Precious knowledge argues against arizonas hb 2281. Precious knowledge ethnic studies in arizona independent lens. The documentary precious knowledge left me feeling empowered, sad, slightly helpless, hopeful, and inspired. Reflections on precious knowledge corina gomez portfolio. Corporation for public broadcasting while 48 percent of mexicanamerican students currently drop out of high school, tucson ariz. Following the screening, the films producer eren isabel mcginnis will. More than precious knowledge journal of curriculum. Precious knowledge rafael cintron ortiz latino cultural. I felt empowered with the speeches the educators in the video gave and with the progress and interest the students had in their education. Using film to model culturally sustaining pedagogy and youth civic activism for social studies teachers. May 17, 2012 in 1997, community activism led the tucson city council to set up a study committee to look at ways of boosting latino student achievement and reducing dropout rates. Netflix last days in vietnam is, unsurprisingly, a documentary about the final days of the vietnam war.
As americans rushed to pull out of the country, the final hours were fraught with pain, even betrayal. Precious knowledge documentary trailer professional. Disenfranchised high school seniors become academic warriors and community leaders in tucson, arizonas embattled ethnic studies classes while state lawmakers attempt to eliminate the program. Apparently, the prohibition of the learning program was. San francisco, ca precious knowledge reports from the frontlines of one of the most contentious battles in public education in recent memory, the fight over mexican american studies programs in arizona public schools. Merrimack college 315 turnpike street north andover, ma 01845. The film depicts the ongoing battle for its continuation after lawmakers passed a ban on it and programs like it in the. Premiering on independent lens on 17 may, ari luis palos documentary makes a very clear argument against arizonas hb 2281, passed in february 2011. Nov 10, 2016 weber state university 18th annual wsu diversity conference. Precious knowledge screening and discussion humanities. As the documentary begins, it introduced priscilla, gilbert, crystal and mariah.
Independent lens precious knowledge tv episode 2012 imdb. This film focuses on the mexican american studies program masp at tucson high school during its final year before arizona lawmakers passed a bill to abolish ethnic studies programs in the state of arizona. In spite of how well the program is doing, there has been many disapproval of the program. The film interweaves the stories of several students enrolled in the mexican american studies program at tucson high school with interviews with teachers, parents, school. The film precious knowledge interweaves the stories of students in the mexican american studies program at tucson high school. Develop some background knowledge on the importance of ethnic studies and peoples experiences and. Weber state university 18th annual wsu diversity conference. Theres something in place thats stopping them from achieving their goal. Precious knowledge the battle for ethnic studies in tucson, arizona. Planting the seeds for precious knowledge independent lens. Mar 11, 20 last thursday the university of illinois urbanachampaigns graduate school of library and information science gslis screened the film precious knowledge. The case against ethnic studies video independent lens pbs. Precious knowledge illustrates what motivates tucson high school students and teachers to form.
Students in tucsons mexican american studies program become academic warriors while state lawmakers attempt to ban the classes. A documentary on the battle to defend the successful mexican studies program in the tucson. At the same time, the film places the founding of the ethnic studies program in the larger historical context of tucsons longtime. The documentary precious knowledge interweaves the stories of students in the mexican american studies. In her time spent at tucson high school in the 20082009 school year, erin mcginnis witnessed and recorded one of the biggest political and civil rights battles the state had seen in decades. Precious knowledge precious knowledge is a predisposed gaze at the programs presented to the mexicanamerican students and the efforts of state education administration and legislators to prohibit them. Watch precious knowledge online vimeo on demand on vimeo. Rarely has a film been so timely and downright revelatory. These educators were exceptional and reinforced a sense of love and selfesteem. Finally, id like to add a section titled reception of film in order to discuss the films critical. I felt sad that the students were unsuccessful in the. It was also reportedly sent to those associated with the documentary precious knowledge.
Social justice week precious knowledge documentary 6. A 2010 teacherfiled lawsuit to allow the program to continue was shot down, but this year, a federal judge ruled that tucson students who claim that their first amendment rights were violated by the legislation, can sue the. In our interview, conducted over email in october and november 2010, mcginnis reflects on the challenges of making end page 196 precious knowledge. Feb 24, 2012 important quotes from precious knowledge. That question is at the heart of precious knowledge, a documentary about a controversial mexican american studies program taught in tucson. Jul 20, 2018 precious knowledge documentary trailer. Develop some background knowledge on the importance of ethnic studies and peoples experiences and reactions to it being banned. Precious knowledge documentary handout by sanchista tpt. The recently banned program is now the subject of a new documentary, precious knowledge, to air next week on pbs. Audience favorite and special jury award, san diego latino film festival, 2011. Precious knowledge a screening and discussion of the documentary. Fighting for mexican american studies in arizona schools. While 48 percent of mexican american students currently drop out of high school, tucson highs mexican american studies program has become a national model of educational success, with 100 percent of enrolled students.
