Atlantic staff writer Jenisha Watts told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that she will send her young Black son to a private preschool and plans to apply for private kindergarten. Watts said her own childhood in Lexington, Kentucky, where she described receiving an “abysmal education,” convinced her that she could not repeat the public‑school path taken by her friend, 1619 Project creator Nikole Hannah‑Jones.

Why Watts chose private education

In an essay for The Atlantic, Watts wrote, “I could never make the choice she made. I know too well what can go wrong. I’m sending him to a private preschool, and I plan to apply for private kindergarten too.” She explained that her experience with struggling schools left a lasting impact that continues to affect her adult life.

Hannah‑Jones’ response

Hannah‑Jones, who recently expressed regret over her own daughter’s public‑school experience, responded directly to Watts. She said, “I have a deep respect for Jenisha and all she has overcome. Our concerns and values as parents are always shaped, to some degree, by our own experiences as children. Unlike Jenisha, I got a parachute out of my segregated school and that changed my life, and as a result I have always thought about the equal worth of children who didn’t get that parachute and how that shaped their lives as well.” Hannah‑Jones reaffirmed her belief in public schools as a common good, adding, “I still believe, as I always have, in public schools as necessary and common good, that education should be the great equalizer, and that parents should not have to choose between doing what’s right for their children and what’s right for community.”

Policy implications and school‑choice advocacy

Hannah‑Jones argued that the systemic inequality she writes about can only be fixed with political will to adopt policies that value every child, regardless of race or income. “In the end, the inequality I write about and that Jenisha experienced is systemic and will only be fixed if we acquire the political will to make different policy choices that value the inherent worth of all of our children, even if those children happen to be born Black and poor,” she said.

School‑choice advocate Corey DeAngelis, a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, offered a sharply different assessment. He praised Watts, stating, “Jenisha Watts is doing what a parent is supposed to do. She is putting her son first. Watts has options most families do not. The scandal is not that she is using them. The scandal is that politicians and teachers unions fight to keep those options out of reach for everyone else. School choice is the equalizer. Trapping kids in failure factories by zip code only makes inequality worse.” DeAngelis added, “It is time to fund students, not systems, so all families can have a shot at the American dream. If Hannah‑Jones and her friends actually want to help other children, they should fight for the funding to follow the student. You do not fix public schools by locking kids in them. You fix them by giving families a way out — and giving those schools a reason to change.”

Public‑school officials weigh in

New York City Public Schools Chancellor Kamar H. Samuels defended the public‑school mission, saying, “From day one, I have made it clear: every student, regardless of background or ability, should feel affirmed, valued, and held to high expectations. At New York City Public Schools, we know that our students benefit from inclusive environments where every child has access to rigorous academics, student supports, and diverse learning opportunities.” Samuels emphasized his commitment to an integrated public‑school system.

Broader conversation on parental rights

Watts stressed that her decision was not meant as a condemnation of Hannah‑Jones or other parents who choose public schools, but rather as a reflection of a broader failure that forces families to weigh their children’s immediate interests against struggling schools. “America should not force parents to make that kind of choice,” she said.

The exchange highlights an ongoing national debate over school choice, parental rights, and how best to address systemic educational inequality. While advocates argue that expanding private‑school options empowers families and pressures public schools to improve, critics maintain that public‑school investment and reform are essential to ensuring equal opportunity for all children.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.