the young teacher's 'self-identification' [='identification'] with his students
He needed to show (his) 'identification' before they would cash the check.
They had/felt a (strong) sense of 'identification with' their neighbors.
(..) ...picking one out from a candy lineup? Candy lineup? I've spent the last hour preparing candy bars... ...with no wrappers or identification of any kind... ...for him to select from. That took you an hour? Only I hold the answer key to their true candy identities. (..)1998 TvShow: Seinfeld Title: The Dealership Season: 9 Episode 11