Teacher Battles School Over Right To Wear Allergy Mask

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Feb 17, 2009 9:45PM

Ah, allergies. Many of have them and we're getting close to a particularly bad time of year for them. Some of us sniffle and drip our way through the days, suffering and loading up on various meds just to get us through the work day. One Joliet teacher, however, is squaring of with her school district over her right to wear an allergy mask she claims helps alleviates her severe allergies.

Patricia McReynolds, who has taught at Joliet's Marshall Elementary School for 14 years, was told by Joliet School District 86 that she wasn't allowed to wear the mask at school. McReynolds responded by filing a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. McReynolds and her lawyers met yesterday with district officials who want written proof from a doctor that she needs the masks, proof McReynolds insists she's provided from three other doctors. She began wearing the masks at school in November but insists she only does so outside the classroom. An air filtration system for her classroom enables her to teach in the room without the aid of a mask.

"They want to know I'm not faking it," said McReynolds, who is taking sick days until the issue is resolved. "If it was a child at the school who needed to wear the mask I bet they'd make concessions."

At issue is whether the district's stance violates the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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McReynolds said she has battled severe allergies since childhood, but that the problems have worsened with age. Now, she said, everything from dust, tree and grass pollen, pet dander and an array of other common indoor and outdoor pollutants can trigger asthma-like symptoms, ranging from light coughing and sneezing to gagging, breathing impairment and debilitating headaches. Masks don't solve the problem, but she said they help enough to keep her working.

While district officials won't comment on the case, McReynolds claims they don't want her to wear the mask for fear of students and parents finding the mask "alarming" or disruptive. Sure, the mask will turn students' heads, but a 14-year veteran of a school should be allowed a little leeway, in our humble opinion. After all, if she's not wearing the mask in class, there's no way it could possibly prevent the students from learning.