The Sociology of Education: A Systematic Analysis

The ninth edition of The Sociology of Education examines the field in rare breadth by incorporating a diverse range of theoretical approaches and a distinct sociological lens in its overview of education and schooling.

Education is changing rapidly, just as the social forces outside of schools are, and to present the material in a meaningful way, the authors of this book provide a unifying framework--an open systems approach--to illustrate how the issues and structures we find in education are all interconnected. Separate chapters are devoted to how schools help shape who has access to educational opportunities and who does not; issues of race, class and gender; the organization of schools and the roles that make up educational settings, and more. Throughout the book, readers will have an opportunity to engage with theories and issues that are discussed and to apply their newly obtained understanding in response to emerging and persistent problems in the educational system.

The new edition continues to be a critical point of reference for students interested in exploring the social context of education and the role education has in shaping our society. It is perfect for sociology of education and social foundations of education courses at the undergraduate or early graduate level.

Jeanne Ballantine is Emerita Professor of Sociology at Wright State University. She has taught at several four-year colleges over her career, as well as in international programs in universities abroad. Dr. Ballantine has written several textbooks in addition to this one; her most recent is the new edition of Our Social World: An Introduction to Sociology (SAGE 2019). In her distinguished career, Dr. Ballantine has been awarded by the American Sociological Association and the North Central Sociological Association for her outstanding contributions to teaching and her commitment and impact on the field of sociology.

Jenny Stuber is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of North Florida. She is the author of Aspen and the American Dream, forthcoming in 2021 (University of California Press), and Exploring Inequality: A Sociological Approach (Oxford University Press 2015). With co-author Jeanne Ballantine and Joan Z. Spade, Dr. Stuber is also co-editor of the reader Schools and Society (SAGE 2017). Her research has appeared in Sociological Forum, The Journal of Contemporary Sociology, The International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, and Teaching in Higher Education.

Judson G. Everitt is Assistant Professor of Sociology at Loyola University Chicago. His book, Lesson Plans: The Institutional Demands of Becoming a Teacher (Rutgers University Press 2018) chronicles the complexities and dilemmas teacher candidates confront in their training. His research has appeared in Symbolic Interaction, Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, as well as in an edited volume on teachers' work, entitled Assessing Teacher Quality (Teachers College Press 2012).