First of all, let me state, that my children have 8 days of school left. Easy peasy and by fall, all middle schoolers and high schoolers and maybe some younger children will have the chance to be fully vaccinated!
Well, instead of waiting for next fall to change every rule.....our governor and legislators chose to restrict school districts from their mask mandates and from quarantine requirements if you are exposed to the virus, but are symptom free.
WHAT THE HECK ??
Let's see, the final week of school is already crazy, let's tell the kids that THEY get to choose to wear masks or not. (You know 5 years olds make great decisions, so let's give them this power.) Also let's have children telling other children "You don't need to wear that mask anymore" and see how that goes.
Joel is 1 day from being fully vaccinated, so I am not worried about him. I am not worried about Anna, because, I told her to wear her mask until she is fully vaccinated (after school is over) and she said "sure". She is the same kid who sometimes gets all the way to my car across the street from the school without taking her mask off.....it isn't a big deal and many of her friends are still wearing masks.
Let me say, there have been schools who have not required masks. One example is Faith Baptist Bible College. My friend helps with her church's campus ministry for this school and almost everyone she knows from this school has had Covid 19. EVERYONE and when she has watched events from that school, no one in the audience has worn a mask (except she and her husband, who often just Zoom in) Very few people have worn masks and extended family members have died. DIED! So no one can tell me that masks don't work (or the not wearing masks can be deadly) and that our sacrifice isn't worth it. Or that this college and schools that had no restrictions weren't being terribly selfish.
But here's the thing. This isn't just about my family. It is about the community. It is about ending a pandemic. It is about kindness. I could go on and on and on....but instead I will post something a friend (same one from above :0) shared with me from the Decorah Iowa superintendent.
Decorah, Iowa, has an outstanding superintendent in Mark Lane, as evident in this extremely well-worded message:
“Our mask mandate was about our care for others
Every year, Decorah Community School District has three to six teachers who are blessed with being pregnant during the school year. Those individuals continue to serve other children as they prepare to welcome their own children into the world. Our mask mandate was in place to give those teachers the peace of mind needed to do their job effectively.
We have staff who provide love and care to elderly parents. They work in close quarters with dozens and even hundreds of students and fellow staff each day and then act with love and care for their dependent family members in their personal life. Our mask mandate was in place to give those staff the comfort to serve others while still serving those they love most.
We have students who live with high-risk grandparents, parents, and family members. They spend every day surrounded by their peers on our buses, in our classrooms, and on our playgrounds. Then they go home and give hugs to those they love. They sit on the couch together and watch a movie, and at the dinner table talking and laughing. Our mask mandate was in place to give those students and families the opportunity to feel safe at school and safe at home.
My wife is currently battling cancer and is an employee of Decorah Schools. My 11-year-old son is a Type I diabetic and is a fifth-grader at Decorah Middle School. My 97-year-old grandmother lives in an assisted living facility. Perhaps these personal realities heighten my empathy for those who love people most at risk of serious issues if they become infected with COVID-19.
The Decorah Community School District mask mandate was never a measure intended to force people to protect themselves, it was a measure put in place to ensure the idea that we are a community of care was more than just words.
Today, that pregnant teacher is struggling to do their job. Today, that associate who cares for an elderly parent is less able to focus on work. Today, that student who lives with a grandparent with a heart condition is less able to learn. Today, I will worry about the choices of those who come into contact with my wife and son as they go to work and school.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continue to clearly recommend individuals wear masks at school. When I cannot practice social distancing, I will continue to wear my mask for our teachers, employees, and students. I encourage everyone to demonstrate the same care for those around them.”
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Me again:
Our state has essentially forbidden my children's school district to mandate rules that are provided to us by the CDC and federal government. Ridiculous!
