I assume Sedayne was being as facetious (as ever) on such pagan / folkloric matters; after all the Maypole is about as phallic as it gets no matter how sanitised by the Victorians. And since when do kids need to be taught about sex?

I include the words of Maypole Dance from Paul Giovanni's score to The Wicker Man as a contemporary exemplification of something very ancient & perennial. In the film the song is sung by kids.