A History Rocks! civics tour stop scheduled for Thomaston High School will no longer take place. The tour has drawn criticism in some communities, including nearby Fairfield, where the event was canceled in January shortly after it was announced.

Thomaston Board of Education Chairman Nathan Vieira recently informed families that the school had been selected as the Connecticut stop on the History Rocks! America 250 “Trail to Independence” tour, with a program scheduled for the afternoon of March 17.

In an email to families, Vieira described the program as “a short, assembly style civic learning experience” focused on American history and civics. At the time of the email, the guest speaker had not yet been confirmed. Previous stops on the tour have included Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.

Later Tuesday afternoon, Superintendent Francine Coss notified parents and staff that the event would no longer take place.

“The ‘History Rocks!’ event scheduled for March 17 at Thomaston High School has been canceled,” Coss wrote. She added that canceling the event was “the most responsible course of action to maintain a safe and orderly environment for our students and staff.”

According to the U.S. Department of Education, the History Rocks! Trail to Independence Tour is part of the America 250 initiative marking the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026. The tour is intended to visit schools in all 50 states to highlight civics education and American history instruction, but has faced backlash in some communities due to its connections to the America 250 Civics Education Coalition, which includes organizations such as Turning Point USA, Hillsdale College, and the America First Policy Institute. Critics have raised concerns about the political affiliations of some coalition partners and the role of outside groups in school programming.

This article will be updated as any new information is made available.