Readers Criticize Nikole Hannah-Jones' Decision to Send Daughter to Failing Public School

New York Post readers have reacted strongly to journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones' account of her decision to send her daughter to a failing New York City public school as a social experiment. Many expressed criticism of her choice, viewing it as hypocritical or detrimental to her child's education.

One reader, Glenn McManus of Sunnyside, questioned the motivation behind the decision, stating, "I can’t imagine why millionaire parents Nikole and Faraji Hannah-Jones would send their 5-year-old child to a failing New York City public school for a social-justice experiment." He added that their daughter "has every right to be mad after eight years of a selfish failed trial like this."

Similarly, Michael Santavicca of Yonkers criticized the approach, asking, "What did this educated clown and her husband want to prove by sending their child to a failing public school? Sacrificing your child’s education in the name of bringing attention to the failing (union-run) public schools is dumb." He suggested a charter school would have been a better alternative, given their financial means.

Robert Spitalnick of Great Neck characterized Hannah-Jones' actions as a product of "twisted leftist ideology," asserting, "If she is so willing to sacrifice her own daughter’s educational prospects, health and safety to prove a point, imagine what she would do to everyone else’s kids. It’s called ‘Marxism.’"

Jayne Lee of Rockaway questioned the parents' awareness of their daughter's struggles, writing, "How could they not have known — until high school — that their only child lacked basic milestones in her learning? No matter how Hannah-Jones and her husband spin this, they alone have failed their daughter."

Janine Yass of Philadelphia proposed a different solution, agreeing that New York City's school choice system perpetuates segregation but arguing for empowering all families with real school choice. "The path to real equity involves allowing $10,000 or more in state or federal tax money to follow every child to an excellent school of their choosing," Yass wrote, citing Texas and other states as examples.

Joel Glazer of Elizabeth, N.J., emphasized the primary role of parents in a child's education, stating, "I’ve taught American history for 60 years... and I’ve learned that a student’s success is never guaranteed. It all begins with parents, who are the first teachers a child has." He questioned whether Hannah-Jones and her husband were "good parents" or if they "consigned their child to failure due to their own pretensions."

Bruce Collins of Middletown, N.J., challenged the notion that New York City public schools are inherently racist, pointing to the success of minority-filled charter schools. "It’s not racism, it’s the lefty politicians he votes for who are failing students," Collins stated.

JJ Levine of Miami Beach, Fla., suggested that Hannah-Jones should have focused on collaborating with school officials and teachers' unions to improve the system rather than pursuing attention. Mary Maresco of Manhattan questioned how Hannah-Jones' approach would benefit underprivileged black students, proposing that a more impactful "experiment" would have explored the root causes of failing public schools.

Joseph Valente of Staten Island concluded that while a mother's duty is to her children's well-being, Hannah-Jones failed in this regard. He also noted the comparison made by her husband, Faraji Hannah-Jones, of Nikole Hannah-Jones to civil rights figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Ida B. Wells regarding education reform.

IMAGE4: Nikole Hannah-Jones attends the world premiere of the HBO original documentary series "Jay Z in 8" at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, Sept. 13, 2026. "Nikole Hannah-Jones attends the world premiere of the HBO original documentary series "Jay Z in 8" at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, Sept. 13, 2026."