CHICAGO (WLS) — A controversial member of the Trump administration was in Chicago Thursday meeting with students at a private Christian high school on the city’s Near West Side.
It was a visit to promote U.S. history as the country approaches its 250th birthday.
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The leadership at Chicago Hope Academy did have to deal with a little pushback from parents about Education Secretary Linda McMahon visiting, given the politics between the Trump administration and Chicago. The visit turned into a real-life civics lesson.
It was an assembly in the chapel that featured several student trivia competitions focused on U.S. and Illinois history. It’s part of a nationwide tour organized by the Department of Education called “History Rocks.”
“The whole purpose of this is to really instill the fact that, you know, education is fun, lot of history to know, how important it is, you know, within our country, to know about our civics, about our Constitution, about the Declaration of Independence,” McMahon said.
But given the Trump administration’s dismantling of the Department of Education, the visit prompted some concerns from a handful of parents. About half the students opted out of the program.
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“Not every student felt like this was the best program to participate in, or didn’t feel as comfortable being part of it. And that’s OK. I think it’s a great learning experience for our community,” Chicago Hope Academy Principal Ike Muzikowski said.
The assembly stuck to talk about history, with politics put on pause.
“I’m glad to have gone through the process of how quickly we jump to politicize internally ourselves. And how tons of finger pointing about how politicized this is, and we are making a statement, saying ‘no, no, no, this is about education,'” Muzikowski said.
Secretary McMahon said these visits are non-partisan.
“I think once it’s understood that this is just bringing, you know, it’s bringing civics and history to life, and it’s not teaching curriculum. And it’s just actually answering questions that have history is the source,” McMahon said.
“And I think our kids left an incredible impression. And as she was leaving, we gave her a scarf, says, ‘hope in every season.’ We hope the experience she’s had here, she can remember that and be encouraged,” Muzikowski said.
In the coming days, the principal expects to have further conversations with the school community. And while he says he may not have all the right answers, he believes hosting the secretary was the right thing to do.
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