Precious Knowledge Questions

❖ Turn to a partner and discuss the connections you made between the movie and one of the
texts we read in class.
❖ Before you watch the film, did you have any prior knowledge about what went on in the
Tucson District.
❖ Should students be able to take a class in Ethnic Studies?
❖ How would you define American values? Do you believe that learning about other
cultures goes against that?
❖ At the beginning of the video, some says, “when you grow up in a poor area, you don’t
have the same chances other people do,” what opportunities are not given to those with
lower socioeconomic status vs those who have higher socioeconomic status?
❖ The superintendent claims that the Ethnic Studies program goes against American ideals
because it strays from the meritocratic system in place today. Do you agree with his
statement? Why or why not?
❖ Tom Horne, the person who wanted to get rid of the program, argues that it’s ethically
wrong to segregate students by their race and teach them. What are your thoughts on his
argument against abolishing the Ethnic Studies Program.
❖ At one point in the movie, a member of the community claims that the minority
population has no right to interrupt the education of white students. How would you
address the issue of people with preconceived notions of privilege over others?
❖ Do you think the process in which the law to abolish the Ethnic Studies Program was
fair?
❖ Over a decade has passed since the Ethnic Studies program in Tucson was abolished. Do
you believe our educational system has made any progress in promoting cultural diversity
since then? How?