U.S. Secretary Of Education’s Visit To NJ School Sparks Petition, Concerns

COLTS NECK, NJ — U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon is set to visit a school in Colts Neck on Friday, sparking a petition and concerns from those in the New Jersey community.

In a letter sent to families on Tuesday, Colts Neck Schools Superintendent Dr. MaryJane Garibay said McMahon will be visiting Cedar Drive Middle School as part of a 50-state tour titled “History Rocks!”

The initiative is a key component of the America 250 Civics Education Coalition, Garibay said, a national partnership between the U.S. Department of Education, the America First Policy Institute, Turning Point USA (founded by Charlie Kirk), Hillsdale College, and over 40 national and state organizations.

According to Garibay, the coalition aims to advance civic education and opportunities for students to learn about the “ideas, individuals and events that define the American story.”

In her letter to families, Garibay said Board of Education President Angelique Volpe helped position the district for “consideration in this unique opportunity” with early outreach to the U.S. Department of Education.

She went on to say that McMahon’s visit on Friday will consist of a whole-school assembly, a guided tour with classroom visits, and a small-group roundtable discussion with the Colts Neck Board of Education, select students, teachers and administrators.

“We are honored that Cedar Drive Middle School has been selected to represent New Jersey in this meaningful, non-partisan initiative designed to inspire students’ interest in U.S. history and civic responsibility,” Garibay said. “This special event underscores our school community’s continued commitment to providing enriching and impactful learning experiences for our students.”

Though Garibay described the visit as being part of a “non-partisan initiative,” some members of the local community and New Jersey organizations have objected to McMahon coming to Cedar Drive Middle School.

In an online post, NJ Voters for Church and State Separation encouraged people to sign their petition asking Garibay, Cedar Drive Middle School Principal Dr. Colin Rigby and the Colts Neck Board of Education to cancel McMahon’s visit and “keep propaganda out of schools.”

“Public schools are supposed to be ideologically neutral,” the petition reads. “Organizations pushing a specific political or religious agenda have no business designing civics curriculum for our kids.”

The petition gained support from some local residents and Monmouth County organizations, including Middletown NJ Democrats and Hazlet Township Democrats, who were among those that reposted the petition on Facebook.

In a report from NJ Advance Media, one Colts Neck parent said he plans to keep his middle school student at home on Friday, adding that although he views Colts Neck’s school leadership as “highly inclusive,” he worries McMahon’s presentation could convey racist or homophobic messages.

Garden State Equality, New Jersey’s largest LGBTQ+ advocacy and education organization, also issued a statement on McMahon’s visit.

In their statement, the organization demanded that the U.S. Education Department “stop using taxpayer dollars to promote propaganda and bigotry in our classrooms” and called on the district to cancel their “History Rocks!” event and apologize to the families of Cedar Drive students.

“It is outrageous that Dr. Garibay expects the Cedar Drive Middle School community, and the community at-large, to believe that ‘History Rocks’ is a ‘non-partisan initiative,’” said Justine Evyn Saliski, Senior Director of Education & Youth Development.

“Cedar Drive LGBTQ+ middle school students deserve better than this,” Saliski continued. “It is unethical and dangerous to bring such hate-fueled representatives into a public education building. It is just as unethical and dangerous to present this assembly as a non-partisan and enriching learning experience.”

Patch has reached out to Garibay, Volpe and Rigby for comment on calls for the district to cancel McMahon’s visit. This article will be updated as responses are received.

In a release from the U.S. Department of Education, McMahon said she’s thrilled to kick off the “History Rocks!” tour as part of the department’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday, and will have visits in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey throughout the week.

“I look forward to highlighting excellence in patriotic education, civic literacy, and student-driven civics projects in classrooms across the country,” McMahon said. “Preparing the next generation of American leaders to understand and appreciate the blessings of liberty our Constitution secures has never been more urgent.”