Today, U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education Dr. David Barker, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva visited Lakewood Elementary School and Liberty Common High School in Arkansas as part of the Department of Education’s national History Rocks! Trail to Independence tour. The tour aims to strengthen civic literacy by helping students personally connect with America’s founding principles in celebration of America’s upcoming 250th birthday.
More than four hundred students in kindergarten through fifth grade participated in interactive games designed to deepen their understanding of American history and civics and the important role Arkansas has played in our nation’s history. The event opened with remarks from Principal Courtney Bost and Superintendent Dr. Gregory Pilewski, followed by Secretary Oliva, Governor Sanders, and Assistant Secretary Barker. Students received prizes through the History Rocks! initiative while exploring themes of civic engagement, patriotism, and the shared responsibilities of citizenship.
“Arkansas has a way of making history feel close to the surface. You can see it in the small towns, the old routes, and the pride people still take in the places they call home,” said U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary Dr. David Barker. “History Rocks! gives students the chance to connect that sense of place to the larger American story and to understand that citizenship is not just something inherited, but something each generation has to carry forward.”
“Arkansas students deserve a civics education that goes beyond a textbook and helps them connect with our nation’s story and the communities they call home,” said Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “As America approaches its 250th birthday, programs like History Rocks! help bring history to life and inspire the next generation to preserve the freedoms and values that define our country.”
Background
The History Rocks! initiative is a key component of the U.S. Department of Education’s celebrations for America’s 250th birthday, in partnership with Freedom 250 and coordinated with the America 250 Civics Education Coalition. Secretary McMahon, Administration officials, and education leaders will visit schools in all 50 states to showcase examples of high-quality history and civics instruction that bring American principles to life.
Learn more about the Department’s Semiquincentennial initiatives here.
Freedom 250 leads the presidential programming for the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration. Its mission is to unite Americans around one shared purpose-celebrating the Triumph of the American Spirit by honoring our history, cherishing our freedoms, and building the golden age of opportunity for the next 250 years.
Learn more about Freedom 250 here.
The America 250 Civics Education Coalition is a national partnership with the America First Policy Institute, Turning Point USA, Hillsdale College, and more than 50 national and state organizations. This coalition is dedicated to advancing civic education and expanding opportunities for students to learn about the ideas, individuals, and events that define the American story.