In the article, education is seen as a hierarchical cultural encounter between urban and rural values and ways of life. Good teachers do not only deliver curriculum, they also consider the needs and values of their students, as well as those of the local community. The article discusses how teachers' competence, knowledge and attitudes can affect their teaching, and how attitudes may influence teachers' approaches towards educational matters in rural settings. It examines some of the challenges teachers are up against if they are to integrate local culture, values and norms in national educational programs, in order to enhance a shared understanding of goals and intentions. I argue that rural schools need to develop pedagogical approaches to teaching and learning that consider rural settings.