The wonderful story of life : a mother's talks with her daughter regarding life and its reproduction / reprinted by the British Social Hygiene Council ... by permission of the United States Public Health Service.
- United States Public Health Service
- Date:
- [1933]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The wonderful story of life : a mother's talks with her daughter regarding life and its reproduction / reprinted by the British Social Hygiene Council ... by permission of the United States Public Health Service. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![FOREWORD. To-day most enlightened parents recognise the need of instructing their children in matters of sex. They know that such instruction is of real value for wholesome development ; that it pre- vents much needless worry and possible bad practices on the part otf the growing child. They understand also that it provides a valuable pro- tection later against the very serious venereal diseases. In increasing number parents are endeavouring to teach their children, and the results achieved indicate very clearly the import- ance of widely extending this work. Eventually every child should be instructed concerning sex matters just as surely as it is taught to walk, to eat properly, to wash. Nevertheless, this instruction is not altogether an easy task for many parents. Their own educa- tion along this line was too negative ; it created a false modesty which they find it hard to overcome. And yet most of them, as has been said, realise its importance, not to say its necessity. They do not mean to allow their child to go forth into the world unprepared. They know that reliable in- formation on sex subjects is essential for happiness and well-being. They realise that too often such instruction as is given comes altogether too late. They are convinced that sex education is one of their responsibilities to their children, just as it is their duty to teach the care of the teeth, good manners, and habits of cleanliness. Yet they can- not bring themselves to the point of telling the [3]](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b32172060_0005.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
