Whether or not a child wears a mask is outside of the responsibility of the school system.  Parents should and must have the right to make decisions on what is best for their child, particularly when it comes to health. 

Covid-19 is a serious illness for some and we all must do what we can to protect our families, but this must be an individual choice on the best course of action.  Evidence shows that children are not effected by Covid-19 in the same manner as the adult population.  Also, physical health is NOT the only consideration.  We also must be mindful of emotional, social, language concerns, and other illnesses.  Mask wearing can contribute to many issues in these areas and is not a magic wand solution to the pandemic we all face.  Here are a few considerations:

-It has long been known that people, particularly children, are positively effected by the smile of another.  Young children need lots of encouragement. This may seem minor, but don't be fooled.  The power of a smile is far reaching and does impact lives.  Depression and suicide are real.  We must protect mental health in our community.

-Great teachers are expressive and use facial expression to help them as they communicate.  So often humor and smiles are used to form build rapport.  Are masks preventing effective learning?  We must consider.  After all that is the point of sending our children to school, to get the best education possible.  Our teachers also deserve the right to determine what is best for their own health as well.  Whether or not they choose to wear a mask should be up to them.  

-Children more often than not, do not wear their masks properly making them contaminated (constantly touching them, laying them on surfaces and putting them back on, or sneezing coughing in them and not changing them frequently).  Could this be akin to wearing a dirty rag on your face throughout the day? With a million studies telling us various things, common sense tells us that many of these masks are likely, plainly put, GROSS!  There are dental problems and medical concerns from inappropriate or long term mask wearing.  Unfortunately, there are consequences from mask wearing and parents should have the right to weigh all the risks and make the best determination for their individual child.  

-Families continue to be involved in community and sports activities maskless.  We must ask ourselves if inappropriate masking wearing during school hours is really effective in this fight against Covid-19?  Or can this virus also be spread during lunch, football practice, churches and at home with parents and friends? 

We as parents must be allowed to make these determinations.  Schools should focus on teaching our students and leave the health considerations to the parent.