Attention: Lenoir County School Board

From: Michael Thomas, Parent

RE: Board letter follow-up

Date: November 4, 2021

Board members,

You have taken on a massive responsibility, and I believe you haven’t fully grasped the weight of that responsibility.

I have done what I said I would do in my last letter to you. I took my daughter to school without a mask Wednesday. She was turned away citing the board ruled, but we were unable to get an answer as to what support the board used for the rule, or why. She is at home today without being able to attend school because of a rule you put in place, and because you wish to mask her in spite of clear and abundant information indicating and/or proving that masks 1, are not effective, and 2 create physical and psychological harm.

I do intend to complete the rest of my promise to you, but please know I would rather not.

In the meantime, and urgently I would ask you as a board, and more specifically as individuals who represent your own vote, are you fully prepared to justify your decision legally?  Having possession of the facts, medical information, parents’ verbal and written concerns, and any feedback you may have received from your staff?  When those who elected you, the same whom you rely on to get you re-elected, are fully aware of the related information on masks for children, when school staff members are fully aware, and when it becomes undeniable that you suppressed, overlooked, and disregarded the medically important need to know information, along with case studies and tests on the adverse medical effects of wearing masks, in favor of a politically aligned stance, will you be able to account for that?  And are you secure in your position?

When a FOIA request returns your emails and correspondence on this matter will you be able to answer for 1, any information you set aside by medical professionals or parents, and 2, a total disregard for parents with multiple failures to respond to their emails? Do you have good justification for failing to interact with the very community you are elected to listen to, consider, and represent?

If you have a seat on the board or a board position, and were granted this position in exchange for a promise to vote along certain lines or with other members, and this is determined to be true, will you be able to justify the negligence and disregard for objectivity?

There are staff members, teachers, and principals throughout the Lenoir County education system who disagree with your ruling/mandate. These members are afraid to speak and admit to being overly cautious in their interactions with colleagues, and with the very parents of the students under their charge. They are afraid to say the wrong thing for fear of being ostracized or terminated. Are you aware this constitutes a hostile work environment? Are you aware of the seriousness of this, and are you confident that no one employee or group of employees will ever stand up and say yes, I was coerced or threatened with discipline or termination if I don’t go along with the board, or if I say the wrong thing? What if those employees have received medical information or diagnosis from their doctors and still fear speaking because you might take action against them?

I would ask you to look at each other, and yourselves very carefully, and reflect on your decision and the reasons for that decision. Are you prepared to go to the mat for the member next to you, and do you firmly believe they will risk it all to go to the mat for you? Are you that tight with one another?

Here are the facts. They are scientifically proven and undeniable. Some of this is from controlled studies without factoring in fluctuating infection and death rates of Covid. Some are long-standing settled science. Some are common damn sense. They are specific to masks. Peer-reviewed and published and some have been out for many years.

• Masks can and do cause the following adverse health effects – skin infections, ‘mask mouth’ with intraoral problems and deficiencies, bacterial infections, pathogenic pneumonia, strep throat, tuberculosis, meningitis, sepsis, headaches.

• Masks PREVENT the adequate intake of oxygen that our bodies are built to require, and they cause us to re-breathe Carbon Dioxide that our bodies are naturally intended to expel. O2 deficiencies cause an array of health and psychological problems, fatigue, learning deficiencies, attention disorder, to name a few.

• Our bodies’ development (especially as children) of the natural immune system requires that we are exposed to natural viruses and bacteria in order to grow and strengthen that system. In order to do so we need adequate O2. Masking compromises the immune system and leads to a heightened risk of catching a virus.

• Masking children impedes psychological and emotional development. Children respond to, react to, and long for interfacial emotional connection and interaction. It is a natural formation of a child’s emotional well-being; created and perfected by God. Man can and does screw a lot of things up, but when we interfere with a child’s emotional and psychological development, and their ability to form social skills and connections, we’re crossing a line that will cost society for years to come.

• The emotional and psychological impact is magnified in children with Autism and Asperger’s, regardless of where they are on the spectrum. And since this isn’t often diagnosed until later developmental years, if at all, the damaging effects masks can have on these children can be extra-harmful, some in ways that can go undiagnosed for years.

• Masks do not slow the spread of a virus! They do not prevent a virus! If you believe they do then show us the proof, not opinion, but proof.

When parents and staff realize they and their children have had some or more of these illnesses over the last 2 months, and last school year, and then they see the facts and the science, who do you think they’re going to look to for an explanation? My daughter has had them and there is an absolute connection to the masks. Do you care? Maybe I and 1000 other parents decide your authority overreached, you were negligent and liable. Far worse are you having this information and sticking to your rule after this week, and even one child getting sick from any of the above mentioned caused by masks, and ultimately by your rule to require a mask for work and education.

No responsible adult should disregard these facts and willingly choose to stick with a mask mandate for children, or employees, for any reason. Adults in charge of children’s education and learning environment have a great responsibility to the kids and their parents. But when you take on their medical well-being too, then the responsibility is magnified by 1000. It requires that you consider all the facts, and it requires you to be willing to stand and account to their parents for your decision!

You have a large and growing number of staff, parents, and students chomping at the bit to remove their masks in defiance of your unlawful and inconsiderate rule. They were hopeful you would vote another way Monday. These people aren’t defeated, they’re ready. I will stand by and defend them when and if they do. What’s more is they will be in solidarity, supported, and untouchable to a few. They have the numbers, the facts, and the authority to make their own decisions and they hold the real power.

I understand pride may be involved. Whatever short-lived embarrassment one may feel by vacating your vote and sending out a new memo to the schools, will save that individual far greater embarrassment in the future.

Again, look at each other, and yourselves. Are you prepared to go to the mat for the member next to you, are you confident they will do the same? If it were me I would start getting on the phone with one another now.

You have been asked for a few simple things:

• To justify your decision with facts, and supporting data; not personal opinion.

• To consider the data in our State, surrounding counties, and Lenoir County specifically.

• Provide a benchmark, since 5 cases in 5 days out of 9,000 faculty and staff wasn’t acceptable (this was requested by a board member and ignored).

• Listen to Parents.

• Consider the impact on children; the various effects, and their inability to properly use a mask and follow and understand protocols consistently.

• Not use the schools and our children for mask testing data set, or for a way to exert and misuse authority over the one area of the population you have some control.

• Leave political leanings out of it.

These are reasonable requests that any parent has a right to require. The Lenoir County Education Staff does as well.

Michael Thomas, Parent.
Kinston, NC