Paste-Ins

Racism, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is a belief that race is the primary

determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent

superiority of a particular race (Merriam-Webster).

Renowned historian and journalist Jeff Biggers analyzes the series of arguments in the

documentary, and then provides additional facts and commentary on the two sides of the debate

portrayed in Precious Knowledge. Through the lens that Biggers review provides, it is clear

that the basic human right of education is not the only social rights issue being addressed in this

film.

A pop-up displayed after this statement reads: The nationwide dropout rate for Mexican

Americans is over fifty percent; the highest of any minority group (Precious Knowledge).

In response to this system, TUSD established the Ethnic Studies program in order to

educate their students on the society that marginalized and stereotyped them.

Horne even claims that he participated in the March on Washington, when MLK

delivered his famous I Have A Dream speech. Horne himself recognizes MLK in his address

to the public: He wanted his son to be judged by the quality of his character rather than the

color of his skin, and I believe I am still fighting for that now (Precious Knowledge).

While this is an extremely bold claim, but a somewhat valid one. Huppenthal, the only

American superintendent who visited the classroom, said this to the Mexican-Americans at THS:

If a group is being oppressed, that means somewhere there is an oppressor (Precious

Knowledge). Thus, Huppenthal and his supporters are afraid that the Ethnic Studies program at

THS is portraying America in a negative light by saying that America is racist.

 He first participates in this argument when he brings up The Pedagogy of the Oppressed;

a book that cites Marx, Lenin, Mao, Castro, and Che Guevara. All these men are not only

controversial in America, but they inspire revolutionary action. Superintendent Huppenthal

explains his concerns for this: The suspicion is that, inside these classes, these students are

being indoctrinated, by people who are in power, to have a certain mindset of us versus them

(Precious Knowledge).

Cut-Outs

This sense confusion can lead to misunderstandings, and Biggers claims that this film

provides an explanation to the misunderstood Ethnic Studies program at TUSD: 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). This

is extremely important because Biggers acknowledges the fact that this Ethnic Studies program

is completely, utterly misunderstood. This film not only contextualizes the misunderstood

program, but also highlights the misunderstood Mexican-American minority in contemporary

American society. A Mexican-American proponent of the establishment of the Ethnic Studies

program says, Ive never met a kid thats had a dysfunctional relationship to learning. Ive met a

lot of kids whove had a dysfunctional relationship to school (Precious Knowledge). These

two facts together highlight the Mexican-Americans struggle within the American education

system. In response to this system, TUSD established the Ethnic Studies program in order to

educate their students on the society that marginalized and stereotyped them.

The many issues that this united minority are forced to confront bring into question core

American ideals; additionally, they warrant the passings of Senate Bill 1108 and Senate Bills
269. The issues confronted by both sides, in fact, are so strong that they even question core

American policies and ideals; and this is what the American superintendents are afraid of.

The racial commentary that take place between the Ethnic Studies program at TUSD and

the two American superintendents and their supporters is largely caused by an ideological

difference. To explain, the viewer must investigate the first political battle that is initiated by

superintendent Tom Horne. He is the American superintendent who calls upon TUSD to shut

down their Ethnic Studies program because they are racist. He believes that the establishment

of the Ethnic Studies program is wrong because it forces one to examine other people based on

race. It is also clear that Horne promotes American, individualistic culture because he claims to

judge based on quality of character. This is opposite to the Mexican-American culture, which is

collectivist. This is evident in the Ethnic Studies program, for the teachers preach that the

students must work for each other in order to create a better life in the society that oppressed

them. Collectivistic, Mexican-American culture focuses on the group, while individualistic,

American culture focuses on the individual person. While the Ethnic Studies programs

investigate race to establish a cultural community between their students, Horne views this as

racism because it is all about race. This difference in definitions of racism is partly due to

the difference in ideologies between the Mexican-Americans and the American superintendents

in the film.

Now, this ideological difference will prove to be extremely important in the next

arguments, for Hornes argument will be built upon by Huppenthal from a similar cultural

perspective. Biggers himself emphasizes the extreme importance of ideological differences and

the situations it causes in the film: Precious Knowledge reveals the ideological and political

fervor afoot in Arizona the anti-ethnic-studies ban and anti-immigrant measures... claims the
Mexican-American Studies courses promote the overthrow of the government and ethnic

resentment (Biggers). In saying this, Biggers reveals that this ideological difference has created

an extreme misunderstanding between the Mexican-Americans in Tucson and superintendent

Tom Horne. Superintendent Tom Horne is directly hinting that the collectivist teachers in TUSD

are not only separating based on race, but indoctrinating their students with racially-based ideas.

And this is where Huppenthal, the second American superintendent, emerges as a participant in

the debate; and this is a critical turning point because he takes superintendent Hornes argument

one step further. In saying this, Huppenthal basically reiterates and builds upon superintendent

Hornes arguments. Rather than accusing the students of being racist, he suggests that the

Mexican-Americans are challenging contemporary, American ideals. Now, clearly, this is not the

case; however, this situation does portray the extreme differences between cultures. Huppenthal

adds his own interpretation of the situation in TUSD: My sense of it is that theyre bringing

these kids in and saying: the Founding Fathers are racist, the social systems are stacked up

against you, look at these statistics You cant plant evil ideas in kids minds and expect healthy

outcomes (Precious Knowledge). Even describing the Mexican-American and collectivist

ideas as evil is a testament to how afraid Huppenthal is of a collectivist uprising in response to

the American, individualist system. Through the arguments of these two American

superintendents, it is clear that ideological differences may contribute to misguided assumptions

of the Ethnic Studies program at TUSD. And these misguided assumptions convinced the

uninvolved public, local critics, and all other proponents of the abolishment of the Ethnic Studies

program at TUSD. However, the two senators continued action and adamant opposition of the

Ethnic Studies program suggests this argument may be fueled by hate-inspired racism rather than

an a deeper care for educational learning.

