This book, one in a five-volume series dealing with perspectives in American education, discusses the education of ethnic groups in the United States. The purpose of the series is to create a better understanding of the education process and the relation of education to human welfare. Chapter one discusses multicultural education, examining the concept of the melting pot, the "Americanization" idea, and the theory of cultural pluralism. Chapter two relates the story of three major immigrant groups: Italians, Jews, and Poles. In chapter three ethnic loyalties and affiliations are investigated. Chapter four examines the educational philosophy of Jane Addams, founder of Chicago's Hull House. Public schools and the upward mobility of immigrant children through them is the theme of chapter five. Specifically examined are bilingual education programs, curriculum materials dealing with ethnic cultures, how public education did or did not meet the needs of ethnic groups, and the "mainstream" American culture. The book contains a selected bibliography. (Author/RM)