The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-06-03
Sex Queries
of Children
Are Logical
BY MARTHA LEE

In this year of our Lord, 1880,
mothers still are sitting around
mulling over the question as to
whether they should tell their grow
ing daughters about life or let them
go on believing that babies either
are delivered to the house at mys-
terious hours by storks, or found
under cabbage leaves in the garden.
And while they are trying to make
UP their minds as to what the proper
procedure is. their daughters are
finding out for themselves, or with
the aid Of questioning everybody and
anybody who is willing to talk about
the. subject of sex.
Fathers usually don't trouble over
their part Of telling the sons about
things. They tell him and that's the
end of it. But somehow mothers
hold of. They hate TO have their
little girls all grown up into women.
And somehow, this postponement OF
telling them about "such things"
makes them remain children in the
eyes of their mothers.
Ignorance Is Bliss
They still have a faith in the
saying that Ignorance is bliss"
It isn't at all. 1t is very danger
Gus. And almost more dangerous
is the knowledge of sex that young
boys. and girls learn from asking
questions of other young boys and
girls.
This negligence in educating
children in matters Of sex is i'm
portant. Somehow the schools have
provided technical education in
every other line of living but this.
And yet we blissfully ignore the fact
that boys and girls are attracted to
each other, that these youngsters
do have perfectly logical questions
to ask about such things and that
very often they have no one to
answer these questions for them.
Mother Acted Shocked
Here is typical letter, one of a
number have received from young
girls and boys.
Dear Miss Lee-I am girl IS. I am in
high school. I am not boy crazy. IN
fact I am rather shy. and have few &C
ouaintances and no close friends.
I have heard several remarks about
things I would like to know more about
I asked my mother and she acted so
shocked and said such things should not
be mentioned. She said I was too young
to be wondering about such things.
I do not like to ask anyone else but
her. especially since she told me that
such things should not be mentioned. But
I still would like to know. / still am
curious.
1t 1t true that am too young to be
curious about thinks like where babies
come from and all that? Please do not
think I am silly. Miss Lee. I really would
like to know Also. since my mother will
not tell me, is there any book could
read? FRESHMAN.
There is nothing disreputable
about you wondering about such
questions. Your mother simply is
hedging" Perhaps she does not
know quite how to tell you, or what
to say. Sometimes mothers get very
inarticulate when children surprise
them with questions that indicate
they are growing up.
Ask your mother again. Tell her
if she can not tell you, you would
appreciate it if she would recon-
mend book that will answer your
questions. Explain to her that you
do not cafe to question any one
else about this matter. am sure w3'en
she understands that your curiosity
merely is the questioning of a girl
growing into womanhood, she VII
explain things to you.