House Republicans Attacked. New York's Chancellor Defended His Schools.

At a two-hour House hearing on antisemitism in public schools on Wednesday, the New York City schools chief, David C. Banks, made one thing very clear: He was ready to fight.

Mr. Banks, a native New Yorker who leads the nation's largest school district, in a Democratic stronghold, emerged as a main target of the House Republicans who called the hearing. They sought a repeat of prior congressional hearings that helped fell two Ivy League college presidents and exacerbated a crisis for another.

But Mr. Banks turned it into a moment of his own — taking an unyielding, fiery tone, denying accusations that his district had responded poorly to hateful incidents and, at times, unapologetically speaking over and pushing back against members of Congress.

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"Is the former principal at Hillcrest still drawing a salary from New York City public schools today?" "Yes, he is." "I'm sorry. Can you say that again?" "I said, yes, he is. He is no longer the —" "You are still paying —" "He is no longer the principal of the school." "How, how can Jewish students feel safe at New York City public schools when you can't even manage to terminate the principal of 'open season on Jews high school,' or even endorse suspension of a student harassment? How can Jewish students go to school knowing that he is still on your payroll? Your payroll, sir." "I know whose payroll it is, sir. And it's not, it's not 'open season on Jews school.' It's called Hillcrest High School. That's the name of the school. And at that school, we considered his leadership not strong enough to be the leader in that school." "Wow, but he can still —" "He's no longer —" "He's still strong enough to participate in your school district? He's still strong school to be on your payroll —" "As the leader of that school." "Is he still strong enough a leader to be on your payroll, sir?" "Every one of the —" "Is that what you're saying? You're endorsing him to continue on your payroll because he has the moral authority to lead —" "Within our system." "Is that what you're saying, Mr. Banks?" "What I said is what I just —" "You're saying that he still has the moral authority to be —" "I did not say that. That's what you said." That is what I'm asking you. You're, you're justifying his continuing employment. And I'm trying to challenge how can that be?" "He, every employee who works in our schools has due process rights, sir." [laughing] "Due process." We do not have the authority —" "There are egregious crimes —" "Just because I disagree to just terminate someone. That's not the way that it works in our school system."

In one heated exchange, Representative Brandon Williams, a Republican of New York, questioned why Mr. Banks had reassigned, but not fired, the principal of a New York City high school where students raucously filled the halls in protest after a Jewish educator posted support for Israel on social media.

Calling it "Open Season on Jews High School," Mr. Williams asked, "How can Jewish students go to school knowing that he is still on your payroll?"

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