Johnson City, TN -- Watch Video

Hundreds of protestors packed two sides of a major Johnson City intersection Saturday afternoon. They were voicing their opinions on both sides of a growing debate in Tennessee to change public education.

Jessica Horton and her four-year old daughter came to get lunch in Johnson City. While there, they couldn't help but notice a protest across the way on North Roan Street. Protestors were speaking out about some of the same issues that have her planning to enroll her daughter in private school next year. Horton explains why she feels public education in Tennessee is lacking. "Overall I know that the last grading system that came out, the grade of report for Tennessee, was only a "C". This doesn't promise my daughter a bright future." Horton says she believes teachers aren't paid enough but she doesn't believe tenure should guarantee them a job either. "Just because you've been a teacher for ten or fifteen years, that shouldn't lock in your job," Horton continued. "Teachers should definitely be evaluated because if you're not producing students to high standards, then you shouldn't get to remain in your position."

Honking horns and hundreds of signs lined the street for hours. On one side, people and teachers upset over more than two-dozen bills in pending in the Tennessee Legislature that would change education.

Steve Denton organized this rally after the Johnson City School Board denied a request from the local teachers union to cancel class so they could attend a rally in Nashville next week. But Denton says this rally is about more than just education. "It's time we've had sensible taxation in this country. Those who have more should pay more and teachers need to be rewarded for their hard work."

Across the street, on the opposing side, the Tea Party movement. Brenda Osborne, who held up a sign that read "Honk for Freedom", says majority of them are representing the taxpayers of Tennessee, who believe in fiscal responsibility and small government. Osborne explains her side. "If somebody has tenure and the school is not allowed to get rid of them then is that the best thing for the children? I don't think so!"

One of the main issues on both sides, is the future of collective bargaining. State Senator Rusty Crow, who serves on the Education Committee, says that this issue may never even be a reality. That's because the bill to eliminate collective bargaining must get through the House and the Senate. Senator Crow says it's going to have a tough time making it out of the Senate and he says it likely won't be approved in the House.