When confronted with the spread of COVID-19, Millie Butler, a Hemingford Public Schools Art Teacher, took action, issuing a mask-wearing challenge by asking people who they are masking for.
Butler, who began wearing a mask in the spring, wears a mask as a way to keep her family safe from contracting the virus. She said she developed the idea for the challenge during a staff meeting when staff was preparing for students to return from fall break.
“It was kind of a last minute thing,” said Butler. “We were in a staff meeting discussing what our next steps will be as cases are escalating in the Panhandle. We are really trying to convey a message to the students that the way to stay in school, which is what we all want, is if we mask, and protect those around us. Kids won’t have to be quarantined if they’re close contact if they are wearing a mask around people who might test positive.
“I just had one of those ‘Aha’ moments, because the way it has been explained to me, and the way I look at it is, wearing a mask is not about us individually; it’s about those around us, and those that we want to protect,” Butler said.
Butler hopes that by asking people who they are masking for will help them to look at the needs of others.
“I have five children, and, ultimately, I’m masking for all of my children,” said Butler. “My oldest son, has always seemed to catch everything 10 times worse than everyone else in the family does, and it takes him longer to get over the sickness. In fourth grade, he was actually diagnosed with a strain of coronavirus, not this one, and he was out of school for a really long time recovering from that. That really affected his respiratory system.
“This past year, he and his sister both got really sick,” Butler said. “They both ran really high fevers, and had really bad coughs. She got better, but he deteriorated, developed pneumonia and ended up in the hospital on two separate occasions in January. He still has a hard time. This past quarter, he was out of school more than he was in school just because everything he catches just hits him harder.”
Butler said she is inspired by her son’s selflessness, and his dedication to doing what is best for other people.
“Just because he would hate to be the person to get somebody else sick, he wears a mask religiously whenever he’s in public,” said Butler. “He’s really inspired me that way, not just to mask for him, but because of his example of masking for others.”
Drawing on her faith, Butler said she does her best to follow Jesus and emulate his actions, which is why she wants to help others.
“If I can follow the Savior’s example, just in my actions, not even using words, that’s why I mask,” Butler said. “It’s not about me. It’s about those around me. His example was one of ultimate selflessness, and so, if in a small way follow that example, that’s why I mask.”
At the time Butler issued the challenge, Hemingford Public Schools did not have a mask mandate in place. However, masks are now mandated at Hemingford after several students were forced to quarantine due to possible exposures. As of press time, there were no active cases at Hemingford Public Schools, and a cumulative of five recovered cases.
Butler said she hopes people will continue to see the broader picture.
“My goal is to lead through love and example, and hopefully to help people look outside of themselves and see that this isn’t about you being forced to do anything; this is about you truly being concerned about the well-being of others and those around us,” said Butler. “Overall, I believe as a society we’ve gotten incredibly selfish. We’ve gotten incredibly self centered and more and more, feel like the world revolves around us, and what I want, or I believe. We talk about wanting more kindness in our society, and we talk about wanting to eliminate bullying in our communities. I want this to be a reminder that all of those things that we want to see as a change begins with us. If we want to see a change for good in the world, we have to be a change for good in the world.”
Butler said she has received a positive response from other staff members at Hemingford Public Schools, noting several people have shared posters showcasing the people they are masking for.