A cultural conflict occurs between the Mexican-American child and the Anglo teacher within the classroom situation. Punishment for adherence to his own culture results in loss of identity for the Mexican-American child and increases his tendency toward what may be termed deviant behavior. The more weighted the school curriculum is toward the middle-class Anglo expectations, the more difficult it will be for the Mexican-American child to participate. Teachers and school personnel must accept and appreciate the significant contributions that other languages and cultures have made and can make toward enriching the American way of life. A positive atmosphere toward the Mexican-American must be established and the cultural gap must be bridged; total acceptance of the validity of another culture is what should and must be the end goal. (VM)