North Carolina teacher is suspended without pay after refusing to wear mask at work and saying forcing her to do so is unconstitutional
A North Carolina high school teacher has been suspended without pay for nine weeks after refusing to wear a mask at work, in defiance of her school district's rules.
Aurora Preston, who teaches at South Johnston High School, said she had worn a face mask in the previous school year, but now doesn't think they're effective in slowing transmission of COVID-19, The News & Observer of Raleigh reported.
Preston claims it should be her constitutional right to decide whether to wear a mask - and the outlet noted that her Facebook page has been filled with statements such as 'my body, my choice' and 'freedom to choose.'
'It is not the job of government agencies to dictate when and where it is appropriate to utilize the rights afforded to me by being a citizen of the US,' Preston said in a statement to The News & Observer.
'It is their job to uphold the Constitution affording these rights to all of the citizens all of the time.'
She added: 'If someone disagrees with that stance, it would that person's right and it's wonderful to have that choice to do so.'
Aurora Preston, who teaches at South Johnston High School, said she had worn a face mask in the previous school year
She said she stopped wearing the mask because she now doesn't think they're effective in slowing transmission of COVID-19
The teacher had shown up to work maskless last week for a teacher workday to prepare for the new school year
The teacher had shown up to work maskless last week for a teacher workday to prepare for the new school year. She was told to stay alone in her classroom for several hours before being sent home.
Joe Preston said that his wife's job status with the Johnston County Public Schools system will be reviewed at the end of the nine-week leave.
The Johnston County school board voted on July 29 to make face masks optional. But the board voted August 10 to require masks - joining more than three-dozen North Carolina school districts that reversed their decision to make masks optional.
The school district said in a statement Wednesday that it will not comment on confidential personnel matters.
'It's not about the masks. It's about government control versus individual liberty. That's how we personally feel about it,' Joe Preston said in an interview with The News & Observer.
'We feel that a mandated vaccine is on its way, which she's obviously not going to comply with.'
The Prestons have since set up a GoFundMe with a target of raising $6,000 - the amount the family said it would lose from her nine weeks of leave without pay.
'She is taking a stand to fight for all of us. Unfortunately we depend on her income,' Joe Preston wrote on the fundraiser.
He added: 'In the event this changes and she is allowed to teach again without a face covering this will be taken down. Any extra money will be donated to others in this cause or charity.'
Data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services shows that there have been 1.181.191 cases in the Tar Heel State.
Currently, there are 3,552 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in North Carolina.
There have been 4,758,016 people considered fully vaccinated after two doses of a vaccine, and 384,714 considered fully vaccinated after receiving single-dose shots like Johnson and Johnson’s. Just 49% of the state’s total population is considered fully vaccinated.
Face mask mandates in school districts have become a divisive issue in recent months, with furious anti-maskers filmed rounding on experts who've called for the face coverings to be implemented at school board meetings.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed an executive order banning compulsory mask mandates in schools in his state, although many districts have vowed to defy him.
Children under 12 are not currently eligible to receive COVID vaccines, and might not be able to get the shot until later this year.
Teachers and parents in favor of masks say this means students should be encouraged to continue to wear masks.
Critics claim mask rules inhibit learning, and also point to statistics showing that children are less likely to fall seriously-ill with COVID, although many youngsters have suffered severe side effects or even died as a result of contracting it.
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