very things which normally should be and would be kept out of the life. There is also a distinct repugnance to such instruction, even after puberty, that has grown up in society because of the ban it has placed upon the open discussion of matters pertaining to reproduction, excepting as they are treated as a necessary part of the course in schools of medicine. Whether or not the morality and health of the race have suffered as a result of this secrecy, it must still be remembered that social sentiments which are the products of the centuries are not lightly to be disregarded. And it should also be remembered that, as a result of these sentiments, few have made the study of the problem which would enable them to become competent instructors of the young in matters pertaining to the sexes. Even physicians have been trained only in the pathology of the sex relations and know very little indeed concerning the practical psychology, pedagogy, or hygiene of sex. While such men as Doctor G. Stanley Hall believe that sex instruction should be given by parents, especially by mothers to daughters, they recognize that only a very few mothers are competent to do so, and that in most cases sex-shame makes it hard for fathers to speak out plainly to their adolescent sons. If therefore instruction is to be given, the burden of it should fall upon those who must first be thoroughly prepared for the work, whether these persons be physicians, teachers, or parents.

And in this preparation for sex instruction it should be remembered that sex hygiene deals with a two-fold problem-sex health has a mental side as well as a physical. As Doctor Hall says, if either the mind or the body is " sluggish, idle, unoccupied, sex is so imperious that it tends to push to the front and possess both, and may easily come to dominate interest, especially through the adolescent decade." No amount of knowledge, however fit, adequate, and timely, is then sufficient to guarantee that sex desire will not break down prudence, shame, honor, and decency and defy conscience and religion. Hence, whether we instruct in sex hygiene or not, we must add to all instruction of the young absorbing occupation. "For the body, active, healthful, daily exercise to the point of normal fatigue, and for the mind interests of every worthy sort,

intellectual, social, æsthetic, vocational, religious. Every healthful zest and activity makes directly for sexual hygiene." But to this, if we instruct in the subject at all, must be added an active cultivation of specific sentiments and ideals on the subject, with the purpose of developing honorable feelings toward the opposite sex as well as a desire for worthy descendants. The respect due mothers and sisters and the mothers and sisters of other boys should be impressed upon all boys, young and old. Girls should clearly understand that the attention of no young man is really worthy or permanent which cannot be held by means that do not compromise self-respect." And both boys and girls should be led to understand the supreme value of taking proper care of their bodies, so that when marriage occurs the sacred germ of life may be transmitted untainted to future generations.

The best approach for sex teaching is through plant and animal life. This may be so correlated with other information that children are not at first conscious that they are getting sex knowledge. And at no time should sex instruction be given in a way that makes either pupil or instructor feel that an unnatural or forbidden subject is under consideration. Whatever sex instruction is given, either at home or at school, should be clear and frank and should always deal with the normal side of the subject. Instruction that deals with immorality is not only objectionable but is of less effect than instruction in sex health and sex temperance. There is serious objection to young people being admitted to sex hygiene exhibits, because of the probability of their seeing things which, because they do not clearly understand them, will be suggestive and harmful. The advisability of presenting the pathological aspects of sex hygiene even to older people is questioned by many, especially if such presentation is unaccompanied by authoritative talks and explanations. We now know that no one is deterred from wrong doing by the possibilities of dreadful punishment through disease. Would-be offenders are always deterred more by the certainty of punishment than by its severity; and individuals are always quite willing to assume the risks of escape especially when their worst passions are aroused. All discussions of the

immoral side of sex problems should be left for individual instruction and influence rather than to public discussions and displays.

Some incline to the view that the church as well as the school should take the lead in sex instruction. Jane Addams takes this view when in speaking of the social evil she says, "If it is made clear that youth is ensnared because of its ignorance of the most fundamental facts of life, then it is the duty of the church to promote public instruction for girls and lads, which shall dignify sex knowledge and free it from all indecency." The Vice Commission of Chicago, in its recently published report, places the responsibility for sex instruction upon the churches, the schools, and the parents of that city. In its recommendation to the schools it says, "We recommend that the Board of Education appoint a committee to investigate thoroughly the advisability and methods of teaching social hygiene to the older pupils in the public schools." To parents it says, "Great emphasis should be placed on parental responsibility and upon the effects of church and school in informing parents how to safeguard their children in sex life and relationship." Such work on the part of parents is probably, after all, the most important part of any instruction or help in the matter that can be given. The real basis of all effective sex teaching is the kind of influence which reaches the individual. Differences in physical condition, in physical development, in environmental influences, and in temperament will always make this true in sex hygiene just as it is in morals. The basis of successful work in both of these lines is companionship and confidence. Without these, little will be accomplished beyond the mere furnishing of information. And experience has amply proved this to be no effective safeguard.

