This book, first published in 1985, provides a clear readable account of the principal sociological approaches to education. It is organised around the three main sociological perspectives on education: the Durkheimian and Functionalist, the Marxist and the Interpretative. It concentrates on the most important and interesting writers within each perspective and gives special attention to those who best represent each particular approach. The book provides a coherent introduction to the sociology of education which encourages the student to analyse the intellectual development of the discipline and its relevance to an understanding of the educational system. In addition, it provides an extensive commentary on each of the approaches considered.