The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-12-09
Teaching Sex Hygiene In Schools.

aS"Su'uS ScN uyStciic Ill SCuOOlS.
There has been considerable dis
cussion on the question Of teaching sex
hygiene In the public schools. Tho
advantage OF increased knowledge for
the children, as we'll as the practical
difficulties of presenting this subject
properly have been commented on
from various points of view. There
has been little effort, however, to Sc
cure an expression Of opinion from
those vitality interested. namely, the
parents snd the children themselves
For this reason, the report of the Bu-
reau Of Research of the Upper PENN
sula (Michigan) Educational Associa-
tion, recently issued, is Of interest.
This bureau was organized to make
a direct study of tho schools of the
Upper Peninsula Of Michigan, their
equipment and their methods and ma
terial for study. 1t is at present en-
deavorirg to discover the points of
strength and weakness of the schools,
as judged by the parents and others
interested in them. The report just
issued Ia divided into four sections:
moral education, physical education,
industrial education and general. The
basis for the report Is the individual
opinions Of 81 representative citizens.
Cnder the first head. among many
other subjects discussed, the question
was asked Of parents. do you believe
that sex hygiene should be taught in
the schools" To this question, 90 re-
piled ''yes." while 175 opposed such
instruction; six made qualified replies
Commenting on these answers, the
report says that the replies indicate
that patrons Of schools are not ready
as yet TO have sex hygiene taught in
the schools. Doubtless but few
teachers are qualified to teach the
subject WELL" says the report, land
to teach 1t poorly would be much
worse than not to teach 1t at ALL" The
bureau also endeavored to get the
point OF view Of the pupil. At Hough.
ton. two lectures on sex hygiene We're
given to boys and two to girls. Some
time after the lectures, the boys and
girls were segregated and were asked
Did you learn anything Of value a;
the last lecture Of sex hygiene?
Ninety boys stated that they had
learned something of value and eight
that they had not, while fifty-fouI
girls regarded the lecture as Of value
and twenty did not. When asked:
DO you favor another lecture -
eighty-iive boys were in favor of fur.
ther instruction and thirteen were op-
posed to 1t. while fOrty-four girls were
In favor and thirty were opposed to
the proposition. This report, says
The Journal of the American Medical
Association, emphasizes the points
which have been previously brought
out; until we know what should be
tausht pupils at dinerent ages. until
we have formulated a definite graded
course Of instruction and have trained
teachers to give this instruction, the
proposition for teaching sex hygiene
In the public schools should be ap-
preached with the utmost caution. In
no case should an effort be made to
force such instruction on the pupils
or on the community. When the par
ents OF children are convinced, by a
large majority, of the advisability of
such instruction. ii should be provided.
Premature efforts to place such sub
jects on the school curriculum in ad-
vance OF public opinion can only cause
misunderstanding and trouble.