Martin should not suggest our teachers leave town

TO THE EDITOR:

I?m writing this letter on behalf of my mother and other teachers I know who attended Monday night?s Warren County Commission meeting. My mother has been a teacher in this school system for 14 years.

The purpose of this letter is to address comments made directly to her by Commissioner Michael Martin. She was inquiring about the county?s budget and he suggested the teachers needed to vote in new school board members.

She explained it wasn?t about the school board, it was about the county budget. He responded by saying if she wasn?t happy, drive to Murfreesboro.

I find myself in a unique position because not only is my mother a local educator, I also have a child in this school system. As a parent, I don?t want my child taught by second-rate teachers or solely by inexperienced teachers because all the more highly qualified teachers have ?gone to Murfreesboro.?

Michael Martin also said this county shouldn?t be expected to compete with counties such as Coffee or White, but I disagree. If he doesn?t have that much faith in this county, maybe he should ?go to Murfreesboro.?

Our teachers mold the future and I believe our county should be able to afford a competitive pay raise to keep highly qualified teachers where they belong ? in Warren County.

Adam Wanamaker

Bluff Line Drive

McMinnville