U.S. Department of Education officials visited schools in Tennessee and Missouri as part of the national History Rocks! Trail to Independence tour, according to a Mar. 24 announcement. The visits are part of the Department’s preparations for America’s upcoming 250th birthday and aim to promote civic literacy among students.
The initiative seeks to help students connect personally with America's founding principles through interactive learning experiences. At Stewarts Creek High School in Smyrna, Tennessee, Senior Advisor for Civic Education Katie Gorka and Andrew Jackson Foundation President Jason Zajac joined about 300 ninth through twelfth grade students in games focused on American history, civics, and the state’s role in shaping the nation.
“Tennessee’s history is filled with leaders and communities that have helped define what it means to be an engaged citizen, including figures like President Andrew Jackson,” said Gorka. “As we look ahead to our nation’s 250th anniversary, it is critical that students not only learn this history, but understand how it applies to their own lives. History Rocks! is about making that connection real and encouraging the next generation to take ownership of America’s future.”
Zajac added: “From his early days as a young lawyer on the Tennessee frontier to his service as a U.S. Senator and his election to the presidency, Jackson’s life reflects the independent spirit and civic engagement that have long defined this state. As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary through History Rocks!, we have an opportunity to help students see that the principles debated and defended here in Tennessee continue to shape our nation today. By studying our past, young people can better understand their role in preserving and strengthening our republic for the next 250 years.”
In Kansas City, Missouri, Deputy Assistant Secretary Marianna Davidovich spoke with approximately 250 high school students at Northland Christian School following remarks from local education leaders.
“Missouri has long played a pivotal role in our nation’s story, serving as a gateway for westward expansion and a meeting point of diverse American experiences,” said Davidovich. “As we approach our nation’s 250th anniversary, History Rocks! gives students the opportunity to connect what they learn in the classroom to the broader American story and better understand how those lessons inform the future.”
The History Rocks! initiative is one component of several planned activities by federal officials leading up to America's Semiquincentennial celebrations. The program involves partnerships with Freedom 250—which leads presidential programming for America’s milestone—and coordination with organizations such as America First Policy Institute, Turning Point USA, Hillsdale College, among others dedicated toward advancing civic education nationwide.
