hildren.

Concerning all four points of view just mentioned, there are certain
departures from the traditional method that have seemed to me worth
making.

On the physiological side I have given, as far as possible, the
proper terminology for the sex organs and functions. Children have
had to read the expurgated literature which has been specially
prepared for them in poetic or colloquial terms, and then are
needlessly mystified when they hear things called by their real
names.

On the side of natural science, I have emphasized our unlikeness to
the plants and animals rather than our likeness, for while the points
we have in common with the lower orders make an interesting section
in our general education, it is knowing about the vital points in
which we differ that helps us to solve the sexual problems of
maturity; and the child needs that knowledge precisely as he needs
knowledge of everything which will fortify him for wise decisions
when he is grown.

On the moral side, I have tried to avoid confusion and dogmatism in
the following ways: by eliminating fear of venereal disease as an
appeal for strictly limited sex relations, stating candidly that
venereal disease _is_ becoming curable; by barring out all mention of
"brute" or "animal" passion, terms frequently used in pleas for
chastity and self control, as such talk is an aspersion on the brutes
and has done children much harm in giving them the impression that
there is an essential baseness in the sex relation; by inviting the
inference that marriage is "sacred" by virtue of its being a
reflection of human ideality rather than because it is a legalized
institution.

Unquestionably the stress which most writers have laid upon the
beauty of nature's plans for perpetuating the plant and animal
species, and the effort to have the child carry over into human life
some sense of that beauty has come from a most commendable instinct
to protect the child from the natural shock of the revelation of so
much that is unesthetic and revolting in human sex life. The nearness
of the sex organs to the excretory organs, the pain and messiness of
childbirth are elements which certainly need some compensating
antidote to prevent their making too disagreeable and
disproportionate an impress on the child's mind.

The results are doubtless good as far as they go, but they do not go
nearly far enough. What else is there to call upon to help out? Why,
the one thing which has bee