SEX INSTRUCTION

Otago Witness, Issue 3522, 13 September 1921, Page 7

SEX INSTRUCTION

PROPOSED ADVISORY COUNCIL. USING THE RIGHT LITERATURE. The important question of making suitable information on matters of sex available for adolescents was brought before the Dunedin Presbytery at its meeting on the 6th inst. The matter has already been engaging- the attention of a special committee and the position was explained to the Presbytery by a letter to the clerk from the Rev. 11. H. Barton, who r is actingconvener of this committee. ’Hie letter was as follows : At the request of a representative committee I am convening a meeting of those interested in forming an advisory council in Dunedin to deal with instruction in matters of sex. The committee had had before it two facts which are generally admitted: (1) The need for sane and wholesome guidance, especialiy for adolescents, in regard to these matters, and (2) the literature now available, some of it of high value, and some which might do considerable harm if placed in the hands of adolescents. It was felt that those more immediately concerned in any endeavour in this direction were the ministers of religion, school teachers, medical men, social workers, and the Y.RI.C.A. ; and 1 am addressing this letter to the various representative bodies with a view to holding a meeting in the Y.IVLC.A. building on Friday, October 7, at 4 p.m. The Rev. Canon Neviil will introduce the subject. Mr Barton said he had been acting as temporary convenor of a committee that had been giving considerable attention to this matter Among them were several headmasters and social service workers. There was a feeling on the part of these and of medical men that some such body should be formed. One fact was that there was a good deal of literature now available and offered for sale in the bookshops. Some of it was of high value, and some of it might do very considerable harm if it got into the hands of young jjeople. It was felt by the committee that one thing that might very well be done was to look into this literature arid advise those who desired to make use of it. possibly also something might bo done in the way of preventing literature unsuitable for the class they had particularly in view from coming into their hands. He did not think there Was any necessity for making representations which would appear to involve the idea that there was an alarming growth of the social e\ il in our community. They' had no desire to make any suggestion of that kind. The move was purely an educational one born of a desire to help those who were more immediately concerned with the matter. It was felt that the Church, from its position in the community, must take an interest in matters of this kind.