CHAPTER II.

Sexual education.

Nurture Necessary as Well as Breed—­Precocious Manifestations of the Sexual Impulse—­Are they to be Regarded as Normal?—­The Sexual Play of Children—­The Emotion of Love in Childhood—­Are Town Children More Precocious Sexually Than Country Children?—­Children’s Ideas Concerning the Origin of Babies—­Need for Beginning the Sexual Education of Children in Early Years—­The Importance of Early Training in Responsibility—­Evil of the Old Doctrine of Silence in Matters of Sex—­The Evil Magnified When Applied to Girls—­The Mother the Natural and Best Teacher—­The Morbid Influence of Artificial Mystery in Sex Matters—­Books on Sexual Enlightenment of the Young—­Nature of the Mother’s Task—­Sexual Education in the School—­The Value of Botany—­Zooelogy—­Sexual Education After Puberty—­The Necessity of Counteracting Quack Literature—­Danger of Neglecting to Prepare for the First Onset of Menstruation—­The Right Attitude Towards Woman’s Sexual Life—­The Vital Necessity of the Hygiene of Menstruation During Adolescence—­Such Hygiene Compatible with the Educational and Social Equality of the Sexes—­The Invalidism of Women Mainly Due to Hygienic Neglect—­Good Influence of Physical Training on Women and Bad Influence of Athletics—­The Evils of Emotional Suppression—­Need of Teaching the Dignity of Sex—­Influence of These Factors on a Woman’s Fate in Marriage—­Lectures and Addresses on Sexual Hygiene—­The Doctor’s Part in Sexual Education—­Pubertal Initiation Into the Ideal World—­The Place of the Religious and Ethical Teacher—­The Initiation Rites of Savages Into Manhood and Womanhood—­The Sexual Influence of Literature—­The Sexual Influence of Art.

CHAPTER III.

Sexual education and nakedness.

The Greek Attitude Towards Nakedness—­How the Romans Modified That
Attitude—­The Influence of Christianity—­Nakedness in Mediaeval
Times—­Evolution of the Horror of Nakedness—­Concomitant Change in the
Conception of Nakedness—­Prudery—­The Romantic Movement—­Rise of a New
Feeling in Regard to Nakedness—­The Hygienic Aspect of Nakedness—­How
Children May Be Accustomed to Nakedness—­Nakedness Not Inimical to
Modesty—­The Instinct of Physical Pride—­The Value of Nakedness in
Education—­The AEsthetic Value of Nakedness—­The Human Body as One of the
Prime Tonics of Life—­How Nakedness May Be Cultivated—­The Moral Value of
Nakedness.

CHAPTER IV.

The valuation of sexual love.