As a parent of a student at St. Matt’s , I am concerned that the comprehensive mask mandate can be harmful to our students' learning and educational experience.

If we as parents work together to create rules which balance the safety of our children with the ability to learn and experience school in a positive way, we will see positive effects like higher student morale, proper stress management, lower anxiety and depression, and more positive and strong thoughts. The time for change is now.

Cloth masks are emergency authorized products for medical use in a declared state of emergency. Masks are not FDA approved medical devices. The state of WI and Milwaukee County are not under a public health emergency order, mandate, or law. Making use of a non FDA approved, emergency use authorized mask mandatory is unwarranted. There are still no efficacy standards on child-sized masks under OSHA, but there are proven microbial challenges as well as breathing difficulties that are created and exacerbated by masking children. Requiring children to wear a mask sets the stage for contracting any infection, including COVID-19, and making the consequences of that infection much graver. In essence, a mask may very well put children at an increased risk of infection, and if so, having a far worse outcome. The fact that mask wearing presents a severe risk of harm to the wearer, proves that masks should not be required for children, particularly given these children are not ill and do not deserve to have an infringement of their constitutional rights and bodily autonomy. Misrepresenting the use of a mask as being intended for antimicrobial or antiviral protection, and/or misrepresenting masks for use as infection prevention or reduction is a deceptive practice under the FTC. In addition, it is well documented that children are at a very low risk for serious complications from COVID-19, even lower than the yearly flu. Forcing children to wear masks without the child's (or the child's parental) consent, is illegal and immoral. There are many documented studies questioning the efficacy of the masks as well as the negative side effects. Most recently some masks have been recalled because they had been coated with Graphene, which allows them to be waterproof. We cannot tell which masks have been coated. Graphene (carbon nanotubes) are shown to cause malignant mesothelioma. There are indeed unintended risks. As parents, we do not need studies to tell us the negative effects of masks because we were seeing them in our children last school year, daily. These symptoms and effects include, but are not limited to, headaches, sadness, fearfulness, academic struggles, regression in speech, language and communication; breathing issues, anxiety, skin infections, increased allergy symptoms, increased asthmatic symptoms, social problems, and psychological damage. If you are among the few lucky parents who did not experience or just weren't aware of these negative effects on your children, perhaps you would still help us be a voice for the voiceless and support mask wearing being a PARENT CHOICE. We are taking a stand for the mental, physical, emotional, and social wellbeing of our children and we hope you will stand with us! The liability for the damage these masks are inflicting on our children lies solely in our hands. 

We believe that parents should solely be making the medical decisions for our children. No medical device or intervention should be forced upon students outside of their guardians. Families should be able to use their own risk assessment, considering all physical, social/emotional, and mental health risks and benefits when it comes to making medical decisions for our children, including masking. 

By signing this petition, your voice will be heard in support of making masks OPTIONAL so that it can be a family decision. Let’s unite to let our school hear our voices!