Discusses Pierre Bourdieu's ideas on cultural capital in schools. Concludes that, defined in terms of exclusionary class-related practices and dispositions, cultural capital does not account for the relationship between social privilege and academic success. Notes too many conceptually distinct variables are labeled cultural capital, thus…

Reviews principal theoretical developments in the study of schools as organizations, particularly neo-institutional theory and analysis of faculty workplace. Discusses a theoretical approach integrating these developments including institutional constraints on schools, administrative responses to them, and networks of informal faculty ties.…

Considers how qualitative research has enhanced knowledge of four topics in the sociology of education: (1) educational inequality, (2) socialization, (3) identity formation, and (4) school organization and educational policy. Argues that qualitative studies have introduced new voices, perspectives, and themes into traditional understanding. (CAJ)

Offers predictions about educational inequality over the next one hundred years. Foresees a continuation in the trend toward a decline in black-white racial inequality. Argues that educational inequality by socioeconomic background will persist at current levels throughout the next century. Bases these predictions on past trends. (CAJ)

Comments on articles appearing in the 2001 theme issue of Sociology of Education. Considers the nature and impact of the widespread cultural commitment to educational equality. Discusses other aspects of education not emphasized in this issue, such as the implications of racial inequality, credentialism, and educational organization (CAJ)

Argues that inadequate explanations about why academic performance is socially stratified lies with the failure to make sense of the complexity of social identity. Refers to articles in the 2001 theme issue of Sociology of Education to provide examples. Discusses need for further study on childrens' performance in U.S. schools. (CAJ)

Reacts to articles by Alan Kerckhoff, Maureen Hallinan, and Adam Gamoran in the 2001 theme issue of Sociology of Education. Evaluates articles and conclusions presented by these authors and responds to their arguments. Presents a detailed rebuttal to the article by Gamoran and disagrees with Gamoran's conclusions. (CAJ)

Reacts to articles by Charles Bidwell, Paul Kingston, and Carolyn Riehl in the 2001 theme issue of Sociology of Education. Argues that Bidwell and Kingston's articles show the strengths that the educational sociology field has exhibited over the years. Evaluates Riehl's article as a movement toward examination of the current intellectually…

Presents a framework for understanding the volume and content of socialization messages within primary school classrooms (n=64). Explains that the framework includes five levels of classroom and school organization. Utilizes three methods for data collection: (1) classroom observation; (2) interviews with teachers and principals; and (3) reading…

Examines the consequences of teachers' collegial social relations for high school students' mathematics and science achievement. Uses data that focused on 3,000 subjects in a national sample of public high schools (n=52). Finds that when department faculties form collegial foci the effects of their instructional practices on students' achievement…

Presents a study that focused on life course perspective to adolescent academic orientation and parental involvement in education. Reveals that students in college-preparatory track begin high school as the highest in orientation and involvement, but they also experience a decline over time. Includes references. (CMK)

Examines cross-national data findings that female enrollment in science and engineering fields increased between 1972 and 1993 in higher education. Explains that the increase was affected by women's level of enrollments in the nonscience and nonengineering fields. Suggests a positive spillover effect for women. (CMK)

Describes the digital divide, the technology gap between the people who have technology (information haves) and those without technology (information have-nots). Discusses that the first digital divide is access to technology; and addresses the second digital divide, computer use, focusing on computers at school and at home. (CMK)

Discusses the importance of how the divide in access is approached and the problems in addressing both digital divides (access and computer use). Argues that sociologists of education have an important role to play in this issue and describes that role. Includes references. (CMK)

Explores how the focus on class rank has affected students from star public high schools, creating a disadvantage when students try to enter elite colleges. Explains a new approach, "winner-take-all," being utilized in high schools in which schools focus on the top students. Includes references. (CMK)