Independent Lens: Precious Knowledge
Precious Knowledge
Thursday May 10, 2012 at 11pm
Tucson High School’s 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 college. “Precious Knowledge” filmmakers spent an entire year in the classroom filming this innovative social-justice curriculum, documenting the transformative impact on students who become engaged, informed and active in their communities. Arizona lawmakers recently passed a bill giving unilateral power to the state superintendent to abolish ethnic studies classes. This documentary provides an insider’s perspective as student leaders fight to save their classes, mobilizing rapidly with texts, Facebook, optimism and a megaphone. Lawmakers and politicians mount a public relations campaign to discredit the passionate students, claiming that Paulo Freire’s textbook 'The Pedagogy of the Oppressed' teaches victimization and sedition. Watch preview below.
Image Courtesy of Ari Palos | Crystal and Pricila in their Latino Literature class at Tucson High.
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