 One teacher at THS articulates for his colleagues truthfully: We have the courage to

examine our history for what it is we dare to care about education (Precious

Knowledge).While this is an extremely bold claim, but a somewhat valid one. Huppenthal, the

only American superintendent who visited the classroom, said this to the Mexican-Americans at

THS: If a group is being oppressed, that means somewhere there is an oppressor (Precious

Knowledge). Thus, Huppenthal and his supporters are afraid that the Ethnic Studies program at

THS is portraying America in a negative light by saying that America is racist. However, one

teacher at THS articulates for his colleagues truthfully: We have the courage to examine our

history for what it is we dare to care about education (Precious Knowledge). This simple

exchange of dialogue shows how the argument evolves from an education rights issue into a

commentary on oppression in the American setting. This rapid evolution of racial commentary

can be derived from two sources: the misunderstanding of Mexican-American culture, and the

differences over the operational definition of racism. Through the lens of Biggers review, it is

evident that the documentary Precious Knowledge wishes to both provide insight into Mexican

American culture and its relationship to the Ethnic Studies program at TUSD, and the film

wishes to define racism.

While this is an extremely bold claim, but a somewhat valid one. Huppenthal, the only

American superintendent who visited the classroom, said this to the Mexican-Americans at THS:

If a group is being oppressed, that means somewhere there is an oppressor (Precious

Knowledge). Thus, Huppenthal and his supporters are afraid that the Ethnic Studies program at

THS is portraying America in a negative light by saying that America is racist. However, one

teacher at THS articulates for his colleagues truthfully: We have the courage to examine our

history for what it is we dare to care about education (Precious Knowledge). This simple
exchange of dialogue shows how the argument evolves from an education rights issue into a

commentary on oppression in the American setting. This rapid evolution of racial commentary

can be derived from two sources: the misunderstanding of Mexican-American culture, and the

differences over the operational definition of racism. Through the lens of Biggers review, it is

evident that the documentary Precious Knowledge wishes to both provide insight into Mexican

American culture and its relationship to the Ethnic Studies program at TUSD, and the film

wishes to define racism.

There are two crucial elements in the film that reveal the American superintendents

racist qualities: Hornes hypocrisy and Huppenthals misguided interpretations. Additionally, it

is important to acknowledge both of the American superintendents ignorance of the statistics

and facts. Horne claims that he judges based on character rather than skin color. Yet, he focuses

on the Ethnic Studies program as being racist without acknowledging a single individual in the

program. Not only this, but he is even offered an opportunity to visit the classroom; however, he

refuses to even acknowledge the invitation. With this irrefutable evidence, Hornes actions can

be viewed as either racist or hypocritical. Biggers elaborates on Hornes corrupt past, and his

role in the film: Hornes spiraling obsession with the Ethnic Studies Program almost borders on

the maniacal and risks statements that are outright falsehoods (Biggers). Hornes words, at the

very least, do not add up in his perceivable actions. Contrary to Horne, Huppenthal actually visits

the classroom; however he only evaluates the classroom at face value. Instead of investigating

the deeper meaning behind Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Huppenthal investigates only the

citations in the novel. Furthermore, Huppenthal notices that there are no posters of American

leaders on the walls; he interprets this as an attack on American ideals. Huppenthal comments in

a later interview in the documentary about the clothes of one teacher, but refuses to acknowledge
the quality of the teachers and students in the classroom. Huppenthals judgement is rather

questionable, but Biggers elaborates on Huppenthal by revealing some shocking background

information: Huppenthal, who ran on a 2010 campaign to stop la raza, takes to the Senate

floor and declares parts of our neighborhoods have been nuclear-bombed by the effects of

illegal immigration (Precious Knowledge). This only highlights Huppenthals fear of

Mexican-Americans and their culture, which explains his support of the abolition of the Ethnic

Studies program at TUSD.

The film Precious Knowledge is only a testament to the American superintendents and

their supporters shared arrogance of the classroom setting in the Ethnic Studies course at TUSD.

Their actions are blatantly racist, yet they are successful in shutting down the Ethnic Studies

program at Tucson Unified School District. Biggers review reveals the causes of this political

debate between the proponents and opponents of the Ethnic Studies program. It is revealed that

ideological and cultural difference are not the roots of the problem, but rather the larger problem

of racism in American politics. Because racism is rooted in hate and ignorance, Mexican-

Americans cannot be accused of being racist. While the Mexican-Americans at TUSD do draw

influence from Pedagogy of the Oppressed, they realize that the essence of that book is about

one thing: Creating greater, better humanity (Precious Knowledge). While they do

investigate individual races, the Mexican-Americans embrace every human with understanding,

respect, and appreciation (Precious Knowledge). This is completely opposite to the

superintendents view of this Mexican-American minority and their approach to education. The

film Precious Knowledge informs the viewer about the unfortunate situation of Mexican-
Americans in todays educational structure, and provides further commentary on the role of

racism in contemporary America.