Many N.J. Parents Pull Kids From School Ahead of ‘Patriotic’ Assembly Led by Trump Education Official
Several parents have decided to keep their children home on the day of U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s visit to Cedar Drive Middle School in Colts Neck due to neighborhood anxiety.
McMahon will hold an assembly to promote her 50-state “History Rocks! Trail to Independence Tour,” created under the Trump administration to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The visit was meant to be festive and civics-focused, but Colts Neck families say the political overtones made them uneasy.
Some parents say the event is more political than educational. Instead of exposing their children to conservative organizations’ messaging, some families have chosen to keep them out of school.
Former Colts Neck School Board member Danielle Alpaugh hopes to keep her son home and teach him civics through her own method. She suggested taking him to Philadelphia to visit the Liberty Bell instead of the assembly. Politically centrist Alpaugh believes school events should avoid partisanship, especially amid intense local education battles.
Other families share her worries. Some parents have secretly planned their absences, and a petition to cancel the event has circulated. The short notice about the assembly and groups raised red signals for some signers, who have not gone public.
Conservative groups like Turning Point USA, the America First Policy Institute, Hillsdale College, and Moms for Liberty support McMahon’s civics education tour. These relationships have angered parents who believe the school district is supporting political movements rather than neutral instruction.
The school system said the Colts Neck school board president personally contacted federal officials to propose the middle school as a host site. Some parents have questioned whether the board considered all community opinions before inviting them.
Local politics in Colts Neck are fierce. Alpaugh, who served on the school board from 2015 to 2021, lost to conservative Colts Kids First candidates. That slate still influences the board and supported recent Moms for Liberty-praised policies, including a parental-rights provision addressing transgender student notifications. According to supporters, the board’s decisions match many town families’ values. Critics say the policies and McMahon’s trip make LGBTQ+ kids and their families feel uncomfortable.
Some anonymous parents worried that even if McMahon avoids politics, the tour coalition sends an exclusionary message. They argue the district should consider how its decisions affect all kids, especially families who feel targeted by national group policies.
The district informed families days before the gathering, giving them little time to respond or voice concerns. A school board meeting scheduled before McMahon’s visit was canceled, further frustrating community members who wanted to speak out.
McMahon said the “History Rocks!” tour is aimed to excite students about civics and American history, which she thinks schools are neglecting. She began the tour in Pennsylvania this week, emphasizing the significance of understanding the nation’s history.
The visit falls into a sensitive environment in Colts Neck. Supporting families feel the gathering is educational. Parents who plan to keep their kids home think the district should avoid partisan programming.
As McMahon arrives, the town is divided over who teaches history and what lessons public schools should provide children.
Sources:
Statements from parents
Official remarks from school district officials
Information released by the U.S. Department of Education
Public comments from community members and local board discussions
