Reviews research on minority school failure. Contrasts work of microethnographers, which has resulted in"cultural difference" explanations, with more comprehensive work of Ogbu, who advocates a multilevel macroethnographic approach. Describes research in South Texas that does not support certain aspects of Ogbu's caste theory. Advocates macroschool ethnography which is based on multiple dominance view of society (race, class, gender). (EVL)