U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon has completed the first three stops on the national History Rocks! Trail to Independence Tour, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s efforts to celebrate America’s upcoming 250th birthday. The tour included visits to schools in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Middletown, Delaware; and Colts Neck, New Jersey.
The History Rocks! tour is designed to strengthen civic literacy by encouraging students to connect with America’s founding principles. In Harrisburg, Secretary McMahon visited Foose Elementary School where she spoke with students and teachers about civic engagement and participated in educational games focused on American history.
In Delaware, the Secretary stopped at St. Georges Technical High School within the New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District. There, she joined a civics classroom session and observed hands-on learning activities in several vocational programs including Biotechnology, Medical Assisting, Teacher Academy for Early Childhood Education, Electrical Trades, and Automotive Technology.
The launch week concluded at Cedar Drive Middle School in Colts Neck, New Jersey. Secretary McMahon visited a Civics class before hosting an assembly for middle school students.
“As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, we have a responsibility to help every student understand the ideas that shaped the United States,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “History education should inspire students to think critically, to appreciate the freedoms we enjoy, and to recognize their own ability to contribute to America’s future. The History Rocks! tour celebrates schools that are doing exactly that — empowering students with knowledge of who we are and what it means to be an American.”
The History Rocks! initiative is part of the Department’s broader America 250 celebrations and is coordinated with organizations such as the America First Policy Institute, Turning Point USA, Hillsdale College, and over 50 other national and state groups through the America 250 Civics Education Coalition. The coalition aims to promote civic education nationwide by providing more opportunities for students to learn about key ideas and events in American history.
Secretary McMahon plans further visits across all 50 states as part of this effort.
