Anglican Mainstream

By QC 

Imaginary conversation between myself and a friend

So, you’re going to give me some of your views on sex education?

Yes. I should like to start with a few of the views expressed by Oswald Schwarz in his book The Psychology of Sex, written just before his death in 1949.

`Old Hat’, surely. 1949?

Not at all. Surprisingly relevant in fact.

Ok. Fire away!

He claims no one has the right to participate in sex ed who has not a proper sexual life himself.

Makes sense. And that excludes gays? Because they don’t have `a proper sex life’, meaning `blessed by God’ `ordered’ heterosexual sex, and not `disordered’ – against the Divine Order – gay sex?

Of course. Otherwise, sex ed will be just gay propaganda.

Ok. Carry on!

He claims that provided the atmosphere of the home provides for a proper development of the child’s whole personality, no special sex ed is needed.

So, the only sex ed necessary is that provided by the parents – to answer specific questions?

That certainly. But Schwarz is somewhat out of date here. Now, parents are practically obliged to give their children sex ed to counter what they are hearing at school and in the media.

Agreed. And what they are hearing outside their family must be confusing, distressing, even. So…

Yes, the parents must say something, even if it’s only `If you want to know about sex, just ask one of us!’

So, take advantage of the fact that ..

Children are curious about where they came from, the specifics … And even if they see their parents as Old Fogeys, long since past sex, they still

Know their parents are somehow responsible for their birth.

Absolutely! But, when should parents raise the subject of sex? Timing is difficult. No point in teaching child about sex unless he already has sexual awareness.

When do you know that?

When the child is curious about his genitals, commenting on something sexual on TV, making allusion to the sex act …

Seems clear enough

But, Schwarz claims premature sexual curiosity usually indicates neuroticism.

Neuroticism?

The tension between someone’s inner and outer worlds which causes symptoms of anxiety.

Rather out of date, aren’t you?

Makes sense to me. Anyway, the sex ed they’re probably getting at school is encouraging premature sexual curiosity.

Encouraging sexual delinquency, therefore?

I fear so.

So, unless parents are prepared to judiciously discuss sex with their children, they will be at the mercy of `sex-educators’, who may well turn them into sexual delinquents?

Yes!

[to be continued]