Is it time to have the difficult conversation about masks and MCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looks like we might be heading in that direction! Schools will be the last place for masks to come off, but this is a start, thankfully!!

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/coronavirus/montgomery-county-might-be-nearing-end-of-indoor-mask-mandate/

And you will have a winter surge. Mark my words. See Denmark where it's already happening

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like we might be heading in that direction! Schools will be the last place for masks to come off, but this is a start, thankfully!!

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/coronavirus/montgomery-county-might-be-nearing-end-of-indoor-mask-mandate/

And you will have a winter surge. Mark my words. See Denmark where it's already happening

Are you one of the people whose words we were supposed to mark about the when-school-starts surge?

[Anonymous]

Why are people so hung up on the 5-11 vaccines? Do you really think there is going to be a huge uptake as we saw in the 12 and over population?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are people so hung up on the 5-11 vaccines? Do you really think there is going to be a huge uptake as we saw in the 12 and over population?

Not a chance. This area will have a slightly higher uptake, but plenty of parents (like me) are fully vaxxed, but are not interested in getting the shot for our kids.

The mask discussion is valid and should be happening now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like we might be heading in that direction! Schools will be the last place for masks to come off, but this is a start, thankfully!!

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/coronavirus/montgomery-county-might-be-nearing-end-of-indoor-mask-mandate/

And you will have a winter surge. Mark my words. See Denmark where it's already happening

Other counties have gotten rid of masks and it’s fine.

Also, nobody is banning masks.

It’s now that masks should be optional instead of forced. I’m more comfortable with that, and am happy to continue wearing my mask indoors.

Makes more sense to allow people to choose now that hospitals are not overwhelmed, deaths are low and MoCo is over 90% vaccinated among those who are eligible. Why would you argue against that? You are welcome to wear your mask anywhere and everywhere you want!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are people so hung up on the 5-11 vaccines? Do you really think there is going to be a huge uptake as we saw in the 12 and over population?

Not a chance. This area will have a slightly higher uptake, but plenty of parents (like me) are fully vaxxed, but are not interested in getting the shot for our kids.

The mask discussion is valid and should be happening now.

You don't want to get your kids vaccinated AND you want MCPS to drop the mask requirement?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here… the students care way less about masks than psycho parents. Yes, first graders are more mature and respectful than people tasked with being in charge of your kids mental health.

This has nothing to do with mental health. It has to do with the parents needs and wishes. They are the same parents you call when the kids don't do their work or you are concerned and they ignore your calls and emails. These are the same parents who don't think twice about sending their sick kids in as they cannot be bothered staying home with them. These are the same parents who can afford to, but choose not to send in school supplies, snacks, coats and think its your responsibility (and can afford it, not talking about those financially struggling). These are the same parents who should not even be having kids.

This is just crazy that this pretty mild question -- when can we start the conversation about masks? -- so quickly devolves into a teacher saying that parents who just want to open that conversation shouldn't have children? What in the world?

I personally believe it's not time for the conversation about masks yet. My kids are safer in masks and I hope they wear them for a lot longer, just to be safe. I strongly believe in them and wear one myself all day at work, happily. I make my kids wear them and will for quite a while, even my older who is vaccinated. But it's crazy to say they don't affect them AT ALL. I asked my littlest what she thought the other day and she said that she's sick of it and wishes she didn't have to wear it, wants to see the other kids faces etc. This is totally to be expected and I am so proud of them for not complaining when they have to put them on every day.

But people please check yourselves. The way people POUNCED in this chat and others makes it seem coordinated. And insulting the parents who pushed the BOE, rightly, to reopen schools last March is a lot less mature than those 1st graders that you are talking about. Seriously!

You may not agree with everything the Open MCPS folks say but were they wrong about reopening last year? Nope, they were right -- I can't imagine if my kids hadn't been able to be able to go back to school. They were suffering academically and mentally. And there was a really low incidence of covid last year! And this year! Yay! Can't we all be happy about that? Success!

And just to catch you before you call me a bad parent because my kids suffered mentally (I can't believe I have to say that. Just stop.)
I am a room mom.
I always return your emails.
I organize other parents to donate to the class and I donate myself.
I keep my kids home when they have even a sniffle and covid test them like crazy.
I LOVE my kids teachers and appreciate everything they have been through in the last year - it has been so hard -- and I tell them that a lot.
And I am SO happy that school went back last March, and THANK YOU to the people you are insulting who pushed the board to wise up and allow that to happen. Guess why they reopened? Yep, it was all about the DATA. And i'm super lucky that our teachers at our school were also happy to return to school (they pushed for it too).

MAN you people jumping all over this are mean and horrible and immature. And the way you are talking, you are just as bad as the anti-maskers. I don't know if it's anxiety or exhaustion or what but we're going to have to live through this for a bit longer, so let's take a minute and re-evaluate our behavior.

Sincerely,
A pro-mask parent who hates bullies

Well said. Lots of bullies on this board who insult anyone who disagrees with them.

I pushed for schools to reopen last Spring. We wanted MCPS to make decisions based on DATA and science. Dr. Gayles was making arbitrary decisions last year, based on fear, whim and politics. We saw other parts of the country and the world doing right by their kids and reopening schools.

I was very happy to hear dissenting voices against the crazy fear-mongering that was going on.

+ 100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Masks are not a big deal until we get everyone (most) vaxxed. The kids are pretty indifferent, just the parents. Typical wedge issue/non-issue to stir up the ranks.

I mean we can debate about whether they are necessary but stop gaslighting on them being awesome. Yes, my neurotypical kids will comply and wear them because that is the price for in person school but they are a big deal to them. My daughter says she can’t recognize her classmates on the playground and has difficulty hearing and understanding her teacher. She is soft spoken so when she says please repeat she is often not heard behind 3 layers of cotton. They are not great for learning and developing peer relationships which is probably why other countries are quicker to let them go in schools once cases under control.

