In its desire to address “the legacy of racism, together with a false meritocracy in America today that keeps children trapped where they are,” George Packer, a staff writer for the Atlantic, accused the Department of Education of playing identity politics. Though sensitive to the idea that racism is “the root cause of the inequities in the city’s schools,” Packer suggests that “calling out racism…[might drive] out families of all races who cling to an idea of education based on real merit.”