During the Monday, December 6, 2021, the Wilkes County Board of Education council members voted to keep the mask mandate in effect for Wilkes County students. After several concerned parents and county citizens asked the board to reconsider their stance on the mandate, our voices went unheard. Now, we have children who are suffering physical, mental, and emotional heath issues because we have a board of folks who believe in "Do what I say, not as I do." Council member, Mr. Kirk Walker, who also owns Kirk Automotive in N. Wilkesboro has been photographed inside North Wilkes Middle School, where he is the Worship Leader for First Light Church, which meets at the public school facility, wearing no mask. This very same man so arrogantly voted to keep the mask mandate for children in effect. As a parent and citizen of the Great State of Wilkes, enough is enough. It's time to take a stand and stop allowing the government to continue stripping us of our freedoms.