In this paper, the author has attempted to provide an overview of some of the issues and challenges confronting rural educators and parents in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. He has chosen to focus on three of the most pressing at this point in time: (1) declining enrollment and its consequences; (2) the continuing pressure on rural communities to close their small schools; and (3) the potential and pitfalls of web-based distance education. The author suspects the ideas presented in this paper will resonate with many rural educators in Australia. If that is indeed the case he would welcome the opportunity to continue this conversation. (Contains 11 footnotes and 1 figure.)