Everything is bigger in Texas, including the uproar over a proposed bill that would end state testing for public schools. Teachers across the state have been picketing the capitol building, waving signs that say "Don't Mess with Testing" and "We Love Bubble Sheets."
District and campus administrators are reportedly upset about the bill, as it would mean less funding for their schools. "Without state testing, how will we know which schools are performing well and which ones need improvement?" asked one frustrated administrator.
The Texas PTA is also organizing protests, with one member saying, "We want our kids to be challenged and pushed to their limits. State testing is the only way to do that!"
But it's not just the adults who are upset. Students have been staging sit-ins at their schools, refusing to leave until the bill is defeated. "We don't want to lose our chance to take a test for six hours straight," said one determined high schooler.
Meanwhile, teachers are defending their love for testing. "There's nothing more exhilarating than watching students fill in bubbles for hours on end," said one enthusiastic educator. "It's what we live for."
But some teachers are concerned about the impact the bill would have on their jobs. "If we don't have testing, how will we justify our salaries?" asked one worried teacher.
"If we don't have testing, how will we justify our salaries?"
Despite the backlash, supporters of the bill remain steadfast in their belief that state testing is not an accurate measure of student achievement. "We need to find a better way to assess our students," said one lawmaker. "Maybe we can start by actually talking to them and seeing what they know."
Only time will tell if the bill will pass, but for now, the battle over state testing continues to rage on in the Lone Star State.