When should DC drop its school mask mandate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid was diagnosed with speech issues during the pandemic. He's receiving services where they are both masked. Obviously I don't have access to the counterfactual here, and as was pointed out, no one has run the study on this yet so we don't have access to that as possible body of knowledge. But this obviously isn't ideal. He has trouble with certain sounds, and masks impede both comprehension and seeing each other's mouths. It's not how anyone would choose to do this if what we were trying to do was provide effective services for children.

He is vaccinated. So is the person providing services. They are both tested regularly. And no one thinks this is going to end before the end of the year even if rates plummet. No one would publicly defend this, because of course it doesn't make sense. My kid is collateral damage. Of course I am not ok with this.

Solidarity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid was diagnosed with speech issues during the pandemic. He's receiving services where they are both masked. Obviously I don't have access to the counterfactual here, and as was pointed out, no one has run the study on this yet so we don't have access to that as possible body of knowledge. But this obviously isn't ideal. He has trouble with certain sounds, and masks impede both comprehension and seeing each other's mouths. It's not how anyone would choose to do this if what we were trying to do was provide effective services for children.

He is vaccinated. So is the person providing services. They are both tested regularly. And no one thinks this is going to end before the end of the year even if rates plummet. No one would publicly defend this, because of course it doesn't make sense. My kid is collateral damage. Of course I am not ok with this.

Solidarity.

+2 and I don't even have a kid in speech therapy. But I have a good friend going through the same thing and it's just insane because the response of everyone involved is "oh well, this is the best we can do." Like just having these extremely low risk people voluntarily take off their masks in a room separated from other people would be the end of the world.

I feel so radicalized by this experience. I don't even know how it's going to shake out, like who I'm going to be when it's all over. This is fundamentally changing my politics and how I see the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid was diagnosed with speech issues during the pandemic. He's receiving services where they are both masked. Obviously I don't have access to the counterfactual here, and as was pointed out, no one has run the study on this yet so we don't have access to that as possible body of knowledge. But this obviously isn't ideal. He has trouble with certain sounds, and masks impede both comprehension and seeing each other's mouths. It's not how anyone would choose to do this if what we were trying to do was provide effective services for children.

He is vaccinated. So is the person providing services. They are both tested regularly. And no one thinks this is going to end before the end of the year even if rates plummet. No one would publicly defend this, because of course it doesn't make sense. My kid is collateral damage. Of course I am not ok with this.

Solidarity.

+2 and I don't even have a kid in speech therapy. But I have a good friend going through the same thing and it's just insane because the response of everyone involved is "oh well, this is the best we can do." Like just having these extremely low risk people voluntarily take off their masks in a room separated from other people would be the end of the world.

I feel so radicalized by this experience. I don't even know how it's going to shake out, like who I'm going to be when it's all over. This is fundamentally changing my politics and how I see the world.

This is me as well. I would not have thought this would happen. I thought public schools were something that we all agreed were really important to have in-person, and that accepting a very small risk to get kids with developmental issues effective therapy was a no-brainer. My level of trust in institutions has plummeted. I've joked that I'd become a Republican if it weren't for seeing what the actual Republicans were up to. But I don't know where to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid was diagnosed with speech issues during the pandemic. He's receiving services where they are both masked. Obviously I don't have access to the counterfactual here, and as was pointed out, no one has run the study on this yet so we don't have access to that as possible body of knowledge. But this obviously isn't ideal. He has trouble with certain sounds, and masks impede both comprehension and seeing each other's mouths. It's not how anyone would choose to do this if what we were trying to do was provide effective services for children.

He is vaccinated. So is the person providing services. They are both tested regularly. And no one thinks this is going to end before the end of the year even if rates plummet. No one would publicly defend this, because of course it doesn't make sense. My kid is collateral damage. Of course I am not ok with this.

Solidarity.

+2 and I don't even have a kid in speech therapy. But I have a good friend going through the same thing and it's just insane because the response of everyone involved is "oh well, this is the best we can do." Like just having these extremely low risk people voluntarily take off their masks in a room separated from other people would be the end of the world.

I feel so radicalized by this experience. I don't even know how it's going to shake out, like who I'm going to be when it's all over. This is fundamentally changing my politics and how I see the world.

