Principal’s Office
Her daughter called Kristjana Smith because she was pulled out of the class. The reason was that she was wearing something on her face. She could not imagine what she had heard. She went to school to face the head of the school.
Principal’s Office
Calm Communication
She tried to reason out with the principal. In the end, she was mad about the decision until her face turned red. In this incident, the head of the school would regret her decision.
Calm Communication
No Rules
Midwest City High School, Oklahoma was a school that followed its regulations about their dress code. Mikayla was one of the freshmen students who studied there. Mikayla’s mom searched for a rule that forbade them to use a face mask in any of their premises.
No Rules
Protecting Her Daughter
She could not find any of the rules saying that it was not allowed. Her daughter was admitted to the hospital at that time, and she was going to make sure that this incident won’t happen again.
Not So “Common” Cold
Kristjana searched for a face mask online and bought a piece for her daughter Mikayla for her to use when she was going out into the public. There was a reason why she bought it for her daughter.
Not So “Common” Cold
Out Of The Ordinary
A few weeks earlier, her daughter had a sudden sore throat. Back then, they assumed that it was just a common cold. That common cold was just the start of another complication. Wait till you see what happened.
Out Of The Ordinary
Unexpected Fever
After resting a couple of days from school, Mikayla’s state was not getting better. When she took her antibiotics, that was when her fever rose and had trouble with her breathing. Her daughter was brought to the nearby hospital.
Unexpected Fever
The Worst Scenario
It was then that the doctor looked on her daughter’s throat. When the doctor realized the condition of her daughter, He immediately told her that words no parent ever want to hear. What do you think it was?
The Worst Scenario
An Infection
After the examination and laboratory tests, the doctor told Kristjana that the antibiotic did not affect her daughter’s illness, and she developed another complication. The doctor did not waste a single minute and got to work right away.
An Infection
The Wait
He began to appoint surgery to her daughter. Unfortunately, Kristjana was forced to leave her daughter’s side for the operation. She was so nervous the entire time. When her daughter returned to her school, it was like a total nightmare.
The Wait
Fall Behind
Kristjana was worried about her work that she missed and for her daughter that did not attend any of her classes while recuperating. After two weeks, Mikayla recovered from her illness. Her mother was so happy.
Fall Behind
Called out
She was sent to school to continue with her studies, but one teacher saw the face mask that she was wearing. Her reaction was unexpected that make Kristjana furious. You will never believe what happened that day.
Called Out
Angry Mom
In the second period, Mikayla’s French teacher called her in front of her classmates and was sent to the principal’s office. It was then that the head of the school called out Kristjana and told her that she had two options.
Angry Mom
Limited Choices
One was that she would remove her face mask, and the second option was to fetch Mikayla. It made her angry because of the choices that the principal gave her. She did not have much to work with.
Limited Choices
Against The Rules
After overcoming all the trials that her daughter been through, Kristjana was worried about her daughter’s health. Mikayla’s immune system was infected by another illness that might send her daughter to the hospital again. So what was the problem?
Against The Rules
Dress Code Violation
Kristjana complained, “They threw a big fit about the mask and said that she couldn’t wear it because it was against school policy and against the dress code in the handbook,” but what could she do about it?
Dress Code Violation
Face-Off
Kristjana went to the school to confront the principal. She tried to explain that it was vital for her daughter’s health. It was to protect her from the virus that could harm her. She hoped the principal would understand.
Face-Off
Making Moves
She remained composed as she tried to talk to the headmistress, but the headmistress did not change her decision. She could not believe such a heartless response. On the very next day, she used up her ace.
Making Moves
Protective Mask
After the principal decided that she would not let Mikayla wear a protective mask on the premises, Kristjana went towards the media. She asked for help from the local news. It was then that the press had overrun the school.
Protective Mask
Going Viral
She then said on News 4, “She was wearing a medical mask to make sure that she doesn’t get any type of cold from somebody else in school that’s sick.” This made perfect sense, what was the big deal anyway?
Going Viral
Their Response
She was angry when she told the media, “…she had scabbing in the back of her throat.” The principal and the school had regretted their decision by now, but they remained their decision for the current problem. They released an official statement on this trouble.
