University News
"Precious Knowledge" Documentary March 21 at WIU-Macomb, March 22 in QC
March 8, 2012
MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Hear the success stories of students in the Mexican American Studies program at Tucson High School through the documentary "Precious Knowledge," which will be shown on the Western Illinois University Macomb-campus Wednesday, March 21 and in the Quad Cities on Thursday, March 22.
Sponsored by the WIU College of Education and Human Services and the Department of Educational and Interdisciplinary Studies, the WIU-Macomb screening is slated for 7 p.m. March 21 in the University Union Sandburg Theatre. The QC screening is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Franklin W. Olin Center for Educational Technology auditorium at Augustana College, 733 35th St., Rock Island (IL). WIU-QC and the Augustana College Humanities Research Fund and the Department of Spanish are co-sponsoring the March 22 showing of the documentary. A panel discussion, featuring "Precious Knowledge" producer Eren McGinnis, will follow each screening. The screenings of "Precious Knowledge" are open free to the public.
Journalist and author Jeff Biggers, in a June 13, 2011, article on the "Huffington Post," wrote of the documentary: "As ethnic studies defenders in Arizona prepare for the latest showdown in the state's controversial ban this week, a blockbuster new film chronicling the unknown back story behind the crisis is gearing up for national release. Rarely has a film been so timely and downright revelatory."
According to the filmmakers, Dos Vatos Films, "Precious Knowledge" interweaves the stories of the students in the Mexican American Studies program at Tucson High School.
"While 48 percent of Mexican American students currently drop out of high school, Tucson High's Mexican American Studies Program has become a national model of education success, with, on average, 93 percent of enrolled students graduating from high school and 85 percent going on to attend college. [We] 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," the filmmakers said.
Carlo Paciotto, a professor in Western's educational and interdisciplinary studies department, said the movie is of high relevance to all education faculty and students and the WIU educational community at large.
"It deals with the intersection of politics, educational and immigration policies, critical pedagogy and teaching for social justice, and the protection of teachers' intellectual freedom, which includes such issues as book banning and curricular choice," Paciotto noted.
For more information, contact Paciotto at (309) 298-2247 or via email at C-Paciotto@wiu.edu. Read more about "Precious Knowledge" at www.preciousknowledgefilm.com or on the film's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/preciousknowledge.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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