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The suppression of economic knowledge； disastrous as it is； is quite
intelligible； its corrupt motive being as clear as the motive of a burglar for
concealing his jemmy from a policeman。 But the other great suppression
in our schools； the suppression of the subject of sex； is a case of taboo。
In mankind； the lower the type； and the less cultivated the mind； the less
courage there is to face important subjects objectively。 The ablest and
most highly cultivated people continually discuss religion； politics； and
sex： it is hardly an exaggeration to say that they discuss nothing else
with fully…awakened interest。 Commoner and less cultivated people；
even when they form societies for discussion； make a rule that politics and
religion are not to be mentioned； and take it for granted that no decent
person would attempt to discuss sex。 The three subjects are feared
because they rouse the crude passions which call for furious gratification
in murder and rapine at worst； and； at best； lead to quarrels and
undesirable states of consciousness。
Even when this excuse of bad manners； ill temper； and brutishness （for
that is what it comes to） compels us to accept it from those adults among
whom political and theological discussion does as a matter of fact lead to
the drawing of knives and pistols； and sex discussion leads to obscenity； it
has no application to children except as an imperative reason for training
them to respect other people's opinions； and to insist on respect for their
own in these as in other important matters which are equally dangerous：
for example； money。 And in any case there are decisive reasons； superior；
like the reasons for suspending conventional reticences between doctor
and patient； to all considerations of mere decorum； for giving proper
instruction in the facts of sex。 Those who object to it （not counting
coarse people who thoughtlessly seize every opportunity of affecting and
parading a fictitious delicacy） are； in effect； advocating ignorance as a
safeguard against precocity。 If ignorance were practicable there would
be something to be said for it up to the age at which ignorance is a danger
instead of a safeguard。 Even as it is； it seems undesirable that any special
emphasis should be given to the subject； whether by way of delicacy and
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A TREATISE ON PARENTS AND CHILDREN
poetry or too impressive warning。 But the plain fact is that in refusing to
allow the child to be taught by qualified unrelated elders （the parents
shrink from the lesson； even when they are otherwise qualified； because
their own relation to the child makes the subject impossible between them）
we are virtually arranging to have our children taught by other children in
guilty secrets and unclean jests。 And that settles the question for all
sensible people。
The dogmatic objection； the sheer instinctive taboo which rules the
subject out altogether as indecent； has no age limit。 It means that at no
matter what age a woman consents to a proposal of marriage； she should
do so in ignorance of the relation she is undertaking。 When this actually
happens （and apparently it does happen oftener than would seem possible）
a horrible fraud is being practiced on both the man and the woman。 He is
led to believe that she knows what she is promising； and that he is in no
danger of finding himself bound to a woman to whom he is eugenically
antipathetic。 She contemplates nothing but such affectionate relations as
may exist between her and her nearest kinsmen； and has no knowledge of
the condition which； if not foreseen； must come as an amazing revelation
and a dangerous shock； ending possibly in the discovery that the marriage
has been an irreparable mistake。 Nothing can justify such a risk。 There
may be people incapable of understanding that the right to know all there
is to know about oneself is a natural human right that sweeps away all the
pretences of others to tamper with one's consciousness in order to produce
what they choose to consider a good character。 But they must here bow
to the plain mischievousness of entrapping people into contracts on which
the happiness of their whole lives depends without letting them know what
they are undertaking。
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A TREATISE ON PARENTS AND CHILDREN
Alleged Novelties in Modern
Schools
There is just one more nuisance to be disposed of before I come to the
positive side of my case。 I mean the person who tells me that my
schooldays belong to a bygone order of educational ideas and institutions；
and that schools are not now a bit like my old school。 I reply； with Sir
Walter Raleigh； by calling on my soul to give this statement the lie。
Some years ago I lectured in Oxford on the subject of Education。 A
friend to whom I mentioned my intention said； 〃You know nothing of
modern education： schools are not now what they were when you were a
boy。〃 I immediately procured the time sheets of half a dozen modern
schools； and found； as I expected； that they might all have been my old
school： there was no real difference。 I may mention； too； that I have
visited modern schools； and observed that there is a tendency to hang
printed pictures in an untidy and soulless manner on the walls； and
occasionally to display on the mantel…shelf a deplorable glass case
containing certain objects which might possibly； if placed in the hands of
the pupils； give them some practical experience of the weight of a pound
and the length of an inch。 And sometimes a scoundrel who has rifled a
bird's nest or killed a harmless snake encourages the children to go and do
likewise by putting his victims into an imitation nest and bottle and
exhibiting them as aids to 〃Nature study。〃 A suggestion that Nature is
worth study would certainly have staggered my schoolmasters； so perhaps
I may admit a gleam of progress here。 But as any child who attempted to
handle these dusty obj