Youth and the Race

The book deals with the specific topic of what and when sex instruction should be given to young people. It believes that sex instruction should come simply and naturally in answer to questions or curiosity. It should not be exploited or unduly magnified and should not be separated from moral instruction in general. Emphasis should be on the achievement of a healthy and happy marriage rather than on the dangers of illicit intercourse. Recognizing that knowledge itself is not a complete safeguard of virtue it emphasizes the desirability of giving sex instruction under conditions which elicit sympathetic understanding between listener and instructor. The content of the school curriculum is surveyed and plans for carrying out the general responsibilities of the community for the adolescent are preserved.