Doctor Grafsman of Munich has very clearly summed up the essentials of sex teaching in a paper which he read before an educational commission in that city in May, 1912. His statements were in substance as follows: I. There is need of such instruction owing to the spread of venereal disease and to the injurious effects of an increasing abuse of the sexual functions. The great increase of population, especially in crowded centres, our growing commerce and

intercourse with other lands, the growth of wealth, and in the United States the great yearly influx of foreign people with their lower standards of morality, make it necessary that educators take practical account of this need. 2. The backbone of the training must always be the cultivation of will-power-the development of character. Too much reliance must not be placed upon knowledge, and the instruction given must be of an intellectual and not sentimental nature, and adapted as much as possible to the individual temperament. More energy must be thrown into the efforts to develop right thoughts and character in respect to sex relations. Respect for the opposite sex must be cultivated. The consciousness of the duty toward society of preserving one's health and power must be realized. Sexual preoccupation of the mind must be antagonized on the principle of "displacement," the readiest means for the purpose being bodily exercise and physical culture. 3. Sexual instruction should in the main be imparted by the family, especially the instruction most directly applicable to the particular case. This family work needs to be organized and the parents instructed by lectures, etc., given by physicians and duly qualified teachers. 4. A radical remedy of the evil cannot be effected without careful supervision of youth and their environment. All corrupt elements should be banished from the school community without regard to persons, although without public expulsion or any special thought of punishment. 5. Pupils of secondary grade should be suitably warned against sexual dangers by means of lectures, attendance at which is not obligatory. At Halle these lectures are first held before the parents and then given to the students.

EUGENICS.-Society is interested in sex instruction not merely for the sake of preventing disease and immorality, but also that the children born into the world may initially be better animals, and that by the time they themselves become parents they shall be better fitted to meet the demands of an upward evolution in human affairs. call made by Herbert Spencer so many years ago for training for parenthood is at last beginning to receive attention in almost every civilized country. And the school shall have to face the fact that it has done entirely too little

The

toward educating for home life and practically nothing in the way of training the homing instincts, or in guiding and guarding youth from the mistakes that wreck homes and seriously threaten the general welfare of society. Although in the matter of mating love will probably always be too subtle for analysis and too determined to brook control, there are many things essential to satisfactory home making which our youth should know before the school yields up its control over them. The frequent unhappiness and failures of married life emphasize the need of helpful enlightenment on this subject. And the rapid growth of divorce especially emphasizes the need. America, this enlightened nation which leads the world in so many things, is also with one exception, Japan, beginning to lead the world in the number of divorces granted each year. As one writer has said: "Leaving out statutory causes as grounds for divorce, the bulk of the rest can be summed up in these words: The wife refuses to be the home-maker." This same writer, Margaret Woodward, writing for Suburban Life, says: "We American women are either society women, club women, church women, or business women. It is somewhat rarely that you can find one who can be distinctly labelled as a home woman. That genus is rapidly disappearing from the States, and is being replaced by the progressive' woman. Now a woman cannot belong to the various clubs, guilds, leagues, circles, and lodges, either secular or religious, without neglecting her home duties, presupposing that she is a wife and mother." As parents, teachers, and preachers of right living, what are we going to do about it? Is it my duty as a teacher, yours as a preacher or a parent, or the duty of all of us, to fulfill a part in remedying these conditions, especially with our young people?

Health and Efficiency.

It has been estimated that the loss in the United States from preventable disease is annually at least two billions of dollars. From tuberculosis alone it has been placed at $330,000,000. Some one has estimated that there is on the average a loss of 13 days each year from sickness for every man, woman, and child old enough to attend school. And