The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-25

Teachers Is In
Subjects I alked
ADDRESSES BY VISITING EDUCA-
TORS SHOW WHY CHILDREN
ADVANCE.

important sessions or the National
Council of Education were held yes
terday In the Jefferson hotel audi
torium.
Both of the meetings were well at
tended and many of the visitors were
unable to gain even standing room in
the auditorium. The audience COM
prised delegates from all sections of
the United States and local teachers
and students interested in the work of
the council
John w. Carr. superintendent of
schools of Bayonne, n. j.. speaking at
the session yesterday afternoon, made
some remarks which will be very
helpful to the teachers who were for
tunate enough to gain entrance to the
meeting. He said in part:
l am opposed to the direct teaching
of sex-hygiene in the public schools
for several reasons.
The subject is not suited to class
instruction for boys and girls of the
grammar or high school grades The
subject is so intimate and personal,
that the teaching should be given to
the individual by father or mother, or
some other person who Is near and
dear This knowledge should be i'm
parted at time when it is most
needed and in a manner which will
be most effective. The fact that
many parents neglect or are unable
to give this instruction Is no reason
why the schools should undertake the
work. There should be general un
derstanding to the effect that the
school cannot and should not be err
pected to do all that needs to be done
for children. Parents have duties
and responsibilities which cannot be
delegated to others and in my opin-
ion this is one of them.
Second. The teaching of this subject
| to groups of children inevitably
leads to morbidity. II the child is
given the proper instruction in regard
to sex in the proper way he regards
| the knowledge he receives as some
thing sacred. But the mind should not
dwell on it. neither should it be re-
garded as 1T theme for general con-
versation. The sense of modesty and
shame should be developed which is
SO important to the morals of children
as we'll as adults.
Third. Public sentiment does not
and probably will not sanction the di-
rect teaching of sex-hygiene in the
public schools So far as | have been
able to find out, in no community.
either in this country or abroad has
the direct teaching OF sex-hygiene
met with public favor. On the contra
Il y. numerous instances have been pub
l.shed where the attempt to teach
lit has been unsuccessful. The gen.
eral result usually has been antagon-
ism between the community and the
school, the setting OF tongues tn wag-
ging. and the stirring up OF trouble
In general. To such an extent is the
public mind wrought up over this sub
ject in some States. that bills have
been introduced in the legislature pro-
hibiting the teaching of sex-hygene,
What seems to- be the sanest and
best scheme of sex instruction for the
public schools may properly be called
a scheme OF indirect instruction. The
atmosphere of the school is clean and
wholesome, Purity and cleanliness
are stressed. The spirit of chivalry is
developed, The will Is strengthened.
The instinct OF shame is guarded
Motor activities, such as manual
training, and vocational occupations
are carried on. Strong and abiding
interest in things worth while are
aroused. Courses are given in the
high schools in botany dealing with
flowers and fertilization. followed later
with courses in biology dealing with
the reproduction of lower forms of
animal life. Such instruction paves
the way to the proper understanding
I of sex, and such training develops
purity and wholesome living. l most
heartily approve and I believe 1t will
meet public appreciation also.
"a ALott. OIL Ceyf 1nGl2Ha.
speaking along the same lines OF his
predecessor. declared;
ie race reproduces itself each If
ty years. Statistics show conclusively
that more than one-third OF the chill
dren in this country fail to reach a
healthy maturity. Every student Of
child life and every agency of educa-
ton must recognize these facts, and
the importance Of the subject Of sex
! mr. hx,ex
Our instruction in race hygiene
must consist OF much more than a
knowledge of hygiene and the laws of
biology. 1t must seek to develop in
the children a spirit of altruism and
an idealism in the realm OF parent
hood and child life. A true reverence
for motherhood and deep love for
little children will do more to inspire
noble, pure living among our youth.
than the fear of the ravages of dis
ease which follow in the wake of i'm
moral social practices,
1t is something for the child to
know az the right time some of the
t.smportant facts relating to his develop
ment into manhood: it is something
for the child to know the chief dam
gers that confront him during the un-
folding of his sexual powers. but this
movement in the schools must mean
more than this. The problem includes
the development OF right attitudes of
mind. OF high ideals and ethical stand
ards of life. respect for the social
standards and conventions of society,
and appreciation of the sanctity of the
home, the sacredness Of motherhood,
and the love of little children. Every
thing in the school curriculum that
leads In this direction is a part of
the teaching of race-hygiene,
Physiology and hygiene are requir-
ed subjects in most schools. In grades
above the sixth the boys should be
fContinued on Third f,sreN