When Gilberto's turn came, he dutifully placed the flag in Mexico. Before he could begin his sentence, the teacher interrupted him, demanding to know why he had placed the flag where he had. You didn't understand the assignment. No one is from Mexico. I meant you were to find out where in Europe your family was from.
Next time get it right.
He never mentioned Mexico or Mexican customs in school again, and he never spoke Spanish if any of the other students or the teachers might hear. Unlike many children traumatized by such treatment, Gilberto persevered in speaking Spanish at home and retaining it in his adult and professional life, even after moving away from home and a Spanish speaking community. I leant him a copy of Gloria Anzaldua's Borderlands . His response touched me deeply. He had never seen his form of Spanish in print before, and this was very important to him, particularly because much of it was the language of his mother.