On Tuesday, December 2, the superintendent of Colts Neck Township Schools, Dr. MaryJane Garibay, shared a letter with families at Cedar Drive Middle School informing them that U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon as well as representatives from Turning Point USA and other organizations would be giving an assembly on Friday, December 5.

The visit is one of the first stops on Secretary McMahon’s “History Rocks!” Tour, a 50-state “civics” tour to coincide with the United States’ 250th anniversary. In her letter, Superintendent Garibay called “History Rocks!” a “meaningful, nonpartisan initiative.”

However, with partnerships like the America First Policy Institute, who is “leading the fight against radical gender ideology,” and pushing for the censorship of LGBTQ+ history in schools; Hillsdale College, a higher education institution that urged for the destruction of same-sex marriage; and Turning Point USA, it is clear that this visit is radically partisan.

The superintendent’s letter gave parents a mere 72 hours notice of the assembly, which directly contradicts the rights Colts Neck Township Schools families now have under the recently passed “Parental Bill of Rights.”

The policy states parents have the right to be informed in advance about any guest speakers, presentations, or school assemblies, especially those addressing health, sexuality, or other sensitive topics.

They may request information about the qualifications of teachers and guest presenters who interact with students. The Board is committed to full transparency so that parents can understand what is being taught and can meaningfully engage in their child’s learning process.

Three days is not sufficient enough notice for such a polarizing engagement as this.

“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. 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. Secretary McMahon may not have the educational pedagogy that is needed to understand the consequences of her actions, but we do. Your radical ideology is not now, nor will it ever be welcome in our New Jersey schools.”

In the words of Secretary McMahon, she looks “forward to highlighting excellence in patriotic education” on the tour. As the organization that spearheaded the passing of New Jersey’s LGBTQ+ and Disabled inclusive curriculum law, we know that far too often phrases like “patriotic education” are code for wanting to teach white-washed, sanitized, and bigoted versions of history.

“We know that Secretary McMahon, someone who is in lockstep with President Trump, and the organizations on this tour want the American story to be free of people of color, women, LGBTQ+ people, religious minorities, immigrants, disabled people, and anyone who is different,” said Brielle Winslow-Majette, Deputy Director. “They want to teach that the only Black history was slavery; they want to ignore the contributions of Latine communities; and they want to perpetuate the genocide of Indigenous people by continuing to relegate them to a past-tense, conquered people. Diverse classrooms call for diversified history. Diversified perspectives and stories save lives.”

We demand that the Education Department stop using taxpayer dollars to promote propaganda and bigotry in our classrooms. Furthermore, we are calling on Colts Neck Township Schools to cancel the “History Rocks!” event and apologize to the families of Cedar Drive students for inviting Secretary McMahon and Turning Point USA’s division and prejudice into their school.

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Garden State Equality, the largest LGBTQ+ advocacy organization in New Jersey, lifts up the diverse voices of LGBTQ+ communities through education, advocacy, and wellness to advance the movement for equality in New Jersey and nationally.