本文分兩大主要部份探討「學校無用論」。第一部份旨在闡明「學校無用論」的論點。第二部份則從三方面來重新閱讀伊利區的論點：首先，從現代化的觀點審視當時的社會經濟背景；其次，從社會角色的觀點探討伊利區的學校無用論；再次，以社會資本觀點重新檢視。在第二部份和第一部份之間，將先從伊利區當時理論的時代背景及其對後來社會學家的影響、檢視伊利區承先啟後的歷史定位，並借重其他社會學家對「學校教育」和「社會問題」的定義，再次思考伊利區對教育的定義和他所論述的教育問題。末了以後設思考反省本文論述的觀點。

"The Futility of Schooling" is to be interpreted in two parts of this paper. In the first part, the article is rephrased. In the second part, the same article will be examined once again in three ways: firstly, from the perspective of modernization in the social-economic contexts; secondly, from the perspective of social roles; and thirdly, from that of social capital. Prior to the second reading, Illich's thoughts will be seen in terms of his time and influences in sociology. Right before the beginning of the second part, definitions of "schooling" and "social problems" will be borrowed from other sociologists for discussion. A final word will give a meta-analytical reflection on what is discussed in this paper.