Harris Slams Federal Control of Schools, Pushes Parent Power

Republican Congressional candidate Hampton Harris issued a forceful statement after the late cancellation of a History Rocks! civics education event, attacking what he calls excessive federal involvement in local schools and sharply contrasting his views with those of Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures. (U.S. Department of Education)

The event was part of the nationwide History Rocks! Trail to Independence tour, designed to strengthen civic literacy ahead of America's 250th anniversary. U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon later visited schools in Satsuma and Auburn after an appearance at Murphy High School in Mobile was canceled due to partisan concerns and threatened student protests.

In his statement, Harris framed the controversy around a core conservative education belief. “Children are raised by parents, not Washington bureaucrats,” he said. “When the federal government inserts itself into classrooms, it is not just funding education. It is influencing values, curriculum, and authority over a child’s development. That is not its role.” Harris added that his own homeschooling shaped his views: “I was homeschooled, and my parents took responsibility for what I was taught, how I was taught, and the values that were instilled in me… parents are not obstacles to education, they are the foundation of it.”

Harris said the U.S. Department of Education has “become a tool for federal control rather than student success” and reiterated his call to abolish the department, returning authority to parents, states, and local communities. “It pushes mandates and ideologies that remove parents from the decision-making process. That does not protect children,” he said.

“Teaching our children the history of this nation and instilling pride in America is not political,” Harris said. “Calling it partisan is the kind of thinking that has led too many young Americans to grow up disconnected from and even hostile toward the country they were born in. The cancellation of this tour was the partisan act.”

Harris drew a clear contrast with Rep. Shomari Figures, the incumbent Democrat representing Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District and Harris’ likely opponent in the November 3 general election. Figures has supported continued federal involvement in education and defended the postponement of the History Rocks tour by labeling it partisan.

“That position reflects a broader belief that Washington, not parents, should decide what children are taught,” Harris said.

“This is about the future of our children,” Harris continued. “When parents lose the right to decide how their children are educated, the family itself is weakened. I will always stand with parents and children and against federal control of our classrooms.”

Supporters of the History Rocks! initiative, including the Department of Education, describe the effort as strengthening civic literacy and providing students with tools to connect to the nation’s founding ideals. McMahon said the program’s goal was to help students “personally connect with America’s founding principles” through engaging activities and history lessons.

Hampton Harris is the sole Republican on the ballot in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District in the May 19 primary. 

For more information on Harris and his campaign, visit HamptonHarrisforAlabama.com.