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<br />heart in the family circle ; whether a disregard for strict truth-
<br />fulness has been learnt from the language or actions of those,
<br />from whom should have proceeded not merely precepts of virtue
<br />and integrity, but examples of probity, of truthfulness, of self-
<br />respect, and of reverence for God. And, as you ask yourselves
<br />these questions, remember the language of the pure and gentle
<br />one of Nazareth, " It must needs be that offences come, but woe
<br />unto him by whom they come."
<br />With these remarks, we conclude our Report. We cannot do
<br />it, however, without commending the cause of education and
<br />the interests of our schools to the devoted encouragement and
<br />fidelity of all in our midst. Above all, we humbly supplicate
<br />for them the blessing and the guidance of an overruling Prov-
<br />idence.
<br />Respectfully submitted for the Committee,
<br />THEODORE H. DORR.
<br />THEODORE H. DORY.,
<br />W. B. RANDOLPH, Committee.
<br />IRA LELAND.
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<br />quence many have had cause to repent. But, if parents take
<br />an opposite course, every one can see where it will lead, and
<br />what results will follow.
<br />Whatever difference of opinion may have existed in some
<br />quarters, as to the action of your Committee the past year in
<br />other things, we flatter ourselves that we meet the cordial
<br />approbation of all, in introducing to our schools a text book on
<br />Morals. The inculcation of moral principles, the necessity
<br />of giving instruction in them, have been urged. But most
<br />teachers felt unable to accomplish much, except incidentally,
<br />without a Manual. This was placed in their hands. It
<br />was, indeed, much needed. We have such accounts of the
<br />manners and morals of our youth, as to prove, that vulgarity,
<br />deceit, and profanity exist to a lamentable degree. It has been
<br />a melancholy thing, indeed, for your Committee, after they had
<br />been listening for two or three hours, to the exercises of the
<br />schools, in which are gathered the young, from the age of four
<br />years, up to the age of sixteen and eighteen, on proposing to
<br />teachers the inquiry, " What account can you give us of the moral
<br />condition of the school," to receive, in some instances, the follow-
<br />ing answers; " There have been a number of cases of profanity ;"
<br />I have not been able to rely upon the truthfulness of the
<br />scholars so much as I had previously done ; " " There have been
<br />many instances of the use of vulgar language." All the bril-
<br />liant exercises witnessed, all the improvement and progress at-
<br />tained, seemed to shrink away into nothingness ; they appeared
<br />like the small dust of the balance ; and it requires no sagacity
<br />to discover, if our schools shall go on thus, what sort of men
<br />and women will go forth from them, and the influences they will
<br />exert on society ! It is a source of unmingled gratification, that
<br />we have interposed our humble instrumentality against the pro-
<br />gress of such degradation. But, much as this may be,
<br />ever and again we come back to parents. To them the appeal
<br />is, or ought to be, a thrilling one. Let them inquire into their
<br />responsibility on this subject. Let them ask, whether those
<br />vulgar words have been carried from the house, or any other
<br />sphere, where parents and children are brought into communion ;
<br />whether that profanity has first spread its taint on the young
<br />.r.
<br />elso
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