RE you going back next year?" 



"I think not. I like the work. I like the people and 

 have never taught where I felt as great a desire to 

 return. But walking the roads there is too much like swim- 

 ming for me." 



This remark heard from the train as a teacher said "Good- 

 bye" to a friend at Baudette brought to my mind many simi- 

 lar conversations that had come to me during the previous 

 months as I sought to re-hire teachers and I became uncom- 

 fortably conscious that during a wet season there were few 

 places in the county or in the entire North country where the 

 teachers could reach their schools and not get wet unless 

 they were dressed especially for the trip. 



Roads the Great Need. 



This together with the fact that many of our schools were 

 closing late because of enforced vacations during last fall's 

 wet season made me wonder if there was any one thing more 

 needed for the advancement of school work in our country 

 than roads. My answer came from all points with a decisive 

 "No," as I thought of the children and teachers wading half 

 way to their knees in mud and water in order to reach the 

 school house. 



Let me give you some of the answers that come to my 

 memory. 



"There is no use of my asking the teacher to go to our 

 school this week. We hate to lose school but she simply 

 can't get there. I walked in water half way to my knees 

 every step of the way and worse in some places." 



The teacher who resided in the country answered: "If he 

 can get in, I get out." She went, but her next letter said: 

 "It 'was over my knees in many places and I was soaking wet 

 to my waist before the first mile was covered. I would have 



6 



