The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-05
Study ot Local Hygiene As Recommended
 By National Council of Jewish Women

|
 along the line of social hygiene and study of eugenics was undertaken In the pub | lie schools, especially with the mothers | of children and he also said that in-
 stead of the clubs of the city planning one meeting a year to cover this work they should arrange at least two meet | ings a year on their club programmes,
 the subject of social hygiene being one
 of the most important health and social problems of the day.
 The Council of Jewish Women some | three years ago, through the co-opera- tion of the superintendent of education, Dr. Phillips, and the physicians of Bir mingham, had splendid course of lec- l lures given in the school extension work | of the city. Much good was found to have come from this course. although it | took sometime to see the results. Now,
 when 1t will soon be time for the club
 to rearrange their programmes for an- other year and with the added interest awakened by the baby week campaign l it has seemed fitting time to put the
 subject before the public, especially the clubs.
 | The Council of Jewish Women is the | only national organization except those directly interested in the subject that has national committee doing social hygiene work and awakening interest in the ne- cessity of such study by circulating prac- | tical information and programmes through the country.
 | Social hygiene deals directly with the baby; it has it's origin in eugenics, which | Ia ing bat ba aCiaO ra of health in reproduction. Why should we, in an enlightened community, hide our heads like the ostrich when the prob | lief om conservation of the family, the conservation of the public health and the conservation of the individuad are be- fore us?
 The following plan of work has been outlined by the national chairman of the council and has been incorporated in their plan of work for 1915. FOREWORD At the triennial convention held in Phil- adelphia in 1911, it was decided to cre-
 ate in the council under the committee on education subcommittee on sex hy- giere.
 During the three years, from 1911 to -tFlf, IilS COIIlIulILee Has peen dDle tO formulate such definite plans and show such positive results that the chairman was able to report in full detail at the triennial convention in New Orleans In 1914.
 At said convention it was decided to change the name of the committee from sex hygiene to social hygiene, so that the field for work would not appear to be restricted and could incluae consid eration of all necessary and pertinent questions if the effort were to be far ra eching and effective.
 The necessity for study along sex lines has long been recognized by educators and social workers as an important fac tor of their work. The wise parent who is unipformed welcomes instruction and recognizes his duty in this direction; the school embraces it as a necessary part of the course of study.
 With an awakening conscience and knowledge of the horror that turks in venereal disease, innocence becomes a crime and ignorance is without excuse. Read carefully the plan of work; con- fer with the national subcommittee for suggestions, and at your earliest oppor- tunity, advise the chairman of the name and address of your local chairman. LOCAL CHAIRMAN Presidents of each section should ap- point as chairman of the committee on sex hygiene only such a member as is especially fitted for this work. A reali- ration of the importance of the subject and sympathetic appreciation of 1t are necessary before the chairman can be competent to properly and intelligently carry out the work.
 The chairman should cooperate with the local chairman on education and ar- range with her programme for study; also one programme for special study. Because this has been done in former years, 1t should not he thought unneces- sary to do again: the subject is compar- atively new and it will take many years before the public is educated to under stand its gravity and appreciate the me- cessity for conscientious and unremit- ting consideration of the question in all it's varied phases
 The chairman should further pursue a definite line of study with reference to the biological consideration of the sub ject; study that thoroughly, without re- lation to the social evil. Too many lose sight of the subject or make 1t unneces- sarily complicated by not developing a programme that will permit of it's cor rect and logical study.
 PLAN OF WORK
 Study the subject with good textbooks. recognizing the necessity for authorita- tive direction.
 At large meetings consider the audience