The principal focus of the articles in this issue, paralleling the field of the sociology of education in general, is on educational inequality conceived in particular ways. This is the main topic of seven of the nine articles and comes up in the others as well. In this, the field and these articles take up issues that are central to the culture and poicy system of modern education worldwide. Equality in its several senses is a main focus of contemporary educational systems, as well as of sociology research. Sociologists are not the only supporters of equality and critics of inequalities - in one way or another, themes of equality are endemic to modern education. In this article, I consider the nature and impact of this widespread commitment.