For my fourth blog post, I decided to make a connection between Christine's reading of "The Academic and Social Value of Ethnic Studies" and the video "Precious Knowledge." On the one hand, author Christine argues primarily that ethnic studies are truly necessary because they aim to balance what students learn in schools. Regular curricula often focus more on a single perspective and overlook the history of other cultures. However, the author emphasizes that ethnic studies help us learn not only about all people but also to establish a personal connection. For instance, ethnic studies help students feel closer to their learning because they see elements related to their experiences and cultures in the lessons. This is a clear example from the "Precious Knowledge" video. The students who fight for ethnic studies in Tucson, Arizona, high schools demonstrate how important Mexican studies are to them in the education system through protests. In the documentary, testimonies of Latino students express how they feel when their teachers address topics related to their identity and cultural background. Each of them mentions feeling included, accepted, and valued simply because they can be themselves without being judged. Furthermore, in "Precious Knowledge," we can observe that with ethnic studies included, students feel more engaged in their learning, as Christine also emphasizes. In the video, students demonstrated their interest in what they were learning through active participation in class, which significantly helped to build an enriching school environment.
Other contributions about ethnic studies: Click Here
Video Analysis: "Precious Knowledge" Click Here.
Hi Elizabeth! Great reflection, I like the images you chose as well. I enjoyed watching the documentary, "Precious Knowledge" in class, and I think it was a perfect example for your blog post.
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