Among the things Adams wished Americans would ask God on this day was to make American schools teach not only sound science but also sound morals and religion.
Americans, Adams said, should ask God to “smile on our colleges, academies, schools, and seminaries of learning, and make them nurseries of sound science, morals, and religion.” Here is a link to the complete text of John Adams’ proclamation:
P.S. Don't get stuck on the fact that Adams sets a date in April as the day of Thanksgiving