Social justice week precious knowledge documentary. Ari palos is a documentary film that follows the debate in arizona over ethnic studies eths. Precious knowledge is a coproduction of dos vatos productions, the independent television service itvs, arizona public media, and latino public broadcasting, with funding provided by the corporation for public broadcasting cpb. Precious knowledge is a coproduction of dos vatos productions, and the independent television service itvs, produced in association with latino public broadcasting lpb. When a highly successful mexican american studies program comes under fire for teaching ethnic chauvinism, teachers and students fight. Precious knowledge reports from the frontlines of one of the most contentious battles in public education in recent memory, the fight over mexican american studies programs in arizona public schools. Precious knowledge education essay sample samples education precious knowledge. Since the cameras stopped rolling on the documentary precious knowledge premiering may 17 on independent lens, the tucson unified school district has been all over the news. Important quotes from precious knowledge craftingrespect.
The diversity and identity studies collective at osu presents. The documentary is about a year in the life of a group of tucson magnet high school students in mas studies. Precious knowledge interweaves the stories of students in the mexican american studies program at tucson high school. Sep 03, 2015 precious knowledge illustrates what motivates tucson high school students and teachers to form the front line of an epic civil rights battle. In this excerpt from the independent lens documentary, precious knowledge, arizona state superintendent of public instruction, tom horne, holds a press conference calling for the end of the. The documentary was directed by ari luis palos and produced by eren isabel mcginnis, the founders of dos vatos productions precious knowledge interweaves the stories of students and teachers in the. May 11, 2012 the recently banned program is now the subject of a new documentary, precious knowledge, to air next week on pbs. Precious knowledge is a coproduction of dos vatos productions and the independent.
In the process, precious knowledge reveals the ideological and political fervor afoot in arizona and underscoring the antiethnicstudies ban and antiimmigrant measures, which claims the mas courses promote the overthrow of the government and ethnic resentment. Arizona lawmakers believe tucson high school teachers are teaching victimization, racism and revolution in their ethnic studies classes. May 10, 2012 pbs documentary precious knowledge focuses on a high school districts banned mexican american studies program. The film interweaves the stories of several students enrolled in the mexican american studies program at tucson high school with interviews with teachers, parents, school officials, and the. They are four high school students who attend the mexican american studies at tucson high school in arizona. Disenfranchised high school seniors become academic warriors and community leaders in tucsons embattled ethnic studies classes while state lawmakers attempt to. Jul 18, 20 it was also reportedly sent to those associated with the documentary precious knowledge. Pbs documentary precious knowledge focuses on a high school districts banned mexican american studies program.
In 1997, community activism led the tucson city council to set up a study committee to look at ways of boosting latino student achievement and. Precious knowledge pbs documentary on arizonas mexican. The documentary is about a year in the life of a group of. The new film precious knowledge tells the stories of latinao seniors at tucson high school in arizona, and the transformative impact of the mexican american studies program in their lives. Mar 15, 2012 the documentary precious knowledge illustrates what motivates tucson high school students and teachers to form the front line of an epic civil rights battle. Precious knowledge is a 2011 educational and political documentary that centers on the banning of the mexicanamerican studiesmas program in the tucson unified school district of arizona. May 17, 2012 san francisco, ca precious knowledge reports from the frontlines of one of the most contentious battles in public education in recent memory, the fight over mexican american studies programs in arizona public schools. While 48 percent of mexican american students currently drop out of high school, tucson highs mexican american studies program has become a national model of educational success, with 93 percent of enrolled students graduating. In spite of how well the program is doing, there has been many disapproval of. Mar 16, 20 throughout the course of mcginnis 70 minute pbs documentary precious knowledge, we juggle themes of hope and loss. Precious knowledge is a documentary film portraying the controversial ethnic studies program in tucson high school. Throughout the course of mcginnis 70 minute pbs documentary precious knowledge, we juggle themes of hope and loss. Precious knowledge, 2011, dos vatos productions, 75 min.
Last thursday the university of illinois urbanachampaigns graduate school of library and information science gslis screened the film precious knowledge. While 48 percent of mexican american students currently drop out of high school, tucson highs mexican american studies program has become a national model of educational success, with 93 percent of enrolled students graduating from high school and 85. The documentary precious knowledge illustrates what motivates tucson high school students and teachers to form the front line of an epic civil. While 48 percent of mexican american students currently drop out of high school, tucson highs mexican american studies program has become a national model of educational success, with 100 percent of enrolled students graduating from high school and 85 percent going on to. Jeff biggers, huffington post precious knowledge illustrates an epic civil rights battle as brave students and teachers battle with lawmakers and public opinion in an effort to keep their classes alive. Precious knowledge explores the heated controversy. We speak to eren isabel mcginnis, the codirector of the film, and alanna castro, one of the students who took part in the program. Precious knowledge is a coproduction of dos vatos films, the independent television service itvs, arizona public media, and latino public broadcasting, with funding provided by the corporation for public broadcasting cpb awards. Precious knowledge illustrates what motivates tucson high school students and teachers to form the front line of an epic civil rights battle. The ethnic studies program was considered a threat by arizona politicians who saw the program as teaching reverse racism, communism and terrorism.
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