The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-06-21

AN IMMORAL FAD.
During the past few years the
advocacy of sex education has
become frightfully common among
certain class of so-called edu-
Gators who profess to see in it a
means of eradicating the social
evil. In order to make this educa-
ton general they would introduce
it into the public schools by giving
a course of what they euphoni-
ously call Eugenics. The name
is very soul-satisfying to this
class Of educational faddists. 1t
has an air Of learning and respect
ability which makes it current
coin among these self-styled
leaders in the world Of modern
education. 1t can be used to over
awe the mere man who dares to
suggest that, perhaps, in spite Of
the professions of it's sponsors,
Eugenics is only a daw in Dor
rowed feathers.
There is altogether too much
said about this nauseating SUBJ
ject in magazines and periodicals
where writer's are permitted to
expatiate about the need of de-
tailed sex-knowledge without
which, according to them, it is i'm
possible to lead a virtuous and
healthy life. If they would only
keep their disgusting details in re
gard to sex problems to them
selves it would not be so bad; but
they seek to add to the curriculum
Of the public schools course of
study in regard to these matters.
The public schools are bad enough
at the present time; but if such
a course is made obligatory for
all the pupils, without respect to
age or sex, one need not have the
vision Of a seer to foretell the
disastrous consequences. The OBJ
iect which the advocates of
Eugenics have in view is the de-
velopment and improvement of
the race. They would produce a
new race of human beings by
turning the world into a model
stock farm. Owing to the i'm
portance of the subject, therefore,
they argue that it ought to be
given a place in the curriculum of
schools and colleges.
But how do the advocates of
this latest educational fad-an
immoral fad, it must be confessed
to improve the race of
men? What kind Of a course
would they introduce into the
public school? Briefly stated, they
propose to teach children in bold,
clear, unmistakable language the
evils of immortality, with a view,
as they say, of warning the chill
dren against these dangers and
thus preserving them sound and
healthy, physically, mentally and
morally. In other words, they
would lay bare before pupils of
both sexes assembled in class the
secrets of the human organism
and portray in vivid language
what the Apostle st. Paul says
should not be so much as men
toned among Christians. Instead
of filing the mind of the child
with high ideals and noble
thoughts they would suggest to
him prurient conceptions and un-
lovely images drawn from the un-
derworld. They would bare before
his mental gaze the evils of i'm
morality in its various forms, In
order, forsooth, to make him
pure! If knowledge of impurity
and sin can make the individual
pure and holy, which is the logical
conclusion to be drawn from the
premises laid down by the advo-
Gates of this method of instruc-
ton, then, assuredly, a certain
class of people who are not men
toned in polite society should be
the purest and noblest of men
and women.
No, the introduction of such a
course into the public school is
only fad that originated In the
disordered minds of educators
unworthy Of the name men and
women, too, who are always striv-
ing, in the name of progressive
ness in education, to add to the
ineficiency Of the public school By
n1aninO au0fhpT S+raw an fhn al