Megyn Kelly Criticizes Nikole Hannah-Jones's School Choice for Daughter

Megyn Kelly has sharply criticized Nikole Hannah-Jones, the author of "The 1619 Project," for her decision to send her daughter to PS 307, a Brooklyn public school with a predominantly Black, low-income student body, noting the school's challenges with academic performance and discipline.

During a recent episode of her podcast, Kelly expressed skepticism about Hannah-Jones's motivations, stating, "She doesn’t give a s–t even about her own kid." Kelly characterized the school as "piss-poor" with "piss-poor results," suggesting Hannah-Jones chose it to enhance her own image rather than for her daughter's educational benefit.

Hannah-Jones, in a recent article, detailed her decision to send her daughter, Najya, to PS 307, exploring whether this choice, made to combat systemic racism in education, might have inadvertently disadvantaged her child. Hannah-Jones acknowledged that her now 16-year-old daughter is struggling academically and has expressed that her mother may have prioritized other children's needs over hers.

Kelly interpreted Hannah-Jones's reflection as a response to potential criticism, suggesting it was an attempt to frame a difficult situation positively. "This isn’t her actually coming to Jesus. This is her daughter browbeating her into submission and her trying to turn it into a triumphant moment for herself," Kelly said.

Kelly also commented on Hannah-Jones's past accolades, including being described as "the Beyoncé of educational journalism," and questioned the validity of these comparisons in light of the current situation. She further critiqued Hannah-Jones's admission of providing private tutoring for her daughter, arguing that this private support undermines the idea of sharing the same educational experience as other students at the school.

According to reports, PS 307 has faced significant challenges, including instances of fighting, students lacking lunch, and academic shortcomings. A petition by parents at the school reportedly referred to it as "Little Riker’s Island," drawing a parallel to the city's juvenile detention center. Hannah-Jones herself described visiting the school and witnessing fights and children without meals in the cafeteria, and noted that her daughter's teacher was not accurately grading her assignments, leading her to believe she was performing well when she was not.