This year, masks have become an important tool for creating a safe educational environment. Masks come in a variety of colors and patterns, and have become forms of personal expression. However, Shoreland, without giving a reason as to why, has banned all masks without solid colors or the Shoreland logo. This puts strain on students who have to obtain masks, adds more risk of masks not being washed, and also dampens the spirits of the student body.
          Limiting what masks can be worn leaves students who have already amassed masks stranded with the state provided ones. It also forces students who have limited resources for obtaining masks to use these state provided ones. However, are a couple state provided masks enough?
          The CDC recommends that reusable masks be washed after each use- so if a student had two state provided masks, this means they would have to wash them every two days. How many high school students do laundry every two days? Not that many. By limiting the masks students can use to solid colors or Shoreland logos, this increases the likelihood students will rewear a dirtied mask, putting our safety at risk.

          Furthermore, this limit on masks puts a dampen on already low spirits. This pandemic is a troublesome time, and the stress of going back to school during this time is high. One thing that helps alleviate this stress, in a way, is the expression that can be shown through masks. Wearing a mask with kittens or pizza on it creates some much needed levity during these times, where a plain black or white mask does not. 

          Finally, there is a simple solution to this new “dress code”— the old one. Instead of forcing students to comply to a dress code that will cause stress, unnecessary difficulty, and potential risk, the school could utilize the same dress code used for graphic tees, but regarding masks. For example, no masks containing band logos, or vulgar language or imagery. Wearing masks may be mandatory- but this new dress code doesn’t have to be.

How to Wash a Cloth Face Covering. (2020, May 22). Retrieved August 06, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-wash-cloth-face-coverings.html