Schools are the primary institution for instructing, training, and socializing the next generation. School attendance or equivalent instruction is mandatory in this country, yet every aspect of our educational system has been hotly debated. This course will explore sociological research and theories that are useful for examining the roles of educational institutions and practices in the United States. We will critically examine the place of schools and schooling in the wider society, starting with a brief historical overview and then moving on to modern perspectives and current educational debates. Throughout the course we will investigate ways in which schools reflect, reinforce, and/or challenge prevailing patterns of inequality.