In determining whether Spanish usage is a valid indicator of ethnic identification, 669 Texas high school sophomores (3 Negroes, 70 Anglos, and 596 Mexican Americans) were interviewed. Mexican American respondents were then isolated on the basis of response to 4 questions, and their responses regarding family were grouped under 2 headings: (1) Characteristics of Family of Orientation and (2) Aspirations for Future Family of Procreation. Data were analyzed using the analysis of variance F-test, with controlled variables being sex, place of residence (city, town, country-nonfarm, and farm), and residence on/not on the Mexican Border. Language usage as an indicator of ethnic identification was concluded to be invalid by this study, but "the theoretical significance of this fact must be explored." On the basis of this, the author discounted language usage as a criterion to judge an individual's success index, feeling and thinking index, and job performance index. It was noted that, in educating the Mexican American, forced acculturation should be discouraged while encouraging bilingual education. (A related document is ED 023 512.) (MJB)