OF our
land with diseases before they are
80. dooms innocent wives to invalid
ism and the surgeons knife. renders
many homes childless and others
worse than childless because the chill
dren are physically and mentally de-
fective, that destroys domestic hap
piness. fills the hospitals and asyl-
ums, and. linked with the saloon and
with graft. is the great source OF
civic corruption, has at least been
told-not with all its blackness. for
no mind or language Is equal to that
task-but with sufficient detail to
challenge attention" said President
McKenny. 1T Is worthy of note that
the revelations did not come through
the ministers and teachers. but
through the one profession that pos
sessed the facts and could speak with
authority--the medical profession"
The chief obstacles to the teaching
OF sex hygiene, the state normal head
explained. are public opinion. the
fact that there are few capable teach
ers, and the absence OF well-thought.
out and thoroughly tested courses OF
study.
Il believe that boys and girls have
right to know the nature of their
bodies and the functions which their
bodily organs play In life,' said Nc
Kenny. 1T would be ludicrous. II II
were not tragical. that we are teach
ing the nature and care of the teeth,
and stomach. and lungs. and the
hygiene Of eating. sleeping and exer-
else, but utterly ignoring the most
potential function OF life. We are
silent on those matters of physiology
which have most to do with the hap
piness of the individual and the well
fare OF the race.
There must be a continued agita-
ton and enlightenment OF the public
mind regarding the social evil. Par
ents must see that no home is safe,
that no boy or girl can be sheltered
so as to be beyond the reach OF the
enemy and that TO save their children
they must save their neighbors' chill
dren.''
President McKenny advocated an
immediate start In the training OF
teachers in normal schools and col
leges. He also expressed the opinion
that the teaching OF sex hygiene In
many high schools could we'll be
started at once.
after the high school has been
won" he said. at will be possible
and logical to move into the elemen-
tary field. Public opinion would be
ready for the move. and by the time
the high school field is we'll cared for,
schools will be turning out teachers
who are qualified to carry the work
into the elementary schools.
Meanwhile active propaganda may
be carried on. Talks to the boys and
girls can be given after school hours
by persons especially fitted for the
work. Sunday schools can see to II
that no young man or woman passes
through the school without at least
one straightforward, wholesome talk
from some wise doctor. Churches and
clubs can give place on their pro
grams to the subject Of sex hygiene.
Suitable hooks may be placed In pub
lie libraries and approved leaflets may
be distributed stores, shops and
factories where there are many unin-
structed boys and girls and young
men and young women. No earnest
Intelligent worker need lack for op-
portunity to SOW the good seed OF a
pure life"