It would not be considered right by men of the world to attempt to accomplish any other purposes in such a case; and are the pure and holy principles of piety to be extended by methods more exceptionable than those by which political and party contests are managed?
There is a very great and obvious distinction between the general influence which the teacher exerts as a member of the community and that which he can employ in his school-room as teacher.

He has unquestionably a right to exert _upon the community, by such means as he shares in common with every other citizen_, as much influence as he can command for the dissemination of his own political, or religious, or scientific opinions.

But the strong ascendency which, in consequence of his official station, he has obtained over the minds of his pupils, is sacred.

He has no right to use it for any purpose _foreign to the specific objects_ for which he is employed, unless _by the consent, expressed or implied_, of those by whom he is intrusted with his charge.
The parents who send their children to him to be taught to read, to write, and to calculate, may have erroneous views of their duty as parents in other respects.

He _may know_ that their views are erroneous.
They may be taking a, course which the teacher _knows_ is wrong.