The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-11-09
FOLK
AGAIN On TRIAL
BY RODNEY BUTCHER
United NeCs STAFF Correspondent

CHICAGO, Nov. @.-What's the
matter with the younger generation?
The older generation is asking this
question again, and views the situa-
ton with an alarm which is almost
panic
Not so long ago the answer was
comparatively simple. Authorities on
religion, education and reform de
clared against short skirts. cigarette
smoking, cocktails, dancing and rouge,
and the younger generation promptly
came back with the assertion that
these We're all milestones Of progress
In the emancipation of the young and
weren't immoral.
So far, Sc bly-but the
older generation coupled the uncover
ing of a trial marriage" club among
high school boys and girls at Lafay-
cite. Ind, and proposals in Chicago
to teach sex hygiene in high schools
and ask each sweet girl graduate to
sign a pledge that she will require her
future husband to prove himself free
from social disease
''Whither are we drifting?" a re-
porter asked several authorities. They
replied: Wherever it is. we have al
most arrived and enumerated the
following factors;
Seven Reasons Given
Free discussion Of sex in modern lit
erature and drama; liberal" tenden-
cies of the age; earlier maturity of the
young; "A current wave of immortality;
failure Of parents to explain sex mat
ters TO their children: teaching Of sex
by those not properly trained; failure
Of schools to cooperate with the home.
Some precocious youngster in the
high school had his imagination fired
by book or play" said Mrs. James
w. Morrison, social leader and club.
woman. In commenting on the Indiana
Opponents, and he in turn inspired
the boys and girls around him. Trial
marriage is a popular theme in novels
and plays nowadays and romantic
enough TO appeal to boys and girls OF
that age
DR.. Clarence a. Neymann, widely
known psychopathic expert. thinks
children are maturing earlier and
that 14-year-old children Of today
know as much and perhaps more
about sex as their grandparents knew
at 20.
Children Lack Discipline
Every school has It's boys and
girls who lack tho proper moral dis
cipline and restraint" explained Mrs
William S. Heffernan. in charge OF
high school division Of the Illinois
Parent-Teachers Associations. but
think they are only small percent
age. and these trial marriages hegiras
VIII not become general"
The Rev Phillip Yarrow, head OF
the Illinois Vigilance Association.
spoke of the immortality Of the age"
and "degeneratlve morals foisted on
he country by promoters Of unclean
sements-iiterature movies. dane
ing and plays--in which sex is over
emphasized and the sins Of sex con-
Ioned." Proper home instruction. re
dval Of spiritual interest, and intelh-
gent revelation OF sex mysteries. are
:he remedy. the Rev. Yarrow said.
The child hygiene committee Of the
associations has al
ready approved superintendent Of
Schools Mortenson's stand in asking
high school girls 10 make their fiances
produce medical certificates. This
dca seems TO meet general approval
lere.
The Parent. Teacher Association will
confer and later make recommended
tlons about the teaching of sex-hy-
.dene. around which heated discussion
mas centered since Teacher Harriet
Ostram was tried by the school board
for teaching sex to her ffth grade pu-
pills.
Teach Sex in kindergarten"
Mrs. Gertrude Howe BrItton. So
>ial service worker, declared the
teaching OF sex ought to start in the
kindergarten $50 that by the time
school children are in the sixth or
seventh grade they viii have no sex
uelf Hers is. perhaps.
The most radical view on the other
hand. Judge Victor Arnold of Juvenile
court feels daughters should he
taught by mothers and sons by IA
theirs
The October grand jury, in a report,
held that many parents fail to live up
10 their obligations to their children
N not providing n proper home life.