Film Screening: Precious Knowledge

March 13, 2018 - 4:30pm to 6:30pm

School of Education
Dean's Series on Equity & Justice:
Film Screening Precious Knowledge and Discussion with Educator-Activist Curtis Acosta

Curtis Acosta was a high school teacher for nearly 20 years in Tucson, where he developed and taught Mexican American and Raza Studies classes for the renowned Mexican American Studies program in the Tucson Unified School District. His work was featured in the documentary "Precious Knowledge", a film released in 2011 after the Mexican American Studies program was shut down. Just recently, in August 2017, a federal judge ruled that termination of the program violated students’ rights and was motivated by “racial animus.” 

Now an assistant professor at the University of Arizona South, Dr. Acosta will share his reflections and current thoughts given this recent victory for Ethnic Studies and lead a discussion on the role of Ethnic Studies in education.

This event invites you, your classmates, colleagues, students, educators and community members to discuss with him and the Pitt community to consider questions such as: 
• What are students experiencing and how are students feeling? 
• What can teachers do to support their students, who are enduring and suffering from trauma? 
• What are teachers experiencing and how are they feeling? What about families? 
• What can researchers do to support teachers and students while honoring students’ whole identities? 
• How can we as a Pitt community come together to work toward these goals? 
• What is my responsibility or my “universe of obligation” (Facing History, n.d.)? 
• How are these issues universal and part of our commitment to equity, social justice, and our humanity?

RSVP by completing the online form. A welcome reception will begin at 3:30.  

Location and Address

O'Hara Student Center Ballroom

Event Type

Screening
Schools:
Schools & Colleges: 
School of Education