Sex Problems

New Zealand Listener, Volume 7, Issue 179, 27 November 1942, Page 3

Sex Problems

T is inevitable that war should cause some disturbance of our social standards and natural that we should be worried about it. The Wanganui Education Board is worried, and that is good. The very frank report presented last week by its senior inspector, and passed on for action to other Boards, was not a word stronger than such a situation demands. It was in fact not strong enough if its foundation of facts was sound. But it is very difficult to verify such facts. It is possible to say that the sale of certain articles is increasing or ..decreasing, that the number of people’ undergoing treatment in hospitals and clinics has since a certain date risen or fallen, but no-one, on the evidence of such facts alone, can pretend to know the situation as a whole. Besides, there is a sharp conflict between the facts submitted by the Wanganui inspector and _ those offered by navy, army, and air force doctors. While he says, and perhaps says truly, that "venereal disease is spreading like a plague among our people", reports from the fighting forces *suggest that there is relatively little venereal disease in camps and on ships and that there has never keen much since the war started. Both statements may be true: venereal disease may be under control among soldiers and out of control among the. civilian population; but if that is the case it is unusual. Most people, while feeling glad that the Education authorities are moving, will feel at the same time that it is easier to make alarming statements than to prove them. In the meantime there are some things that we all do know. One is that promiscuity is a social, moral, and physical abomination. Another is that sex’ instruction in school will not stop the sale and use of contraceptives, and may increase it. A third is that talking about venereal disease to children is about as sensible as taking them into a slaughter house to turn them against war. A fourth is that no parent and no teacher need hesitate to give children true, simple, and satisfying answers to their questions as they arise. A fifth is that the worst way of imparting sex instruction is to hand it over to the morbid and kinked people of both sexes who emerge, like worms after rain, as often as there is an alarm about sexual aberrations among young people. Finally we must never forget in dealing with children that it is often wise to be blind and deaf.