When people have choices, most people chose not to be in a mask. That, by it's very definition, means it's deal. In this instance, I am talking about adults. I can certainly see the difference in people who voluntarily came in to the office when there was no mask mandate v. now.

But the bigger thing is we really are underestimating how this affect some kids who are not going to complain loudly. For some kids, like my older one? Masks are totally fine. For my younger one, who has difficulty understanding speech when people wear it, seeing expressions, has a hard time in PE, etc., it is a big deal. It really pisses me off when that gets dismissed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Masks are not a big deal until we get everyone (most) vaxxed. The kids are pretty indifferent, just the parents. Typical wedge issue/non-issue to stir up the ranks.

I mean we can debate about whether they are necessary but stop gaslighting on them being awesome. Yes, my neurotypical kids will comply and wear them because that is the price for in person school but they are a big deal to them. My daughter says she can’t recognize her classmates on the playground and has difficulty hearing and understanding her teacher. She is soft spoken so when she says please repeat she is often not heard behind 3 layers of cotton. They are not great for learning and developing peer relationships which is probably why other countries are quicker to let them go in schools once cases under control.

Teach her to be more assertive.

Seriously. If she cannot recognize her peers, then she has bigger problems. Maybe she isn't "neurotypical" what ever that means to you. Get your kid evaluated and into therapy if they are having issues. Funny thing. You sound like you are the problem. Kids can still get covid when vaccinated BUT, 1/2 of MCPS is not vaccinated so discussing getting rid of masking is absurd.

I couldn't recognize one of my colleagues last week when she was masked. You really are a nasty dope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:State school mask mandate is in effect for 180 days from September 14, 2021, so until March 13, 2022. Unless something changes, I think this mandate isn't going to be removed until at least then.

OP I agree with your premise.

This is really interesting because I was going to say we need to starting discussing on January 1 after the vast majority of school kids have had the ability to vaccinated for months, the holidays after over, etc. Then the state/county can be ready to push this through in March.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Earnest question for the people strongly in favor of masks right now. Let’s say vaccine approved for all ages by around January. Let’s further say that MCPS says vaccine required to attend school. This isn’t out of the question since California has done this. Let’s further say cases plunge. There are still cases but we are talking blue zone maybe 5 cases per 100,000 or less. THEN would you be ok with no mandate though obviously people could still mask if they wanted?

Personally I'd be fine with it if cases were under 5 per 100,000 and the vaccine was widely available. But the realpolitik is that once you remove a mandate it's harder to bring it back when needed if the cases spike. And knowing mcps they will probably finish the year with a mask mandate.

You will also get some diehards who claim that even with vaccines and low case rates they can't send their kids to school because everyone is still too selfish

What are you talking about? The mask mandate in the county was lifted in May and returned in August. I don't the board will hesitant to bring it back if cases rises into unacceptable territory

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:State school mask mandate is in effect for 180 days from September 14, 2021, so until March 13, 2022. Unless something changes, I think this mandate isn't going to be removed until at least then.

OP I agree with your premise.

This is really interesting because I was going to say we need to starting discussing on January 1 after the vast majority of school kids have had the ability to vaccinated for months, the holidays after over, etc. Then the state/county can be ready to push this through in March.

Yes. Either when schools resumes in the new calendar year or 60 days after the approval of the vaccine for 5-11.

Kids shouldn't be required to carry the burden of adults who refused to get vaxxed, or adults who refuse to vaxx their children. They've accepted the risk. We shouldn't ask our children to protect them anymore

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are people so hung up on the 5-11 vaccines? Do you really think there is going to be a huge uptake as we saw in the 12 and over population?

Not a chance. This area will have a slightly higher uptake, but plenty of parents (like me) are fully vaxxed, but are not interested in getting the shot for our kids.

The mask discussion is valid and should be happening now.

You don't want to get your kids vaccinated AND you want MCPS to drop the mask requirement?

Yes. 100%.

You are welcome to mask your kid for as long as you want.

Masks optional is the road forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:State school mask mandate is in effect for 180 days from September 14, 2021, so until March 13, 2022. Unless something changes, I think this mandate isn't going to be removed until at least then.

OP I agree with your premise.

This is really interesting because I was going to say we need to starting discussing on January 1 after the vast majority of school kids have had the ability to vaccinated for months, the holidays after over, etc. Then the state/county can be ready to push this through in March.

Yes. Either when schools resumes in the new calendar year or 60 days after the approval of the vaccine for 5-11.

Kids shouldn't be required to carry the burden of adults who refused to get vaxxed, or adults who refuse to vaxx their children. They've accepted the risk. We shouldn't ask our children to protect them anymore

+1 This seems very reasonable. We should not require children in schools to mask indefinitely. We need a plan for allowing masks to become optional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:State school mask mandate is in effect for 180 days from September 14, 2021, so until March 13, 2022. Unless something changes, I think this mandate isn't going to be removed until at least then.

OP I agree with your premise.

This is really interesting because I was going to say we need to starting discussing on January 1 after the vast majority of school kids have had the ability to vaccinated for months, the holidays after over, etc. Then the state/county can be ready to push this through in March.

Yes. Either when schools resumes in the new calendar year or 60 days after the approval of the vaccine for 5-11.

Kids shouldn't be required to carry the burden of adults who refused to get vaxxed, or adults who refuse to vaxx their children. They've accepted the risk. We shouldn't ask our children to protect them anymore

+1 This seems very reasonable. We should not require children in schools to mask indefinitely. We need a plan for allowing masks to become optional.

+2

Hope to see some movement in this direction.