SEX PHYSIOLOGY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 12 July 1912, Page 3

SEX PHYSIOLOGY.

TEACHING THE TEACHERS. EVIDENCE BEFORE EDUCATION COGVLMISSION. ADELAIDE,. June 5. Dr Ramsay Smith, head of the Department of Health, giving evidence betore the Education Commission, said in England the most important step, in education circles was lately the binding together of the Education Department and the Health Department. In Prussia attention had been devoted to the education of the individual to fit him to be a better citizen; but the central point—that of race culture—had been avoided. Recently in , America and Switzerland Chairs had been established for what was known as Social Engineering, dealing with many problems of national importance. The medical inspection of schools was only a means to an end. It meant much, but was by no means the most important step in the education, system. Sex physiology touched one thing of tne most vital'importance'' to the human Tace. The whole subject was surrounded .by a veil of lamentable ignorance. The present teaching on sex matters consisted in telling boys and girls what they must not do on pain of present disease, or hell-fire hereafter. It was an attempt to make children pure by making them prurient. It was like teaching parrots to be'good by telling them, what they must not say. He had read most publications on the matter, and he would be very sorry to see them in the hands of any boy_ or girl of his. The matter must be taken up by proper-ly-qualified, persons and treated, in a proper manner. Unfortunately, it was a branch of study sadly neglected. The study of the normal human man formed no part in the medical curriculum. An average teacher of infants almost invariably knew more .about the mind of a healthy child than a registered doctor. The function of sex, organs, skin, as far as the mental and moral aspect was concerned, were nearly always ignored' in the -best physiological text-books. Only when the subject of insanity, cropped up, could any reference be found to them, and then perversions were dealt with, and not normal conditions. The. average medical layman was worse off in the knowledge of sex physiology than the ordinary layman, because, having been taught a certain amount about racial he thought he had learned everything. Preparing teachers to imnart the necessary safeguarding knowledge to children was''the most import--ant duty- of a medical 5 officer. The question whether this instruction should 'be i had now been answered in the af-:/ I firmative by every authority. TheVposi-; | t:on was narrowed down to the question of procedure. Should there he prelirn- | inarv teaching at home? At that age i should sex and Eugenic teaching be I piveh in schools? What form should such instruction take, and how should such instruction be given? They were four questions waiting to be decided. Under present conditions most of the teaching would devolve upon parents, schoolmasters, clergymen, or doctors. ■ Few pafents were qualified for such a task, and the same might be said of most clergymen. The ultimate solution would probably be the-appointment of a staff of experts. All teaching must be author-, ative, and given with perfect frankness. 'Everything depended on the personality, of the teacher. A man could say anything even to a woman, without giving offence, if it were said properly. The phases of Tace culture were of the moss vital importance to Austiana. The Chairmaiv: And you think we should begin by teaching the teachers? Dr Smith.: Yes, and,, following that, ! the establishment of classes for- elder girls, as constituted in Tasmania by Act of Parliament. The Chairman: Can you suggest any-. thing that can bo dropped, so that this new subject might not be too heavy a burden of the teachers? / ; Dr Smith: The whole education system needs reorganising, and needless expenditure of much energy can be saved. You do not pedal the wheels of a; bicycle down hi!!, and the some principle applies to life. When a-'parent teaches its child to wnlk, it is really doing unmitigated mischief. Let the youngster alone, and he will learn to walk by himself all right. Ordinary instruction m reading is unnecessary, too. An observant child will pick up that faculty, in # spite of you. " The teaching of composition and drawing, too, is over-laboured. The whole curriculum wants to be revised. Examinations and preparations for examinations' run away with an enormous amount of time, for T which there is not sufficient compensation. <■'■ The Chairman: You come a good deal into contact with the teachers?—l do. The 'Chairman : Is there any. justification for teachers asking to be relieved of some of their duties because of excessive strain? —There is only too much cause.