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EducationQuiet 2d · day 3

Nikole Hannah-Jones' school choice essay sparks debate on exit rights

The journalist's New York Times article about moving her daughter to a selective high school revives arguments over whether affluent families should stay in struggling public schools.

newest coverage 2d agosummary written 1d ago2 pieces Newswires

What to know

  • Hannah-Jones enrolled her daughter in struggling public schools hoping her family's activism would improve them, but the strategy failed and her daughter requested a transfer.
  • The article has revived debate over school choice versus the "voice" argument—whether affluent families should exit bad schools or stay to reform them from within.
  • Libertarian scholar Ilya Somin argues Hannah-Jones' experience actually supports expanding exit and choice options rather than relying on insider advocacy.

“her daughter ended up bitterly bemoaning the poor quality of the education she got, and Hannah-Jones' well-meaning efforts to improve the public schools she attended accomplished very little.”

Ilya Somin, Law professor, libertarian scholar · Reason ↗ · Sep 20

Nikole Hannah-Jones Journalist, academic, anti-racism activistIlya SominIlya Somin Law professor, libertarian scholar

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articles

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Sep 22yesterdaynow · 12:58 AM ET
  1. 1

    Ilya Somin frames Hannah-Jones' experience as case for exit rights

    Law professor and libertarian scholar Ilya Somin argues Hannah-Jones' story demonstrates the importance of exit rights and school choice, countering the "voice" argument that influential families should stay in struggling institutions to reform them from within.

    “Although she does not seem to recognize it, the best way to help students from less advantaged families than her own is to expand exit and choice opportunities for them.”
    — Ilya Somin
    1. 1 outlet Exit, Voice, and Nikole Hannah-Jones

      first by Reason, 2d ago

  2. background

    Nikole Hannah-Jones publishes New York Times article on daughter's schooling — Hannah-Jones writes about her decision to enroll her daughter in underperforming majority-Black public schools in New York City in hopes that her family's wealth and activism might stimulate educational reforms, and her eventual regret when the strategy failed.