In May of 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott instituted an executive order which banned local governments from making decisions to implement mask mandates. 

Masking has been ignored throughout the majority of the pandemic contrary to the scientific proof that masks would prevent further spread of the COVID-19 virus and the following Delta variant. The focus for Texas leadership has been solely on the economy and going back to a “normal” that does not exist, rather than the public health of citizens.

This is even more pertinent as schools have reopened, and the health of Texas’s children is at stake. As of October 1st, 2021 in Texas public schools, there are already a reported cumulative total of 172,275 student cases and 31,530 staff cases beginning on August 13th for the 2021 to 2022 school year. This problem is not going away anytime soon without the option for substantial mask protocol.

With Abbott’s executive order, not all school districts feel confident enough to make decisions regarding mask mandates in their districts. For districts that have made a decision to defy Abbott’s mask mandate ban, at least 15 districts have been sued by Attorney General Ken Paxton. In contrast, at least 29 districts have sued the state in response to this executive order. The amount of time and money that must be spent on lawsuits against the state could in contrast be spent on making sure educators and students are supported in this readjustment period back to in-person education. 

This executive order is also a direct attack on disabled students' right to education. Disabled students are not able to attend school when masks are not required due to their health being at great risk. This is decreasing disabled students and their families' ability to get safe access to the education, support, and protection they need. A parent or guardian should not have to decide between their child’s health and education. This is also not a choice for all families, as some with at-risk family members living in their household could be exposed if students in their family are in an unmasked environment. In the United States, childcare is also not easily accessible, so some families only have the option to send their children to school regardless of health concerns. 

Students deserve to be in safe, mask-enforced environments to protect both their health and the well-being of their families. This is only going to be accomplished if Greg Abbott’s executive order banning mask mandates is repealed. This will allow districts to take action towards mask mandates without having to battle a lawsuit or experience large COVID surges harming their students and faculty.

Please sign to support repealing the mask mandate ban in Texas.