A priest, physician and public school teacher urged members of St. John the Evangelist to support a program of sex education in parochial and public schools to supplement the efforts of parents.

The panelists-Father James F. Scherer, secretary of Catholic Social Services, Dr. J. Norman Berry and John Elfer, an instructor-counselor in the Clayton County school system-all said sex education was the function of the home, but supported additional instruction. They spoke to a combined meeting of the men’s and women’s council.

Father Scherer, the first speaker, said, “Since all Catholic homes don’t function adequately on sex education, I personally feel that the responsibility not only rests with the family, but the church and school.

“The Atlanta educational system is now trying to start a sex education program and I think we need the same thing in the Catholic schools. I ask your support on both levels.”

Father Scherer said many parents soon reach the limit of their capacity to help their own children in sex education. “The children grow in misunderstanding and often run into difficulties with false attitudes.”

He said many parents consider sex education touchy and dangerous. “Others regard it as something primarily verbal-a question and answer session-and feel the child should take the initiative.” He said parents can reflect a healthy attitude toward sex. “When a father comes home from work and kisses his wife while the children are there, the children know that their parents love each other. Is this sex education? You bet it is, and it’s very healthy because of the attitude conveyed to the child.”

Father Scherer said he was sick and tired of sex being used as a game of self-seeking. “This is all the kids see and you must remember we (adults) write the movies, the novels and the advertisements. Then we have the gall to say that teen-agers of today are sexually perverted.”

Dr. Berry, vice chairman of the Archdiocese Board of Education, said, “My generation was not properly instructed in sex education and I hope I have managed to correct the attitudes of my children.” “Our children are not being properly instructed. It will not only require instruction of children but instruction of parents as well.”

“We have not developed any program in the archdiocese to instruct parents. I plea not only for sex education in the schools, but sex education for parents.”

Elfer, who showed a film on sex education before the talks, said in reply to a question that sex education would be only as good as the teacher. He said a school could have a poor teacher in sex education just as schools may have an incompetent guidance counselor. A man asked Elfer, “Has there been criticism against the program? All we are seeing here tonight is that sex education is the best thing since sliced bread.” Elfer replied, “I think it is.”

In replies to several questions, Dr. Berry said if an older child asks a question about sex in the presence of younger children, he did not see any harm in answering it. “The younger children will not assimilate more than their minds can hold.” Asked if sex education should be taught in separate or mixed classed, he replied, “When first beginning the program it might be better to have separate classes, but later on they could be merged. I have presented material to mixed classes.” At the close of the meeting, Father John O’Shea, pastor commented, “I don’t go along with teaching sex education in the classroom. I doubt if it can be done in the public schools. Parents have the responsibility. They should be instructed and let them teach their children.”