Victoria Sanchez

Dr. Danielle Morgan

English 1A

21 November 2019

The Beauty of Knowledge

Knowledge is the gateway to many wonderful opportunities in life and at times be a beacon for

those who live in difficult circumstances. In the United States, we are very fortunate to have free

education for primary schooling which benefits the molding of the future generation and

potentially the country as a whole. Within the past decade or so, we have been faced with

controversial media coverage on discrimination in particular to professional fields as well as the

scholastic systems as new legislation places academic restrictions on course material. In

Precious Knowledge ​directed and produced by Ari Palos and Erin McGinnis, students of a Raza

studies class in Tucson High School exemplify the social injustices that are imposed on their

learning when the state superintendent removed the Mexican American studies program in

Arizona. Within this documentary, the audience is moved by the reform the students have

displayed through breaking traditional latino stereotypes to becoming educated involved

members of the community in which they were always capable of being. Many issues stemming

from racial bias to the fear of immigrants, govern the final verdict of eradicating the ethnic

studies programs. The initiative behind the production of the film, is to ultimately change the

arrogant views of legislators and other citizens who falsely profile minorities as threats to the

community in the sole act of learning their own heritage. Authors Connie Wun of “​More than
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Precious Knowledge​: A critical review of ​Precious Knowledge​”​and Jeff Biggers of ​ “Arizona’s

Precious Knowledge: Blockbuster New Film Chronicles Ethnic Studies Battle”​ both shared my

regard in highlighting the inspirational journey in which the Raza program has endured and the

potential this program has for other schools across the country.

The Raza program at Tucson High has been described by many students as a family. The

students enrolled within the program generally face internal turmoil, however overcame their

struggles and have become pioneers in their families to pursue higher education. Gilbert is one of

the students who have experienced a familial divide when one day he arrives home to realize his

dad has not yet returned, only to be detained for being caught as an illegal immigrant (Palos,

minute 4:00). Gilbert explains his reservations as he father told him “you need to go to school”

(Palos, minute 4:31) in which he initially opposed the idea due to new financial circumstances.

In latino culture, it is common for most children to join the workforce and help provide for their

family, and is a major reason why it is difficult for other students like Gilbert to focus solely on

school. The film prides in the lowering of Latino dropout rates of those enrolled in Raza studies

to a hundred percent graduation rate. With the sense of unity in minorities, the ethnic studies

course has proven successful in helping the students to be oriented in the community, fighting for

equality. Unfortunately in the film, we are exposed to the disdainful action the state academic

board made removing ethnic courses statewide, claiming it is anti-American and a threat to our

national security. “Given the conservative backdrop of Arizona’s social and political climate, and

given the producer’s objectives, the film accomplishes its goals”(Wun, 2011) of proving

otherwise. Jose Gonzalez, an ethnic studies teacher, sets an example for the students to break out

of their traditional household roles demonstrating they are capable of creating positive change in
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the world. Gonzalez recites the Enlances every beginning and end of a class to show the worth of

each student and their impact on the community. These students become pavers in social justice

history for the rights of those who deserve education through courses like ethnic studies. “​In

truth, Precious Knowledge is the type of unique and powerful film that could ultimately shift

public perception and policy on one of the most misunderstood education programs in the

country.” (Biggers, 2011) ​The film shines on the ethnic study course and its ability to open a

conversation regarding discrimination, in result leading to a wide range of impact across other

cities and states.

An aspect of Wun’s critique that does not necessarily sit still with me is the abrasive

comment claiming that the film “undermined the radical underpinnings of ethnic studies writ

large.” (Sargent, 2011) Wun is stating that the fundamental base of an ethics course is to rally up

the students to radical ideas when in fact they are to empower the students to be proud of their

heritage. In various scenes of the documentary, the Raza studies class has been scrutinized for

being extremists when in reality they are fighting for their voices to be heard. It is important to

acknowledge other ethnicities and cast out those who are not tolerant to new ideas. Jeff Biggers

mentions in his review that “​far from any radical agenda, as Tucson Unified School District

administrator Dr. Augustine Romero notes, the human portraits unfolding in Precious

Knowledge deftly show the MAS program’s emphasis on the ‘idea of love, and not only love for

myself, but love for those around me’” (Biggers, 2011). Biggers notes the amount of care these

students have for each other and their passions for a better more just world to live in. Through

my interpretation of the film, I saw how much passion the students have for the program despite

the overwhelming odds against it. However in many ways I can argue that ​“​narrative neglects the
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constitutive relationship that gender and sexism have to race, racism, the state, and its

institutions” (Wun, 2011). Many issues with the program is not the actual teachings of the course

material rather, as I previously mentioned, the stereotypical biases and discrimination that the

class is facing. A topic they fail to address is the issue of intersectionality amongst race and

gender which makes it that more difficult to get their points across by being discriminated by two

aspects rather than one. Students and teachers need to recognize the power they have to disrupt

the complacency of minorities in their treatment in politics and government. The film captures

the realities of troubled teens and how this family (class) of theirs helped in their development as

active community members who can make a reform in society for the fair treatment of

minorities.

Ultimately the purpose of the film was to illuminate the conservative views that schools

may have or any institution for that matter. The students and teachers of the Raza studies at

Tucson High does a particularly good job in imploring the emotions of remorse for their verdict

in the ultimate trial to save their program. Director ​Ari Palos and producer Erin McGinnis​to

created this documentary to prevent any future programs like their beloved Raza studies to be cut

from any school curriculum. Students from all backgrounds deserve the right to learn in an all

inclusive environment rather than being ostracized by those in power. I believe ​Precious

Knowledge​ is inspirational to all and motivate us as a society to put an end to the injustices of

racial bias and to stop living in fear. We must all have the courage that these students fought with

to fight the government to benefit our lives and those around us .

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Works Cited

Biggers, Jeff. “Arizona’s Precious Knowledge: Blockbuster New Film Chronicles Ethnic
Studies Battle”. ​Huffington Post​, June 2011,
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/precious-knowledge-arizona_b_875702​. Accessed 5
November 2019.

Palos, A. (Director) (2011). ​Precious Knowledge​ [DVD].

Wun, C. (2013). “More​ ​than ​Precious Knowledge:​ A critical review of ​Precious Knowledge”​ .
JCT (Online), 29(2), 240-243.
https://login.libproxy.scu.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.libproxy.scu.edu/do
cview/1501429919?accountid=13679​. ​Accessed 5 November 2019.