Their Response
Medical Masks
On their official statement, a spokesperson said that the mask Mikayla was using would not protect her from any airborne diseases. They were clearly not going to budge. They had provided her with another cover.
Medical Masks
Change Of Events
They said, “a medical mask has three layers, including a paper filter. The district health coordinator provided a box of surgical grade medical masks to help protect the student from sickness.” Well, that was a surprise.
Change Of Events
A Decision To Make
The spokesperson stated that “a ‘rave’ mask is just a cloth, like pulling a t-shirt over your mouth. It won’t protect from germs,” and the spokesperson added, “When a judgment is to be made regarding distractive items or dress code, a site principal will make the decision.
A Decision To Make
Helping Out
Mid-Del Schools provided a medical mask for a student to wear while at school.” Why didn’t Mikayla wear the mask they provided? If they were willing to help then maybe it was all a misunderstanding.
Helping Out
Painful Mask
Mikayla complained about the mask that was provided by the school that it was “too tight” and left her a painful red welt on her skin. “I want to be able to wear my own mask. It’s comfortable and not painful,” she said.
Painful Mask
Not Happy
This was the reason why she didn’t use the mask that was provided by the school. Was she allowed to break the rules and wear them? She had already fallen behind on her studies because of her absences.
Not Happy
Pulled Out
Mikayla started to worry about her studies. She was a hard-working student and did not want disruption. She said, “It’s stressful because I didn’t get to learn in my French class and my history class.” What a good girl!
Pulled Out
Worried About School
This was because she was pulled out of class. She said, “it was really stressful because now I’m going to have to catch up on more work,” but did she need a legitimate reason to wear a protective mask? Would a protective mask protect you from any illness?
Worried About School
Not So Effective?
David Heymann, the former leader of WHO’s infectious disease unit, said “a mask that is used to stop getting an infection is sometimes not very effective because people take it off to eat. She went on to explain why.
Not So Effective?
Not Correctly Worn
He added, that many times they are worn improperly (and) if they get wet and somebody sneezes on that mask it could pass through. So, there is really not a lot of evidence (to support wearing masks).” What was the opinion of other people on the mask?
Not Correctly Worn
Out Of The Ordinary
Some people wrote in the comments, “I also wear [a mask] to my university here in Texas. I get so many stares and get asked if I’m sick, or they assume I’m contagious. I wear it to protect myself…”
Out Of The Ordinary
Helping Themselves
“People said that they felt that wearing masks were like protection from the flu and common cold. My immune system is compromised, so if I don’t wear it, I’ll easily get sick. I’d say to try to ignore them; people will always have something to say.”
Helping Themselves
Split Perspectives
When it came to supporting, Kristjana and her daughter got very mixed views. Some people supported Kristjana and said that her daughter Mikayla had a right to protect herself, especially when her health was already compromised.
Split Perspectives
No Exceptions
On the other hand, some people were skeptical and said that if teenagers could wear what they want in the school, it would be chaotic. Why would the school allow Mikayla to break their school dress code?
No Exceptions
Dead End
The school stood firm on their belief regarding the rules of the dress code even though they got all the attention of the media and angry parents. However, Kirstjana was not willing to budge either.
Dead End
Not Giving In
She said. “It was way more of a distraction… the [mask] that they gave her… because it was white, and it stood out like a sore thumb.” Both the school and the furious mom were in a stalemate.
Not Giving In
Ordering A New Mask
Kristjan did not back down against the school. She resisted and completely overreacted about her daughter’s protective mask and continued to raise awareness online. She was clearly stubborn and wanted to prove her point. This is exactly what she did.
Ordering A New Mask
Moving Foward
She also knew that her daughter needed to attend her school. In the meantime, she ordered another piece of protective mask online and hoped that the principal and the school would accept it. We hope it works out for them!
Moving Foward
Healing Process
After the surgery, Mikayla tonsils were removed because of a severe infection in her throat. Kristjana didn’t want to risk her daughter by exposing her to people who were carrying colds and flu. The mask was for protection.
Healing Process