As parents of the Floral Park Bellerose School District, we know and appreciate the work that has been done by the members of the administration, teachers, staff and elected members of our board of education these past two years.  We believe you have all gone above and beyond to protect our children, as well as give them the best educational experience since March 2020.

That being said, two consecutive school years have been marred by COVID restrictions, it is critical for the mental well-being of our children that a third year does not contain regulation pertaining to a virus that does not affect children in any significant manner and teachers can opt to wear a mask and also be vaccinated.

We know that all of Europe has not required children under the age of 12 to wear masks and there was no Covid outbreak in schools and this year again they will return to school without masks.  Here in many of our states our children are bearing a burden that does not belong to them. Parents must have an option as to whether they want their child to be masked. We, as the parents and taxpayers of Floral Park, are seriously concerned of the effects of how masks will continue to impact our children socially, emotionally, and physically.  We are asking the Board of Education to give us the option to determine what is best for our own children.

Collectively, we feel that masking children in Grades Pre-K-6 will have a much worse effect than any benefit of wearing a face covering.  Children are not the super spreaders and thankfully they are not affected by this virus in any severity.  So why are we making them bear this burden?   I have provided a list of resources to show how masking children is not doing anything of substance other than taking away the human connection, blocking breathing passageways of our most vulnerable population, and causing discomfort throughout the school day.  Please allow parents to make informed decisions on their own child’s health needs and allow masks to be optional in the school.

We are asking that the Floral Park Bellerose School District takes a stand and protects our children’s right to innocence and the burden they have experienced over the last two years.

Please stand with us to make make masks optional. 

Sincerely,

Grateful Parents

References

https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-124394/v2

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2026670

https://www.aier.org/article/the-dangers-of-masks/?fbclid=IwAR3p8j-MSddyFAhSsC0jWrYSP2MvS0hZ6hpUas-3U-0WRyJebEii9dlMuFs

https://adc.bmj.com/content/105/7/618.info

https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/8/4344

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32406064/

https://www.aier.org/article/masking-children-tragic-unscientific-and-damaging/

https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/m20-6817

https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4695