A Georgia teacher who refused to wear a mask in school has been fired by the school board after a heated meeting on Thursday. The teacher, identified as Julia Eller, claimed that wearing a mask violated her religious beliefs and personal freedom.
Teacher’s Protest Against Mask Mandate
Eller, who taught math at Appling County High School in Baxley, Georgia, had been on administrative leave since August 16, when she showed up to school without a mask and refused to put one on. The school district had implemented a mask mandate for all staff and students due to the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state.
Eller said that she had a medical exemption from wearing a mask, but did not provide any documentation to support her claim. She also said that she was a Christian and that wearing a mask was against her faith. She argued that masks were ineffective and harmful, and that she had the right to choose whether to wear one or not.
School Board’s Decision to Terminate Teacher
The school board held a hearing on Thursday to decide Eller’s fate. The hearing lasted for more than three hours and was attended by dozens of supporters and opponents of Eller. Some of them held signs that read “Let Her Teach” and “Masks Don’t Work”.
The school board voted 4-1 to fire Eller, citing insubordination and failure to follow district policies. The board said that Eller had violated the terms of her contract and the code of ethics for educators. The board also said that Eller had endangered the health and safety of students and staff by refusing to wear a mask.
The board’s decision was met with applause and boos from the audience. Eller said that she was disappointed and shocked by the outcome. She said that she would appeal the decision and sue the school district for violating her rights.
Reaction from Parents and Community
The case of Eller has divided the parents and community of Appling County. Some parents said that they supported Eller and her stance on masks. They said that they believed that masks were harmful for children and that parents should have the choice whether to send their children to school with or without masks.
Other parents said that they opposed Eller and her actions. They said that they trusted the science and the guidance from health experts on masks. They said that they wanted their children to be safe and protected from COVID-19 in school.
The superintendent of Appling County Schools, Dr. Scarlett Copeland, said that the district’s mask mandate was based on the recommendations from the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She said that the district’s priority was to keep students and staff healthy and prevent the spread of COVID-19.