We are a group of parents representing their children who attend MSAD#58 schools. As tax payers in Franklin County, our voices, as well as our children's voices deserve to be heard. It is our right as parents to decide what is best for our children. We should not have to choose between sending our children to school, or forcing them to wear a mask, especially not when there is no science behind mask wearing.

We believe that every parent or household should have the right to decide what is best for their individual child. Our intention is for each parent and/or guardian to decide whether or not they want their child to wear a mask at school or not. We should all have that freedom, as CDC Guidelines are only that-guideline. CDC guidelines mean "recommended actions". There are no legal penalties for not following these guidelines, and each district and school has the authority to implement the guidelines according to their own needs.

There are countless documented physical, mental and emotional harms associated with wearing masks. The New England Journal of Medicine states that, "Outside of a medical setting, the wearing of masks provides little, if any, protection against the transmission of disease." Face masks in the school setting cause instructional impediments to learning. Face masks are threatening, divisive; they impede normal social interaction; language is garbled; a barrier between student and teacher is created.

In addition, there is no sound, scientific or medical evidence supporting "social distancing" or any other onerous recommendations (these are not laws, nor are they enforceable by law) such as no sharing of instruction materials or games, etc. There is ZERO science between having students sit in desks 6 feet apart. It is the opposite: the division is harmful on a physical, psychological, emotional and instructional level.

All we want is to have the freedom to decide what we want for our children and we believe you should too.

Respectfully, 

Kenneth Bubier (parent), Gary Alexander (parent), Ryan Klosotzki (parent), Jeff Seaberg (parent), and Luisa Stearns (parent)