damental principle of the school system is two-fold. First, the right
of the parent and pastor to provide religious instruction for their
children; and to have facilities for that purpose. While the law
protects each pupil from compulsory attendance at any religious reading
or exercise against the wish of his parent; it also provides that within
that limitation "pupils shall be allowed to receive such religious
instruction as their parents and guardians shall desire, according to
the general regulations which shall be provided according to law." The
general regulations provide that the parent may make discretionary
arrangements with the teacher on the subject; and that the clergyman of
any Church shall have the right to any school house being within his
charge for one hour in the week between four and five, for the religious
instruction of the pupils of his own Church. Be it observed, then, the
supreme right of the parent, and the corresponding right of the pastor
in regard to the religious instruction of youth, even in connexion with
day schools, where children are with their parents more than half of
each week day, and the whole of each Sunday, is a fundamental principle
of the Common School system. The less or greater extent to which the
right may be exercised in various places, does not affect the principles
or right itself, which is fundamental in the system. The second
fundamental principle in the school system is the co-operation and aid
of the State with each locality or section of the community as a
condition of, and in proportion to local effort. This is a vital
principle of the school system, and pervades it throughout, and is a
chief element of its success. No public aid is given until a school
house is provided, and a legally qualified teacher is employed, when
public aid is given in proportion to the work done in the school; that
is, in proportion to the number of children taught, and the length of
time the school is kept open; and public aid is given for the purpose of
school maps and apparatus, the prize books and libraries, in proportion
to the amount provided from local sources. To the application of that
principle between the State and the inhabitants of localities there is
no exception whatever, except in the single case of distributing a sum
not exceeding L500 per annum in aid of poor school sections in new
townships, and then their local effort must precede the application for
a special grant.

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