Introduction. Émile Durkheim’s works are classical writings in the field of the sociology of education. Their reading helps to get a better understanding of Durkheim’s theoretical background, his beliefs, and reflections on the significance of education in France of his time. Aim. In the article, there is a special focus on L'evolution pédagogique en France, which, to Polish readers, is a lesser-known collection of lectures by Durkheim. The aims of the article are to show the overall context of the book, and to discuss over selected problems that are contained in the book. Materials and method. The article uses the method of critical analyses as well as the analyses of the reference literature. Conclusion. L’evolution pédagogique en France contains a number of insights, which may enable taking a different perspective on Durkheim’s ideas on education. Durkheim showed that the formulation of an appropriate education of morality could only proceed after it had been learned about values and the evolution of rules and norms in relation to previous structures, even though systems of morals were socially relative. It means that it could not borrow any foreign elements from other systems and that acquired knowledge of social factors that had caused moral and educational ideas in specific periods was a key to changes in the educational system.