This document provides current and historical information about rural education in Manitoba, Canada. The report's eight sections and the information they provide are as follows: (1) "Background" emphasizes the importance of education to rural residents, and describes the trend toward education for all ages; (2) "Early Education in Manitoba" traces the history of public education in the area; (3) "Modern Rural Society" presents statistics dealing with the decline of agricultural activity and changes in the composition of the population; (4) "Rural Schools and the Community" stresses the responsibility of rural schools to serve the needs of the community and to use community resources to improve education; (5) "The Costs" suggests ways rural schools fund education while faced with rural depopulation, lower farm income, and an aging population; (6) "Myths Surrounding Rural Schools" disputes the myths that bigger schools are better and that rural schools are all the same and considers the advantages and disadvantages of small schools; (7) "Teachers in Rural Schools" indicates problems with teacher turnover and describes skills and characteristics needed by rural teachers; and (8) "Training and Post Secondary Education" provides statistics on university and non-university enrollment since 1960 and explains how universities are meeting the needs of the rural population. (KS)