Over three centuries ago the citizens of this country expressed a faith in education which abides until this day. The fact that education and this nation's political theory are inextricably woven is so axiomatic that no thinking person questions it today. Early in the life of this nation its founders espoused the belief that if the people were to be the ultimate source of power in this Republic, they must first be aware of the nature of the power vested in them and, secondly, know how to exercise this power both for the good of themselves and for the nation as a whole. Our forebearers reasoned that a people can be knowledgeable of the responsibility placed upon them by our system of government in only one way, through mass education.