The new mandate by Governor Abbott states that schools cannot require their students to wear masks. For the 2021-2022 school year, many schools are going back completely in person which would give kids exposure to germs and pathogens that could be transmitted not just to the student but their family as well. COVID-19 has not yet been eradicated; new strains are starting to show up and there is no proof that the vaccine has protection against these strains. The mandate states that Texas would be opened “100 percent” and masks would not be required. This is all happening while the majority of the population has not been vaccinated. As of May 18 only 30% of the Texas population has been fully vaccinated, which means that we cannot depend on herd immunity as the school year approaches. By removing the mask requirement in schools we are not only endangering the lives of the kids, but the lives of the teachers and their families as well. The elderly still remain at risk for this virus, and it is too soon for us to force kids to go back to in person learning without the safety of a mask. Part of this statewide (Texas) mandate also prohibits school districts from having their own mask mandate which means that there is little change schools can do without your help. 

In the past few months, I have had multiple family members die and be infected with COVID. Many of them were fully vaccinated and wore masks religiously. I believe that it is highly irrational to force people to return to school in person (in some school districts) without taking the proper precautions to protect the people of this state.