{"id":9036,"date":"2026-05-10T18:28:22","date_gmt":"2026-05-10T18:28:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=9036"},"modified":"2026-05-10T18:28:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-10T18:28:22","slug":"california-schools-us-250th-birthday-celebration-sparks-furious-parent-backlash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=9036","title":{"rendered":"California school\u2019s US 250th birthday celebration sparks furious parent backlash"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 300px 160px; gap: 2px; width: 460px; background: #eee; padding: 2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u6574\u884c\u5bbd\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876674\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 90px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876676\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u5de6\u4fa7\u7ad6\u6392 -->\r\n  <div style=\"height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876672\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"height: 500px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876680\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u6469\u5929\u697c\uff08\u548c\u5de6\u4fa7\u5b8c\u5168\u5bf9\u9f50\uff09 -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row: 3\/5; height: 750px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876678\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e6\" data-zoneid=\"5876682\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>A Southern California middle school assembly celebrating the upcoming US 250th birthday sparked furious backlash from left-wing parents and activists who accused organizers of bringing conservative politics into the classroom.<\/p>\n<p>The event, dubbed \u201cHistory Rocks 250,\u201d was held this week at Canyon Hills Junior High School in Chino Hills and featured patriotic displays, student performances, and speeches focused on American history and civic pride.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>A middle school assembly celebrating America\u2019s upcoming 250th birthday sparked furious backlash from leftyparents. <span class=\"credit\">ABC 7<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The United States will celebrate its 250th birthday on July 4, 2026 \u2014 marking 250 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.<\/p>\n<p>But before students even walked through the doors, protesters gathered outside the campus holding signs reading, \u201cNo politics in school,\u201d while some parents reportedly kept their children home over concerns about the conservative groups tied to the event, according to ABC7 Eyewitness News.<\/p>\n<p>The uproar centered largely on the assembly\u2019s links to conservative organizations Turning Point USA and the Heritage Foundation.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m concerned about the views of Turning Point USA and the Heritage Foundation, which produced Project 2025,\u201d Chino Hills grandparent Debra Esquivel said while criticizing the event.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Canyon Hills Junior High drew both participation and protest this week.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Some parents reportedly kept their children home over concerns about the conservative groups tied to the event.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Turning Point USA was founded by conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated last year during an event hosted by the organization at a college campus in Utah.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the controversy, the assembly moved ahead with patriotic themes woven throughout the program.<\/p>\n<p>Students and faculty opened the gathering with the Pledge of Allegiance before the school choir performed the national anthem.<\/p>\n<p>Sonja Shaw, president of the Chino Valley Unified School District Board of Education, addressed the crowd and was met with scattered boos from some audience members as she walked onstage.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Sonja Shaw, president of the Chino Valley Unified School District Board of Education, addressed the crowd. <span class=\"credit\">Los Angeles Times via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s OK. I heard,\u201d Shaw said after attendees jeered her appearance.<\/p>\n<p>The program also included remarks from Katharine Gorka, who was introduced as a senior adviser for civic education at the US Department of Education and a former official in President Donald Trump\u2019s first administration.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are the most welcoming country on earth, and I love that about this country,\u201d Gorka told students.<\/p>\n<p>Students played a major role in the presentation, serving as emcees, participating in trivia contests and discussing milestones in American history.<\/p>\n<p>One student moderator quizzed classmates by asking: \u201cWhich war left Britain in debt and causing higher taxes on the colonies?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The assembly wrapped with speeches from Canyon Hills students reflecting on America\u2019s history and what they described as the opportunities the country offers immigrants and families seeking freedom.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat makes America special is that for generations families all over the world have come here, searching for freedom, opportunity and the chance to build a better life,\u201d one student said during the closing remarks.<\/p>\n<div class=\"single__inline-module inline-module inline-module--newsletter aligncenter inline-module--nypostbusinessunit aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-newsletter\" data-source-unit=\"Inline Newsletter Module Cali - Morning Report\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__title-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__unsubmitted-title-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"inline-module__cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCalifornia&#8217;s top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Turning Point CEO Erika Kirk with President Donald Trump at the memorial service for Charlie Kirk in 2025. <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>School officials said the campus hosted two separate assemblies lasting about 45 minutes each to accommodate students.<\/p>\n<p>Afterward, Shaw blasted what she described as misinformation surrounding the event and said she was disappointed some families chose not to send their children to school that day.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI feel bad their kids missed school, that\u2019s a whole day of instruction time. It was an interaction. Obviously every lie that was put out before the event took place did some damage,\u201d Shaw said.<\/p>\n<p>The clash underscores growing political tensions inside California schools, where debates over patriotism, curriculum and civic education have become major flashpoints between conservative and progressive parents.<\/p>\n<p>Supporters argued the event was simply intended to celebrate American history ahead of the country\u2019s 250th birthday next year and encourage civic engagement among students.<\/p>\n<p>But critics said the involvement of right-leaning organizations blurred the line between education and politics.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>California Post News<\/strong>: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn<br \/><strong>California Post Sports<\/strong> Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X<br \/><strong>California Post  <\/strong>Opinion <br \/><strong>California Post Newsletters<\/strong>: Sign up here!<br \/><strong>California Post App<\/strong>: Download here!<br \/><strong>Home delivery<\/strong>: Sign up here!<br \/><strong>Page Six Hollywood<\/strong>: Sign up here!<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async defer src=\"https:\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><!-- \u603b\u5bb9\u5668\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u5bbd908px Grid\u7d27\u51d1\u5e03\u5c40 -->\r\n<div style=\"display: grid; 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