It is noted in this article that Mexican American children, comprising the largest minority student group in the Southwest (17% of the total enrollment), have been neglected both educationally and legally. Thus, "Cisneros v. Corpus Christi Independent School District" (1970), which established Mexican Americans as an identifiable ethnic minority group for purposes of public school desegregation, is looked upon as providing a basis for hope for better education of Mexican American children. Further legally oriented discussion topics include the historical background of the Mexican American, discrimination in areas other than education, non-judicial recognition of Mexican Americans, the Chicano school cases, factors leading to segregation of Mexican American children (i.e., residential segregation and ability grouping), and the future of Mexican American desegregation in terms of the Southwest generally and "Ross v Eckels--The Houston Situation." Included are references to 152 legal citations. (MJB)