The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-03-08
And the People Of the Community
Are Up in Arms Because
She Told the
Truth.
HER SEX INSTRUCTIONS
Appeal to the School Board to Dis
miss Her, Resulted in the
Board Refusing 10
Arf

IBy Ed L. Keen, London Correspond
emit of the United Press.]
LONDON, March miss Anna Out.
ram is suffering the fate Of most,
pioneers of progress. Because she
was brave enough to be the first won.
an school teacher in all England to
invade the forbidden field OF sex in.
struction, she is being martyrized.
When they heard of her new depart.
ire the scandalized local managers of
her school in the little Derbyshire
village of Dronfield, where she had
been head-mistress for twenty-one
years, peremptorily demanded her
resignation. She, refused, and they
went to the county education commit
tee with petition for her removal,
but the committee sustained Miss Out
ram without even holding an inquiry
Then the townsfolk got busy. "Outram5
must go!' was the cry. She was boy
cotted professionally and ostracised
socially. Mothers withdrew their
daughters from school. Women who
had grown up with her in the little
village from girlhood refused longer
to speak to her. A town meeting was
called at which abuse was heaped up
on her head, and resolutions adopted
appealing to the government board of
education, in London for a reversal of
the county authorities decision.
Meantime, the question, Should a
girl be told?" has become national
one Leading clergymen, educators
and sociologists have taken sides with
the Derbyshire school mistress, and
with the exception Of her own imme-
diate and narrow minded community,
the public generally not only defends
her attitude, but applauds her fear
lessness Miss Outram's offense was
putting into practice in her own class
of girl pupils the example and teach
ings of Mrs. Ella Flagg Young, of CHI.
cago. She believed thai if mothers re.
fused to explain to their daughters
the mysteries of life and birth, it was
her duty, as we'll as her right, as their
teacher, to enlighten them
Miss Outram, who is rosy-cheeked
kindly-eyed, gray-haired, ,motherly-ap
pearing woman of 45s thus explained
how it all came about: Cone of the
girls had asked me most direct ques
ton. Without giving it any consider
alton, | answered it indirectly. Ii
other words, shuffled, just as mos
folks do in such circumstances.
saw that. the girl felt snubbed, and
realized in moment that afterwardl
there could never be the same conf
dence between u.s. Then I though
the whole matter over carefully ant
earnestly, and made up my min'
that the next time such an opportun
ity offered would answer the ques
lion as simply and as naturally as
know how. The chance soon came.
similar question, inspired by a pass
age from the Bible was asked me b.
several of my girls. With these girl
read and discussed the Purity Adve
cate, containing beautifully write
story detailing in simple language TIL
mysteries of the reproduction OF tn
human race. And then the storI
broke
Miss Outram contends that sue
teaching as she gave those youn
girls meant that they would know an
appreciated the truth of sex que
tons which come to all young peopl
and about which is hinged so muc
mystery and consequent ignoranc
and misery. Among those who hay
defended Miss Outram and urged thu
her example be followed by teacher
throughout England is the Coun
ess Of Warwick.
am heart and soul with Miss Gu
ram" she writes She was bot
wise and brave when she defied Vi
iage conventional prudery and gay
sane, clear explanations to the cir
Who questioned her about physiolos
cal facts and the mysteries of repr
auction. Her way is hard, ! know, b.
sae is treading a path that will soc
be a great, broad highway in tn
country; for am convinced that wit
III very few years these importal
iacts of life will be taught general
~ our schools for both boys and girl
y mothers persist in Sinking the
DUTY, then the teachers must take d
Initiative
we English people are great hui
y