Ernie's upbringing has trained him to be prejudiced against and afraid of difference. If Ernie cultivated independent thought he might have reached different conclusions about what Anthony and Cico represent, and how their challenging traditional beliefs may be ultimately a healthy act. It is only because most of the other adults in the town feel threatened by people like Ultima that Ernie and the school children find it easy to ostracize Anthony. Ernie and the other school children view Anthony as an outsider because of differences in language, religion and culture. Their attitudes and actions mirror those of the dominant culture as a whole. Therefore, Anaya presents the school children as a microcosm of American society. Because he is treated largely as an outcast, Anthony develops a stronger sense of purpose and personal identity. If he had easily conformed to the dominant culture by being accepted by his classmates, Anthony might never had developed the will to question the status quo. Anthony is determined to probe what Ultima represents in his life, and what wisdom she and Cico possess. The development of personal identity and independent thought is a major theme of Bless Me, Ultima. The school children promote Anthony's self-development. Their negative stimuli become catalysts for Anthony's psychological growth. He can see directly why it may be important to challenge his parents as well as the restrictive Catholic religion.

The school children in Bless Me, Ultima also represent the conflicts between Anthony's parents. Florence is a powerful character in the novel because of his vocal atheism and mature awareness of religion being a social tool. Anthony can therefore reconcile his own doubts about Catholicism via his schoolmate. One of Anthony's core struggles in Bless Me,...

At the same time, Anthony finds it difficult to fully fit into his father's rough vaquero world. The school children as a whole represent conformity, but Anthony can also see how some of his friends like Florence and Cico are able to straddle the line between total conformity and social isolation. Social isolation and mental illness are shown to be common consequences of nonconformity and independent thinking. For example, Jason Chavez struggles socially because of his unwillingness to totally ascribe to the dominant culture's social norms.
When Cico reminds Anthony that there are "many gods," Anthony begins to open his mind to unique ways of thinking, acting, and being in the world (p. 237). The "many gods" that Cico refers to parallel the diversity of people on the planet. Furthermore, Cico reminds Anthony that there is no need to flee to other countries or to look "to the stars" to find the many gods that watch over the world (p. 237). Instead, it is far more important to look "in our own backyards" or within our own souls (p. 237).

The school children in Rudolpho Anaya's novel Bless Me, Ultima are reminders of how socialization impacts identity formation, and how cultural values become entrenched from an early age. Anthony must find his own way, his own beliefs and his own values. As he matures, he distances himself from both the expectations of his mother and his father. Anthony seeks solace not only in his spiritual soulmate Ultima but also in his equally as open-minded friends like Cico. Through his classmates, Anthony learns the danger of conformity and also the value of true friendship.

Reference

Anaya, R. (1994). Bless Me, Ultima. Warner Books, 1994.