Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-09-24
SEX EDUCATION.

To what extent can sex instruction
he given In the public schools? Wide
difference of opinion still exists among
school men on the subject, Judging
from reports received 1T the United
States bureau of education. There is
wiGesl cad recognition If what Pres
ident Foster. of Reed College. calls the
social emergency and general agree
ment as to the need of action against
the social evil, but when il comes TO
the question Of what part the public
school shall play. the ideas range from
a detailed plan of sex instruction be-
ginning in the elementary schools to a
determined opposition TO any form of
sex education whatsoever.
Prof. Thomas H. Ballet, OF New
York University, outlines several points
of attack in sex education. He believes
sex instruction can now De given to the
following groups: Cd To parents. by
means of lectures: 90 to enlisted men
in the army and navy, where the need
for it is urgent: CD to college students,
both men and women: Cd to young
people in Y VI. c. AS and similar as
sociations DR.. Ballet considers sex
instruction 10 college students parti-
cularly valuable: because i: will enable
them to impart sex knowledge in turn
y pupils in elementary and secondary
schools. as soon as the public is pre-
pared for this step.
r, Gently medical men have joined
hands with school men in the sex
distinguished physician Of Boston,
IS che of the leaders in the demand for
sex instruction in the schools. He de-
clares that the policy of silence and
punishment as p-acticed in the past
has failed. He suggests educat ton.
rather than punishment. as a remedy
for social evils He says Sooner OF
later we shall come to realize that
teaching the comprehension Of the sex
instinct is the function Of the public
school. tho we are far from such a
realization today" Other members OF
the American Federation of Sex
Hygiene. including former President
Eliot, Of Harvard. who is the head Of
the orga nization. hold equally positive
views of the need for sex instruction.
On the other hand. there are many.
both among educators and physicians.
who see danger in sex instruction in
the schools. DR.. Tierney, president of
Woodstock College, Maryland, ex
presses the fear that is in the minds
Of many thinkers, when he says: Sex
instruction is apt to put forward by
temptation. Safely lies in diverting the
attention from sex details"
Officials Of the bureau Of education
believe that the sex hygiene question
is about to assume great Importance in
many school systems. Chicago is now
struggling with the problems; the
money to provide lectures on sex
hygiene to parents and to groups OF
high school pupils with the ultimate
idea Of extending sex instruction to
the elementary schools Z the expert
ment with older pupils proves salts
factory. Teachers in New York and
other cities report considerable success
in Incorporating sex instruction into
elementary work in biology. State Su-
perintendent Hyatt. Of California, has
issued a deaflet on sex instruction that
has been considered worthy Of dis
tribution by the United States govern
ment; while the American Federation
of Sex Hygiene. carrying out its plan
OF constructive work against the social
evil. has drawn up what is probably
the most careful outline yet devised for
sex education at every stage Of life,
both in school and at home.