We should, as Mexican Americans, start demanding our rights. Speaking as Superintendent of the San Felipe Schools, I want you to know that we are not seeking any power, or any base for political power; we are speaking for the students of San Felipe. 1 am only seeking justice for those students that have the need in the San Felipe area, in Del Rio, Texas. But let me tell you one thing, we have been raped too long already, and we are not going to stand to be raped and raped and raped.

Homero C. Sigala, Superintendent, San Felipe Independent

School District.

We tried to create an atmosphere in the classroom where the children from the dominant culture, speaking the dominant language, recognize that the Mexican American child has got something that they don't have, and that they ought to be interested in getting what this child can teach him. Now, can you begin to see what this does for the stature of the Mexican American child... when he is made to feel that he can do something that somebody else can't do, and that he has something that the Anglo child wants to learn about? Does that answer your question-what bilingual education does for the self-image of the Mexican American child?

Harold C. Brantly,
Superintendent

United Consolidated School
District, Webb County.

20

Will you tell us briefly what the students
were protesting about and what they
were asking for? Commission Staff.
They were asking for democratic elections
in which the student council officers
would be elected by the students and not
the faculty... Mainly speaking Spanish
and not being hit like Edgar was, and
like hundreds of other kids were . . .
I would say that was the top issue, our
curriculum. It was to our knowledge
that it was not adequate, so it was worth
fighting for more than anything else.
Homer Garcia,

Lanier High School student,
San Antonio.

If I were to change the curriculum I would include more of the history of the Southwest, of New Spain, of Spain itself, of the various Indian cultures of the Southwest that have blended into the culture of the Mexican American. I would devote much more time to the language arts. I would also teach part of the curriculum in the home language of the students, in Spanish, so that they would attain language development in the language that is easiest for them. Dr. George I. Sanchez, Professor of Education, University of Texas, Austin.

The Mexican American student is led to believe that he cannot be

identified with two cultures at the same time. This is brought about as a result of two conflicting messages. One message and by message, I don't mean a verbal message, it can be done directly or indirectlyis given to him by his parents, his relatives, other Mexican American students, who tell him that if he rejects Mexican American culture and identifies with Anglo culture, he may be considered a traitor to his ethnic group. The other message comes from teachers, employers, Anglo friends, who tell him that if he doesn't reject the Mexican American culture then he will be unable to reap the educational and economic benefits that are available in the Anglo society. Dr. Manuel Ramirez, Department of Psychology,

Rice University, Houston.

Can you tell me whether
the Texas Rangers are
instructed in the use of
restraint in the face of
provocation?
Commission Staff.

We are not instructed in any way. We use what force we deem necessary to make any kind of arrest. Alfred Y. Allee,

Captain, Texas Rangers,
Texas Department of
Public Safety.

Assuming that the plant at Grand Prairie right outside Dallas were transferred to the Rio Grande Valley, or assuming that you could find the same sort of pay in the Valley, what do you think you and your family would do?

Commission Staff.

We would go back to the Valley.

David Pantoja,

Ling-Temco-Vought worker. Why is that? Staff.

Well, I grew up in the Valley and my friends are over there, and parents, and I got used to living over there. Mr. Pantoja. But the way the situation is now, do you think you would be able to find any such job in the Valley? Staff.

No. Mr. Pantoja.