EDUCATION AND THE FUTURE OF THE RACE 311 



self-consciousness and a detrimental dwelling on a 

 subject which ought to be kept in the dark. It is 

 true that this is in many cases a prominent motive 

 of parents in ignoring the sex problem. But this 

 motive is often conjoined with another the pain- 

 fulness to themselves of attempting to discuss a sub- 

 ject so difficult and so distasteful. As a result of 

 this attitude on the part of parents their children are 

 commonly deprived of very important help which 

 might be given them. This is, however, the very 

 point on which people disagree some contending 

 that there is nothing to be done, others holding that 

 the rational enlightenment of adolescent children is 

 almost certain to result in benefit to them. 



It is certain that the nervous systems of some 

 young people require more protection than others in 

 the direction of enlightenment designed to bring 

 about a better control of the sex instinct ; it is 

 equally certain that all normal nervous systems need 

 such help in some degree. This help should come 

 from the parents rather than from hired teachers, 

 but it is better that it should come from teachers 

 than that it should not come at all. It should come 

 from fathers to their sons, and from mothers to their 

 daughters, but if conditions do not permit this ideal 

 relation, the father should be prepared to help his 

 daughter, or the mother her son. And what shall 

 they teach, and how shall they teach it ? Although 

 volumes might be written in answer to these ques- 

 tions, there are a few principles that may be looked 



