Evening star., 1943-04-22
Board May Drop
Sex Education
In High Schools
Dr.. Cannon Contends
Subject Belongs in
ChiIdren's Homes

ChiIdren's Homes
Sex education belongs in the home
and should be removed at once from
the physical education course for
high school seniors. according to
DR.. James A. Cannon, physician
member of the Board of Education.
The doctor expressed this view to
the members of the board at a
meeting yesterday. They accord
ingly asked Acting Supt. of Schools
Robert l.. Haycock to review" the
proposed sex instruction and report
back on it May 5. DR.. Cannon
wishes the entire unit on human
reproduction" to be removed from
the course before the seniors have
a chance to begin their study of it
next month.
The physical education course
first drew the doctors fire last fall,
when he waged two-month fight to
"modernize" instruction on alcohol
and narcotics. He was so busy OBJ
Jecting to that instruction, he said
yesterday, that he had not had a
chance till this month to study the
end OF the course thoroughly.
DR.. Reed Denies Responsibility.
The board members laughed as
the assistant superintendent of
schools in charge of curriculum. DR..
Carroll R. Reed, leaped to his feet to
refute statement that he was re-
sponsible for the physical education
course.
This course seems to be father
less child" commented Charles D,
Drayton. 1t later was brought out
that the course had been prepared
by committee of physical educa-
tion instructors.
Opposition to removal of sex edu-
cation from the schools was voiced
at once by Mrs. P. c. Elicit, presi-
dent of the District Congress of
Parents and Teachers. and Ray H,
Everett, executive director of the
District Social Hygiene Society.
1T should be taught in the
schools" declared Mrs. Elicit. THE
children won't get it any other way"
She said that education to equal
that of the schools is being given
only in those homes where parents
are unusually conscientious and mot
afraid"
Wants 1t in Other Courses.
Mr.. Everett is not only absolutely"
opposed to dropping such instruction
from the physical education course
but stated that is also should be in
tegrated in biology. home economics
and other logical" courses. why
stop giology wit hthe frog?" he de-
clared
High school boys and girls next
year will have short courses of in
struction in conversation in French,
German and Spanish to enable them
to be useful as soldiers or nurses in
other lands, it was announced.
The Board of Education approved
the courses at the same time
that it decided to plead with
the War and Navy Departments to
detail officers to teach the high
school boys and girls physical edu-
cation. There is only one vacancy
in the High School Physical Educa-
ton Department now but officials
expect all 35 of the men teachers to
be gone by next year.
Attempts to get occupational de-
ferment for these instructors will
still be continued, the board decided.
One such request was turned down
by National Selective Service head
quarters April 7, but Brig. Gen.
Lewis B. Hershey will be asked by
the board to reconsider the ruling.
Expansion Postponed.
The shortage of instructors has
postponed expansion of physical
education instruction in the Junior
High Schools, it was announced.
Turning to the history instruction
in the District schools, Mrs. Henry
Grattan Doyle, president of the
board, praised the history teachers
for the high records made by their
pupils in the Sunday evening his
tory quizzes for students on Station
WMAL. At the same time, she said
she believes the proposed new
social studies" instruction for ele-
mentary school children is "just
a bunch of words" She is afraid
that the new course minimizes the
study of facts and the regular tests
that have produced the present
good high standards of the older
children. The board laid the course
over for further study.
The board is also considering a
ruling that will allow public school
teachers complete freedom in decid-
ing how much homework to give
younger pupils.
Fearing Seeks Change.
Present rules call for specific
amounts Of homework for the third
to the eighth grades, ranging from
Is minutes daily for the third to 80
minutes daily for the eighth grade
Board member Charles A. Fearing
wants the rule changed to allow the
teachers to assign lessons at their
own discretion, with due regard
for the maturity, ability, and needs
of the pupils"
Planes will pass directly over the
new Patterson School only when the
wind Is in a certain direction across
Boiling Field, Acting Superintend-
ent of Schools Haycock informed
the board, in answer to a request
for formal protest about the planes
to the Army. The board decided to
write the War Department letter
asking that planes keep away from
the school as much as possible
without mountaineering the pilots.
Only residents Of the District will
be admitted as pupils in the new
Kramer Junior High School, it was
decided. The Kramer already is
overcrowded and children from
Maryland and Virginia will be sent
instead Of the Eliot or Hine Junior
High Schools.