The national 'History Rocks!' civics education tour, spearheaded by US Education Secretary Linda McMahon, kicked off in New Jersey this Friday, but its launch was met with organised resistance. A small yet vocal group of parents and advocates protested outside Cedar Drive Middle School in Colts Neck, voicing deep concerns about the political nature of the initiative and the secrecy surrounding the event.
Closed Doors and Mounting Concerns
The visit, part of a new fifty-state initiative by the Trump administration to promote patriotism ahead of America's 250th anniversary, began with a closed-door meeting. The Colts Neck Board of Education session was not open to the public or most media, with only one reporter allowed inside. That reporter later captured McMahon praising the school for its strong commitment to patriotism.
Following the private meeting, a schoolwide assembly was held featuring McMahon and a quiz-based history activity. However, families had received notice of this assembly just four days prior. The swift announcement and the involvement of over forty supporting organisations, many identified as conservative or religious groups, raised immediate red flags for many locals.
Protesters gathered with signs, one boldly stating Propaganda is not educational. The scene turned briefly confrontational when a passing driver shouted Venezuela, move there at the demonstrators, as reported by The New York Times.
Swift Political and Community Backlash
The tour's announcement triggered a rapid response from New Jersey's political landscape, which recently elected a Democratic governor. State Senator Vin Gopal condemned the visit as forced indoctrination, criticising the involvement of children in political messaging. Local advocacy groups sprang into action.
Kyler Dineen of New Jersey Voters for Church and State Separation started a petition to cancel the event, while Michael Gottesman of the Public Education Coalition organised a letter-writing campaign. Several parents chose to keep their children home to avoid the assembly altogether.
The involvement of major sponsors like the America First Policy Institute and Turning Point USA fuelled the controversy. A news release from Turning Point Education, cited by The New York Times, stated the group's goal was to advance God-centred, virtuous education through the coalition.
A District Already in the Spotlight
The controversy unfolds in Colts Neck, an affluent township already under statewide scrutiny for its education policies. Just on 19 November, the district became the first in New Jersey to adopt a policy requiring parental notification if a child changes their preferred name, pronouns, or use of gendered facilities. The same policy mandates that guardians be informed in advance about guest speakers addressing sensitive topics.
Critics argued the closed-door meeting and the partisan character of the supporting groups violated public education's core principles of openness and non-partisanship. Alison DeNoia, a former school board member, expressed a common fear: we do not know what they are going to teach the kids in there and that is what is concerning. She revealed discussions about potential legal action regarding the secretive board meeting.
In a late attempt to address concerns, the district circulated an update on Thursday stating that no representatives from the partner organisations would attend the student assembly, framing the visit as two interactive games linked to the existing history curriculum.
Outside the school, Democratic congressional candidate Julie Flynn held a small sign for hours, framing the protest itself as a civic lesson. She told The New York Times, there is nothing more American than what we are doing right here, highlighting the deep national debate over how patriotism and history should be taught in public schools.
