PHELPS 295 



or apology or hesitation, and with no more or less sentiment at- 

 tached than to any other subject. The naturalness of the re- 

 productive processes will be best emphasized by naturalness of 

 method. There is little need of preaching or of making appli- 

 cation. "Facts talk," because facts are the most potent things in 

 the world. If a child is early and correctly taught he is much 

 less likely, as we all know, to use vulgar language or indulge in 

 wrong practices than he would otherwise be. The old method 

 of letting a child alone in his life explorations has resulted usually 

 in his finding, and that right early, only the distorted and untrue 

 concerning matters of sex. The time has come to try a new 

 method. We can scarcely make things worse. 



In addition to this nature study in the lower grades, we advo- 

 cate to the class that formal science lessons both in botany and 

 zoology be given in the upper grades, and somewhere early in 

 the adolescent period a little work in civics in order to awaken 

 the dormant social conscience of the child. When we are all as 

 much aware as we should be of our place in the social group 

 and our responsibility to the race, we shall be more concerned 

 about being good parents and raising fine children. I hold that 

 if boys and girls, while the age of chivalry and romance is dawn- 

 ing, be made to have civic pride and take some active part in 

 civic affairs, they will not only be kept out of mischief and pre- 

 pared for adult citizenship, but they will find later an application 

 for all their biologic knowledge. The biology and the history 

 teachers need to work together. 



For the sake of the home as well as the school, I urge upon 

 the class the co-operation of teachers and parents. The young 

 women are asked to find out what the parents are attempting, 

 and then to devise ways and means to help them. The formation 

 of parents' clubs is urged, in which the matter of instruction of 

 children in sex and control of sex evils shall be discussed along 

 with many other matters. The students are warned of the evils 

 of isolated play, of masturbation, and of vulgar pictures and com- 

 munications, and are told to deal with these matters at once and 

 privately. They are likewise given specific instruction for the 

 treatment of cases of masturbation among young school chil- 

 dren. 



In regard to the suggested high school work in biology if 

 botany and zoology have not been given in the seventh and eighth 

 grades, I advise their being given in the first year of the high 

 school course, and made compulsory for all students. The course 

 in physiology and hygiene can best be given in the senior year 

 of the high school after the work in chemistry and physics, and 

 should include the dissection of a small mammal by each pupil, 

 and the study of the general embryology of birds and mammals. 



