American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten faced pointed questions and sharp pushback during a tense appearance on Fox News this week, as she defended public education policies during a heated interview on The Story with Martha MacCallum.

The segment focused on ongoing challenges in the U.S. public school system, including declining academic performance, funding concerns, and controversies surrounding school library content.

MacCallum pressed Weingarten on her opposition to school choice and on claims that increased funding alone can solve the system’s problems.

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MacCallum pointed to consistently low proficiency levels in reading and math as a sign that the current education model is failing students across the country.

“So, if we can find other areas around the country where the proficiency levels are also abysmal and should be embarrassing to every education organization, then we can start making assessments and say it’s because of [school] choice or money,” MacCallum said.

“We know that money does not equate to a better outcome.”

She referenced an example from New Jersey to illustrate that higher funding does not always lead to improved academic performance.

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Weingarten, in response, attempted to redirect the conversation and, in the process, used a tone that quickly drew backlash.

“Martha, Martha, sweetheart—” Weingarten began, before MacCallum immediately cut in.

“Don’t call me sweetheart!” MacCallum responded firmly.

Weingarten apologized for the remark and continued her argument, accusing conservatives of shifting their positions on education funding over time.

MacCallum pushed back again, noting that conservative education reform efforts have consistently emphasized giving parents more control through school choice initiatives.

“They [conservatives] wanted to go to different programs—school choice programs—and give [money] to parents who want to homeschool their kids,” MacCallum said.

Weingarten attempted to shift focus to red states, suggesting that some of the most improved education outcomes were seen in Republican-led areas like Mississippi.

However, MacCallum countered with additional context, citing Mississippi’s expansion of school choice and teacher training programs.

“One of the things they have done in Mississippi is to expand [school] choice,” MacCallum said.

“They’re also doing something really important, which is to expand teacher training because they understand that teachers themselves do not understand the things they are supposed to be teaching.”

MacCallum further emphasized the long-term decline in student performance across the country.

“We must be clear-eyed about the fact that our students over the past 20 years have had very weakened outcomes,” she said.

“We see it at the college level; we see it when kids are pushed through these systems.”

She added that she recently spoke to a teacher who told her, “I can’t hold a kid back who can’t read,” pointing to growing concerns about social promotion practices in schools where students are advanced to the next grade level regardless of academic readiness.

‼️UNREAL🚨

Union Leader @rweingarten calls @marthamaccallum “SWEETHEART” in a very serious segment about the abysmal learning outcomes of American Schools who have failed American Kids and says that “More money” is the answer!

HUGE FAILURE 🤬 pic.twitter.com/v0BBlQNYYp

— Professor Nez (@professornez) April 22, 2025

The interview comes amid increased national debate over the future of public education, as school choice advocates push for alternatives to traditional public schooling and lawmakers in several states continue to debate how best to allocate education funding.

The American Federation of Teachers has not issued a formal statement regarding the interview.

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