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Special to the Chronicle Cutbacks in funding for family life proâ€" grams could mean a perpetuation of the negative attitudes some North Americans have toward sex and sex education, accordâ€" ing to Dr. John Theis, director of the Family Life and Sex Education P rogra m at St. Jerome‘s College in Waterloo. Dr. Theis said that financial cutbacks are threatening existing sex education proâ€" grams in the U.S. and preventing the develâ€" opment of further courses. This could also become a reality in Canada, Dr. Theis warned. ‘*Sex education in North America has fallen on hard times," he said. He pointed out that changing attitudes toward sex is a long process involving the education of parents Kitchenerâ€"Waterioo residents are being asked to support their local YMCA Building Fund and improve their home lighting fixâ€" tures at the same time. Residents can trade Cost: $26.00 per person for Return Coach & Admission to the Jamboree. For more information call: 886â€"8140 or after 6 p.m. 648â€"2195. Cutbacks worry sex educator â€" Trade in old lamps SATURDAY JULY 11th MOHAWK RACEWAY and teachers as well as children. It may take a generation before stuâ€" dents pass along more enlightened ideas to their own families. Dr. Theis said that although this process was satisfactorily begun in the last deâ€" cade or two, its effecâ€" tiveness is now threatâ€" ened by pressure on school budgets. ‘"‘There was a time not long ago when the process of reâ€"education might have worked, when we might have succeeded in making parents, teachers and kids more comfortable and communicative about sex," he said, ‘"But I‘m afraid this is no longer the case." In spite of developâ€" ments in family life education in the last decade, Dr. Theis said such programs are ‘virtually missing"‘ in many parts of Canada. He pointed out that, by comparison, the Kitchâ€" enerâ€"Waterloo area has fairly good courses of in their old lamps and light fixtures at the Light Touch Ltd. on Parkside Dr. and proâ€" ceeds from the sale of the repaired tradeâ€"ins, to be auctioned off in September, will be doâ€" nated to the Kâ€"W YMCA Building Fund. 10 years. Dr. Theis estimates that in that time at least 2,000 peoâ€" ple from all over Onâ€" tario have taken the ‘courses. study in sex education "I think this commuâ€" nity can be pretty proud. of what‘s been done in its schools," he said. "It makes sense for the school to be inâ€" volved. Given the aura of privacy surrounding sex, teenagers are often able to talk about some things with their teachers that they don‘t feel comfortable discussing at home." Dr. Peter Naus, former director of the St. Jerome‘s program, agreed that K â€"W schools have betterâ€" thanâ€"average proâ€" grams. He feels that, even if families comâ€" municate fairly well, the schools should be involved in the sex eduâ€" cation process. Dr. Naus said this can be the case even if parents are willing and able to discuss sex with their children. St. Jerome‘s College has offered programs in family life and sex education for the past 10 years. Dr. Theis estimates that in that The Ceramic Shoppe (New Owner) 663 Colby Dr., Waterloo Greenware and Total Ceramic Supplies also available For More Information Call Classes starting July 15 Ages 9â€"14 5 Week Class Boys or Girls Tues. to Thurs. 10 to 5 â€" and 6:30 to 9 Saturday 10 to 4 â€" Friday 9 p.m. CLOSED SAT. JUNE 13 OPEN MON. JUNE 15 886â€"0460 CHECK OUR FRIDAY SPECIALS This summer, St. Jerome‘s will offer adâ€" vanced courses of study, including semiâ€" nars on homosexuality, contraception, sex and the handicapped, effecâ€" tive communication and marriage enrichâ€" ment." Students of the proâ€" gram have included both public and sepaâ€" rate school teachers as well as parents and other interested indiâ€" viduals. Although reâ€" gistrants are mainly from the separate schools, Dr. Theis does not feel this is simply because St. Jerome‘s is a Catholic university. "I think the registraâ€" tion reflects existing programs,‘‘ he said. ‘"The separate schools have often been ahead in introducing family life and sex education programs.‘‘ Dr. Theis says there is more likely to be agreement on such courses in the shared values of the Catholic system than in the ‘*pluralistic‘‘ public edâ€" ucation system. Like other experts in the field, Dr. Theis believes that sex must be studied in the conâ€" text of human relaâ€" tionships and values. He said that although the emphasis on sex in magazines, TV and film represents a strik ing change from 20 years ago, it is a myth DATSUN| ~ "v“l an€ HERE * _ euus BE ® «ue DmH â€" _ _ _ Waterlooâ€"County e > M We‘ve Got ... * Special Prices & * Special Interest Rates For our Terrific Selection of the Finest Cars and Trucks Made! We Want You To Know That We‘re .. Determined to Please Dedicated to Fine Personal Service And We Desire to be WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESOAY, JUNE 10, 1981 â€" PAGE 17 SMALL CAR CENTRE that media create val ues for people. "All the media can do is reflect what peoâ€" ple are thinking and doing and replay that to us,"" he said. "What a good sex education YOUR program should do is helip young people look critically at what the media are telling us and help them decide if that is really happiness â€" and whether they want to live like that."