1965: why the need for a sex information and education council of the united states as a new, separate organization.... Why indeed? The answers to these questions would be as numerous, and as varied, as the three-dozen directors of SIECUS SIECUS Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States . These directors selected for their professional achievements, are leaders who are associated with a wide number of fields and a variety of organizations already concerned with aspects of human sexuality This article is about human sexual perceptions. For information about sexual activities and practices, see Human sexual behavior. Generally speaking, human sexuality is how people experience and express themselves as sexual beings. . Why, then, have they chosen to lend commitment and personal prestige to SIECUS? Because it is their conviction that a new organizational approach--a council, a community of interests--is needed now "to establish man's sexuality as a healthy entity ... to dignify dig·ni·fy tr.v. dig·ni·fied, dig·ni·fy·ing, dig·ni·fies 1. To confer dignity or honor on; give distinction to: dignified him with a title. 2. it by openness of approach, study, and scientific research designed to lead toward its understanding and its freedom from exploitation...." Existing organizations--tick them off--have an established public reputation for a given point of view about sexuality ... and with that point of view they contribute to public understanding. But, in every case, their program responsibilities necessarily focus around or go beyond human sexuality per se. SIECUS objectives focus sharply and directly on it. By the very nature of the SIECUS Board, unity results only from a common positive, open, scientific approach to human sexual behavior
In effect, SIECUS holds, as a director has said, that "sex education, in the best sense today, means training people emotionally and intellectually to be able to make intelligent and well-informed well-informed Adjective knowing a lot about a great variety of subjects or about one particular subject Adj. 1. well-informed - possessing sound knowledge; "well-informed readers" intelligent choices among an array of competing alternatives." This task begins with training the teachers themselves. And SIECUS is ready to supplement this important function of colleges, universities, and a wide number of organizations. But, for such education to win acceptance and implementation, broad-spectrum broad-spectrum adj. Effective against a wide range of organisms, especially gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. broad-spectrum adjective interests must join hands--in council--to document common concern and the capacity for united efforts.... Excerpted from SIECUS Newsletter, Volume 1, Number 1, February, 1965. Wallace Wal·lace , Alfred Russel 1823-1913. British naturalist who developed a concept of evolution that paralleled the work of Charles Darwin. Fulton, M.P.H., Founding Board Member |
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