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September 1971
sive, puritanically domineering father
may trigger . the emotional and psy·
chological conditions that will produce
homosexual tendencies in a girl.
It
is clear that the
characler of the
father
and his interpersonal relations
with the child during the impressionate
yeacs seem to be most crucial. Dr. Ir–
ving Bieber reports tbat he has never
interviewed a homosexual man who had
a close, warm relationship with his
father. As psychiatrist Warren
J.
Gad–
paille put it,
"A
healthy mother
prevent her son's having inappropriate
apprehensions toward women and can
foster healthy attitudes toward rnale–
ness, but ideally
it requires a man to
prodr1ce men."
He concluded that,
"A
psychologically good father appears to
be a specific protection against develop–
ment as a homosexual"
(Sex11ai Behav–
ior,
April 1971, p.
7).
7.
lnstil/ strong characler in yo11r
chi/d.
To a large extent, right character
is learned by observing and emulating
the actions and attitudes of good par–
cnts. However, there is also a need to
teach a child directly that there are
physical and spiritual laws which gov·
ern every facet of life. He must learn
that lasting happiness and fulfillment in
all of life, including sex, can only result
from operating within those laws. He
must be convinced that breaking laws
will
aiwa)'I
hurt him, not just simply if
he gets caught. And, that no matter
how appealing it may be to ignore those
laws just for a moment, it is far wiser to
exercise self-discipline and choose the
right way -
aitua)'S.
Remember, successful character train–
ing depends on parents. That means the
"buck'' stops with
yottf
Dr. Edward A. Tyler, assistant deaa
and professor of psychiatry at Indiana
University School of Medicine, summed
up the entire sex education issue when
he wrote, "There'd be no need for sex
education anywhere if every child had
parents who provided a model of loving
tenderness, who encouraged inqujsitive
concern about any and all things
human, and who answered all questions
freelt'
(Hospila/ Physician,
October
1970, p. 118).
About now you are probably think–
ing, "That's all well and good, but how
can I answer all those guestions - I
The
PLAIN TRUTH
just don't have the knowledge
!"
Well,
don't be discouraged, not rnany parents
have. But, there is a source right in
your neighborhood that could and
should
be
making that kaowledge avail–
able to you.
What Schools Should Be Doing
Did you know that the strongest ar–
gument foc placing sex education in the
schools has been the belief that pacents
are neither able nor willing to teach
their own children about sex?
But, what is even more disturbing is
the realization that parents apparently
have been written off as
rmedrteab/e!
Yes, educators have apparently had so
little confidence in the intelligence of
parents that they have made little effort
to educate them in the area of sex.
But, it ought to be clear from what
has already been said that parents need
sex education
first.
The schools cannot
be allowed to simply write off the
present atlult generation as too igno–
rant or too much trouble to educate in
19
this area. As Dr. Brunstetter put it,
"... sex education is
most needed
among adr1its
who for the space of this
generation are charged with the care of
the world ..."
(California Medicine,
May 1970, p. 12).
The guestion you need to ask is, why
don't the schools institute
sex ed11cation
programs for parmts?
Why not a whole
series of adult workshops and study
groups, or at least regular packets of sex
education study materials (as offered in
this artide) sent home for parents?
These are good questions that someone
needs to ask school administrators.
The schools can and should render a
far greater service to the nations than
they presently are. They should be
assisting in upgrading the ability of
parents to instruct their own children.
In that way the
facts
of sex could be
y taught within the context of
the
moral vai11es
of each individual
family unit, which is as it ought to be.
It's Up
to
You
But whether or not you are able to
influence your local school adminis·
tration to begin providing sex education
programs for parents - whether or not
the controversy continues to swirl
around the sex education issue - you
cannot just sit back and wait, ignoring
thc de facto sex education bombarding
your child every day.
Neither can you just be "anti" every–
thing. You need a positive approach
and program, so why not begin by writ–
ing for the literature we mentioned ear–
lier.
It
is provided absolutely free of
charge as a public service of Ambassa–
dor College. Then start to apply the
principies we have suggested in your
family. Accept the challenge of truly as–
suming your full role in the character
training and sex education of your
children.
One day you may be called upon per–
sonally to account for the children you
have been given. Will you attempt to
excuse away a bad job by pleading igno–
rance and shifting the blarne to the
public schools? Or will you accept your
God-given responsibiljty now and be
able to point with confidence and pride
to the fruit of your labors?
Remember, in every sense,
iJ's
)'Ottr
baby/
D