REPRODUCTION IN MAN 99 



It is readily seen from these facts that we have 

 been beginning sex instruction from four to six 

 years too late. College teachers have been deal- 

 ing with sex instruction for many years, but their 

 work, comes after the damage has been done. Chil- 

 dren from nine to twelve years old are in the 

 grammar school. Practically all children begin 

 adolescence before entering the high school. 



For a long time parents and teachers deluded 

 themselves into thinking that children of this age 

 did not think about such things. The fundamental 

 life processes remain the same and civilization 

 cannot alter them. If the parent or teacher had 

 but taken time to recall when and where he first 

 gained his information, he would never have cher- 

 ished this delusion. But a second scientific study 

 gives more convincing evidence on this point. This 

 deals with the source of the first information about 

 sex matters. This is again a study of college men 

 and it shows that 91.5 per cent, received their 

 first permanent impression about sex from un- 

 wholesome sources. 



The chief responsibility rests with the parents, 

 many of whom know not where to turn for in- 

 formation. For such it can be said that lists of 

 books are rapidly being made available through 

 libraries, state bop.rds of health and social 

 hygiene societies. Here is where the crucial rela- 

 tion between father and son comes in. If they 



