PROGRAMMING A CURRICULUM TO MEET THE NEEDS OF MEXICAN AMERICAN YOUTH IS A DIFFICULT TASK. CENTRAL TO PROGRAMMING IS THE QUESTION OF WHETHER NEEDS AND CONTENT ARE TO BE IDENTIFIED AND DETERMINED ON THE BASIS OF ANGLO OR MEXICAN AMERICAN CRITERIA. TWO MAJOR STANCES ON THIS ISSUE HAVE DEVELOPED WHICH ARE--(1) THAT THE MEXICAN AMERICAN NEEDS TO LEARN ANGLO BEHAVIORS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND (2) THAT THE MEXICAN AMERICAN SHOULD AND HAS THE RIGHT TO RETAIN HIS OWN CULTURE. THIS PAPER INCLUDES FIVE AREAS OF AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL IF THE MEXICAN AMERICAN IS TO EXPERIENCE A GOOD EDUCATION. FIRST, THE LANGUAGE NEEDS OF MEXICAN AMERICANS NECESSITATE THE USE OF ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE THROUGH THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS. SECONDLY, A GREAT DEAL OF EMPHASIS IS NEEDED IN THE AREA OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT. THE THIRD AREA IS THAT OF PROPER AFFECTIVE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH, IF LEFT UNATTENDED, MAY BRING ABOUT GRAVE PSYCHOLOGICAL COSTS. FOURTH, THERE IS A NEED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAMS WHICH WILL FOSTER BETTER INTER-GROUP RELATIONS. THE LAST AREA IS THE NEED FOR GOOD OCCUPATIONAL EDUCATION AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL. (ES)