162 SEX 



been superseded. In any case, the fact is 

 that we have, in regard to sex-functions, very 

 little instinctive knowledge of what various 

 phenomena mean, or of v/hat is normal, or of 

 what is to be carefully avoided. A boy or 

 girl may slide into bad sexual habits without 

 being well aware of what is happening. If 

 nothing " straight " is ever said by any one, 

 it is difficult to deny the justice of the sufferer's 

 reproach : " But you never told me anything 

 about that ! " 



INSTRUCTION BY PARENTS. If it be granted 

 that there should be more experimenting in 

 sex-education, the question arises : Who is 

 to instruct? One thinks first, of course, of 

 the parents, who have the greatest responsi- 

 bility and stake, who have, also, in many cases 

 the invaluable organic sympathy. For those 

 of tender years, every one will agree that the 

 wise mother is incomparably the best coun- 

 sellor. But when we face the present-day 

 facts of the case we cannot believe that the 

 solution of the problem lies wholly with 

 parents. It seems that few parents give any 

 sex-instruction to their children, though an 

 increasing number are using some of the 

 excellent little books which have been written 

 in this connection both for parents and 

 children. Few parents are able to utilise the 

 indirect, impersonal, biological approach which 

 seems to be more effective than direct advice. 

 As with religious instruction, many parents 

 who feel their responsibility keenly are too 

 shy to be of much direct use to their children. 

 Moreover, the personal aspect of the case rises 

 too obtrusively in a boy's mind when his 



