On Choosing

How the Systemic Segregation of Schools is Maintained by School Choices by Nikole Hannah-Jones
NPREd, January 16, 2017

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In an interview and article for NPR, “How the Systemic Segregation of Schools is Maintained by School Choices,” Nikole Hannah-Jones shares a personal reflection on the topic of school choice. She speaks candidly about her decision to enroll her daughter in the public education system even though she has the means to enroll her in a private school. Hannah-Jones’ decision to do so was based on the fact that she didn’t want “to contribute to the inequality that [she writes] about.” She argues that when families decide to pull their kids out of public schools, they declare openly that the system is not good enough for their children. As educators in independent schools, it falls on us to think carefully about the public purpose of our institutions. For example, we might ask ourselves how we can engender greater inclusivity on our campuses by designing auxiliary programs and outreach programs that bring in students from diverse backgrounds. Indeed, Hannah-Jones invites readers to begin thinking about an array of challenging questions school choice presents to the independent school model. [Editor’s note: If this submission peaks your interest, you may want to explore a long read by the author on the same topic. Called “Choosing a School for My Daughter in a Segregated City,” it was featured in The New York Times Magazine in June 2016.]