Ethnography as an inquiry process guided by a point of view rather than as a reporting process guided by a standard technique or set of techniques is the main point of this essay which suggests the application of Malinowski's theories and methods to an ethnology of the school, indicates reasons why traditional ethnography is inadequate to the study of schools, and locates the school as an institution within a larger societal context and the researcher as a member of that society. The first steps of a fieldwork inquiry process, as presented, require the statement of researchable question while keeping in mind the fact that what is commonplace to observers and to participants is nonetheless extraordinary and that what goes on in the school involves the interaction of individuals, groups, and social units outside of the school. To exemplify the inquiry process the issue of ethnicity as a factor in a school ethnographic study is identified for research and amplified by questions pertinent to field research. (JH)