The article examined the challenges posed by Durkheim to the efforts to establish a discipline of education study(hereafter 2nd generation movement). Durkheim sends dual signs to the prospects of the 2nd generation movement: possibility of new discipline and pessimism about the possibility. With reference to his dual arguments, the article evaluated the validity of the definition of education, which is adopted for the movement, and the feasibility of the movement. Defining education as social facts, Durkheim refute the possibility of education being independent of social forces. The movement, however, is based on the assumption of solely individual pursuit of education. This contradiction is not yet settled. Durkheim`s challenge is still unmet. With Durkheim`s challenge left unmet, the movement cannot secure a place for the autonomous discipline of education. With regard to this issue, it is proposed to review the current classification of academic disciplines. The issue should be whether it is justifiable for sociology to monopolize the ‘social facts’ as its problems forever. A new map of academic disciplines may have to be drawn so that a territory be alloted to the authentic study of education.