We, a concerned community of parents, come together regarding the prolonged masking of our children in schools. 

We understand how hard you, the Heads of Schools and Administrators, have been working to keep schools open. For that, we are immensely grateful to you and the hard-working teachers and staff that continue to ensure a safe environment for our children. Wholeheartedly empathizing with the challenges, you have been facing during these challenging times, we understand you are trying to follow “proper” protocols, as guided by your medical advisory board, in your decision making processes throughout this year and last. 

To date, we have not been presented with any official studies that show that masking of children in school has prevented the spread of Covid-19 and we have no studies that show that prolonged masking of children does not cause serious harm. However, there are studies that clearly show the physical, psychological and emotional damage to young children due to masking. (We are fully aware that these are not peer reviewed studies, as this would be impossible as prolonged masking has never been experienced before.) Within this link you will find 3 articles:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8uov0b6hvwut611/AADnmDXWVf45wIG9KyVnaFMXa?dl=0

While there was initial concern with respect to children transmitting Covid-19 to other children and to adults, studies have found that younger children in particular don’t tend to be the main drivers of transmission within households and communities. In the U.S., resurgent Covid-19 epidemics in 2020 were driven by adults ages 20-49. Even after schools reopened in October, that age group accounted for almost three-quarters of SARS-CoV-2 infections, whereas less than 5% originated from children ages 0-9 and less than 10% from those ages 10-19, a study published in the journal Science found. Children, even unmasked, are much less likely to spread the disease to adults and children under 10 also may be less susceptible to infection. That’s reflected in the higher frequency of outbreaks reported in secondary and high schools compared with primary or elementary schools and daycare centers, in places where they have remained open. 

To assume that kids are “fine” wearing masks is a dangerous assumption if not properly monitored or qualified. There are serious repercussions to child development when they and others around them are wearing masks. We, as their parents, have personally witnessed the devastating effects prolonged mask wearing has had on our children. The short and long term effects of this type of childhood trauma must by stymied. We simply cannot ignore the current exacerbated mental health effects we are witnessing in our very own children. 
 
Further, there are children who may appear to be well adjusted to wearing masks but are doing so more so to be compliant and follow the rules, while they suffer in silence. So as not to be singled out or shamed for what they are feeling or experiencing, they continue to remain silent. While their teachers have been forced to spend the majority of the day as “mask-enforcement police”, our children are being disciplined and conditioned to comply, no matter the consequences to their well-being. 

We certainly can’t know today how these challenges will continue to fester and ultimately manifest in the future. However, what we do know today is the negative impact on our children NOW and we can only hope to prevent it from continuing to happen. 

As the adage states, “From the mouths of babes”, so don’t just take our word for it. We have enclosed countless testimonies from children of varying ages (and their parents), sadly describing the debilitating effects masking has had on them; from the physical such as:
-       Difficulty breathing
-       Coughing
-       Rashes
-       Severe headaches
-       Acne 
-       And more 
 
To the psychological, such as:
-       Anxiety
-       Depression
-       Hopelessness
-       Anti Social behavior
-       Eating Disorders
-       Fighting 
-       Divisiveness that leads to loss of friendships
-       Bullying
-       And more. 
 
We, as the advocates for our children, respectfully petition to you, the experienced educators, the heads of schools, the administrators, the medical advisory boards and anyone else that truly and proudly stands for the viability of the future generations of this country, to let our children breathe.  Unmask our children so they can flourish in a society that encourages and promotes their overall well-being. 
 
#unmaskourchildren
#letourchildrenbreathe