Sex-Education
There is no subject on which dogmatism is less justified than sex-teaching, regarding which there is at the moment very animated discussion in different parts of the country. Unless it is to be assumed—a quite indefensible assumption—that children are to be given no instruction and no guidance at all on this vitally important subject, a choice must be made between two or three possible methods. In many ways the best person to convey the necessary information is the parent ; but it must be recognised that that is a rule with many exceptions, due to the temperament of the particular child, or the particular parent, or both. Objective and unemotional teaching in the course of the ordinary school curriculum, such as the London County Council and other educational authorities are now arranging, is a wise step, in spite of the danger that it may give a stimulus to out-of-school discussions and conversations that . may be anything but salutary. A third method, for which there is much to be said, is to put in the hands of the individual child one of the many books now available in which all requisite informa- tion about the human body and its processes is conveyed in straight- forward language without paraphrase or evasion. There are un- doubtedly children, both boys and girls, who would be genuinely embarrassed by class-lessons on sex. In such cases this last method ought not to be ruled out. It may well be questioned, moreover, whether sex-education should be imparted to any child against the will of its parents, particularly in the form of class-teaching. The parents are unwise to object to it. They themselves need education in this matter. But parents are being left rather few rights in these days.. There is no justification in depriving them of this one.
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