The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-20
SEX HYuTrNE IN eUnoors.

0n6A n 194kENE In 6041&JAJAOe
There has been considerable discus
sion ON the question Of teaching SEX
hygiene In the public schools. The
advantage OF increased knowledge for
the children, as well 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 and the children themselves.
For this reason, the report Of the bu-
reau of research Of the Upper Penin-
sula (Michigan) Educational associa-
ton, recently issued, is of interest
This bureau was organized to make a
direct study Of the schools Of the Up
per Peninsula of Michigan. their
equipment and their methods and ma
terial for study. It il at present en-
deavoring 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 il divided into four sections:
moral education, physical education,
industrial education and general. The
basis for the report is the individual
opinions Of 317 representative citizens.
Under 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. nine
ty-two said. Eyes," while ITS opposed
such instruction: six made qualified
replies. Commenting on these an
swers, the report says that the replies
indicate that patrons of schools are
not ready an 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 it poorly would be much worse
than not to teach it at ALL" The bu-
reau also endeavored to get the point
of view Of the pupil. At Houghton.
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 at the last
lecture on sex 'hygiene?" Ninety boys
stated that they had learned some
thing Of value and eight that they had
not, while fifty-four girls regarded
the lecture as Of value and twenty did
not. When asked: do you favor
another lecturer" eighty-five boys
were in favor of further instruction
and thirteen were opposed to it, while
forty-four girls were in favor and
thirty were opposed to the proposition.
This report, says the Journal Of the
American Medical Association, en-
phasizes the points which have been
previously brought out: until we know
what should be taught pupils at DIFF
ferent ages, until we have formulated
a definite graded course Of instruc-
ton and have trained teachers to give
this instruction, the proposition for
teaching sex hygiene in the public
schools should be approached with the
utmost caution. In NO case should an
effort be made to force such instruc-
ton on the pupils or on the commune
ty. When the parents Of children are
convinced, by q large majority, Of the
advisability of such instruction. it
should be provided. Premature ef-
forts to place such subjects on the
school curriculum in advance OF pub
lie opinion can only cause misunder-
standing and trouble.