This text provides a selective review of major topics in the sociology of education with special attention given to key issues and questions that sociologists have examined when studying education and schools. It is an introduction, not a comprehensive guide, to work that has been conducted mainly in Britain. The focus is on empirical material, and considerable space is given to an examination of statistical data and case studies to see what light they shed on the contribution that sociologists can make to the study of education. The text covers the following topics: (1) sociological perspectives and the study of education; (2) education, the economy, work, and unemployment; (3) educational opportunity and patterns of social mobility; (4) patterns of inequality: social class and education; (5) patterns of inequality: gender, race, and education; (6) the social characteristics of teachers in contemporary society; (7) the social organization of schools; (8) life in classrooms; (9) the school curriculum; (10) sociological enquiry and educational studies. An index and an extensive list of references are included. (PS)