As a second grade teacher, I talk nearly all day. I comfort, I engage with students, I reply, I instruct, I give directions…. all day, every day of the work week. I love my job, but wearing a mask is inhumane for educators. The requirement to wear a mask all day every day, leaving teachers in a position to rebreathe their own air, constantly- is much harder than you may think. In January, after returning from long break of not wearing a mask for an extended period, I was suffering from episodes of hyperventilation due to mask wearing. I literally had to see the school nurse on multiple occasions as a result of wearing a mask while teaching. It is fair and just- in alignment with our constitution- to allow personal choice. Please free us from the mask mandate!