The 2nd seminar organised and held by the Association of Sociology and Anthropology of Education on the theme ‘Rethinking the School: What Place for the School in the So-called Cognitive Society?’ took place on 11 and 12 January 2002 in the city of Chaves. (...) This 18th issue of the journal Educação, Sociedade & Culturas publishes five of the papers given.