This historical study examines some of the possible reasons that a large portion of Mexican American children do not succeed in the public school system in California, exploring the background of the language issue. Parental factors, socioeconomic status, and self-perceptions are three factors related to failure among Mexican American children in school. One of the most important factors related to the success or failure of the Mexican American child in the public school is the language barrier. This paper explores the background of this language issue and looks at the causes of failure of Mexican-American Children in school. (Contains 14 references.) (Author)