Victory for Courageous Second Grader Who Defied Mask Mandate
Fiona Lashells, an 8-year-old second grader from Palm Beach County, Florida, has been punished 16 times this school year for not wearing a mask to school.
According to a website dedicated to her case, Fiona has spent a total of 39 days on suspension since August, and her mother was even threatened with criminal charges due to Fiona’s repeated absences (which were caused by the suspensions).
Even the most unruly troublemakers and violent bullies in public school are not disciplined as harshly as Fiona.
She has been punished dozens of times, all because she just wanted to breathe like a normal person.
Her courageous stand has drawn national attention in recent weeks, as she even had the opportunity to meet with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and appear with him on a FOX News interview.
As Fiona said, in the blunt truth-telling style of kids:
“I’m not wearing a mask because you touch it, and you have germs on your hand. And then you put it on your face and breathe in all the germs.”
https://www.foxnews.com/media/ron-desantis-florida-school-board-second-grader-suspended-mask
DeSantis has prohibited school districts in Florida from imposing mask mandates, under threat of withholding funds for board members’ salaries.
Although DeSantis followed through on his threat, the Palm Beach County School District continued to impose a mask mandate in defiance of his order.
However, in a victory for Fiona and Governor DeSantis, the school district has finally relented and lifted its mask mandate, due to a Florida judge upholding DeSantis’ order:
November 6, 2021
Parents, Guardians, and Staff,
Based on a new development at the State level, the School District will be moving to an opt-out status for facial coverings for students in all grade levels beginning this Monday, November 8, rather than on November 15 as you were originally informed.
A ruling yesterday by Division of Administrative Hearings Judge Newman found the Department of Health’s Emergency Rule 64DER21-15 to be valid, therefore, a parent face covering opt-out will be reinstated effective Monday.
https://p14cdn4static.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_270532/File/News/Whats%20New/2021/MaskOpt-out%20Available_11.8.21.pdf
At long last, Fiona will no longer be punished for refusing to wear a useless and suffocating face diaper. Nevertheless, the district may still try to persecute Fiona by making her repeat second grade.
If a little 8-year-old girl can be this strong, why can’t we? She puts even most men to shame.
Stand for something, or fall for anything!
