Education will become the functioning instrument of a stable democracy by being in all its stages and dimensions an example of the democratic process. Within this framework, the desegregation of our schools can proceed; and with the desegregation of our schools, we can achieve that more difficult stage--the true integration of our schools. The struggle to extend American democratic ideals to the nonwhite groups in America has been continuous, albeit irregular in its progress. This struggle may be viewed as the main theme of American history. From this perspective, the following emerge as dominant qualities in American history: (1) the articulation of democratic ideals and aspirations as the foundation of the American political system provided and continues to provide a powerful basis for the struggle to realize these ideals; (2) various groups of Europeans who have migrated to America have benefitted from the American system of democracy; (3) built into the American political and educational system are safeguards against the more flagrant forms of governmental tyranny and abuse; (4) the continuous struggle of the descendants of African slaves in America to make the promises of the American democratic system real for them has not been without some significant successes; and, (5) no democratic gains achieved by black Americans have been restricted to blacks alone. These gains have strengthened democracy for all Americans. (Author/JM)