You should get some counseling for that it. It's not normal, to feel radicalized by 'masks', soon you could get triggered by bandaids or sunglasses. It's not rational.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid was diagnosed with speech issues during the pandemic. He's receiving services where they are both masked. Obviously I don't have access to the counterfactual here, and as was pointed out, no one has run the study on this yet so we don't have access to that as possible body of knowledge. But this obviously isn't ideal. He has trouble with certain sounds, and masks impede both comprehension and seeing each other's mouths. It's not how anyone would choose to do this if what we were trying to do was provide effective services for children.

He is vaccinated. So is the person providing services. They are both tested regularly. And no one thinks this is going to end before the end of the year even if rates plummet. No one would publicly defend this, because of course it doesn't make sense. My kid is collateral damage. Of course I am not ok with this.

Solidarity.

+2 and I don't even have a kid in speech therapy. But I have a good friend going through the same thing and it's just insane because the response of everyone involved is "oh well, this is the best we can do." Like just having these extremely low risk people voluntarily take off their masks in a room separated from other people would be the end of the world.

I feel so radicalized by this experience. I don't even know how it's going to shake out, like who I'm going to be when it's all over. This is fundamentally changing my politics and how I see the world.

You should get some counseling for that it. It's not normal, to feel radicalized by 'masks', soon you could get triggered by bandaids or sunglasses. It's not rational.

What is irrational is expecting a vaccinated child and a vaccinated speech therapist to cover their mouths DURING A SPEECH THERAPY SESSION. Questioning that situation is extremely rational.

If we decide people should wear sunglasses during eye exams, then yes, I will feel radicalized by that, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid was diagnosed with speech issues during the pandemic. He's receiving services where they are both masked. Obviously I don't have access to the counterfactual here, and as was pointed out, no one has run the study on this yet so we don't have access to that as possible body of knowledge. But this obviously isn't ideal. He has trouble with certain sounds, and masks impede both comprehension and seeing each other's mouths. It's not how anyone would choose to do this if what we were trying to do was provide effective services for children.

He is vaccinated. So is the person providing services. They are both tested regularly. And no one thinks this is going to end before the end of the year even if rates plummet. No one would publicly defend this, because of course it doesn't make sense. My kid is collateral damage. Of course I am not ok with this.

Solidarity.

+2 and I don't even have a kid in speech therapy. But I have a good friend going through the same thing and it's just insane because the response of everyone involved is "oh well, this is the best we can do." Like just having these extremely low risk people voluntarily take off their masks in a room separated from other people would be the end of the world.

I feel so radicalized by this experience. I don't even know how it's going to shake out, like who I'm going to be when it's all over. This is fundamentally changing my politics and how I see the world.

You should get some counseling for that it. It's not normal, to feel radicalized by 'masks', soon you could get triggered by bandaids or sunglasses. It's not rational.

DP. My issue isn't "masks" writ large or anything like that -- it is the ignoring of research, experts, science from the people who I would have expected to support research, experts, and science. Plus, an amazing lack of empathy for the real issues caused by the mitigation efforts. The continued moralizing of the pandemic, the need to vilify and shame. The Republican party is grotesque and I would never vote for them, but I feel completely appalled by many of the local Democrats I know who spout some amazingly unnuanced garbage continuously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:mom and teacher here. masks are NBD. at all. the people who care so much about masks are not the kids at school.

Masks are big deals for kids that are in speech therapy and need to see mouth and tongue placement.

Masks are needed for immunocompromised individuals that can't be vaccinated. So your child can't see someone's mouth and tongue and has trouble speaking, while my child can die because of covid. Some of you are so selfish.

One way masking works - don't you read? And sorry, it's going to get to the point REAL soon that your son is going to have to live in a world without them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid was diagnosed with speech issues during the pandemic. He's receiving services where they are both masked. Obviously I don't have access to the counterfactual here, and as was pointed out, no one has run the study on this yet so we don't have access to that as possible body of knowledge. But this obviously isn't ideal. He has trouble with certain sounds, and masks impede both comprehension and seeing each other's mouths. It's not how anyone would choose to do this if what we were trying to do was provide effective services for children.

He is vaccinated. So is the person providing services. They are both tested regularly. And no one thinks this is going to end before the end of the year even if rates plummet. No one would publicly defend this, because of course it doesn't make sense. My kid is collateral damage. Of course I am not ok with this.

Solidarity.

+2 and I don't even have a kid in speech therapy. But I have a good friend going through the same thing and it's just insane because the response of everyone involved is "oh well, this is the best we can do." Like just having these extremely low risk people voluntarily take off their masks in a room separated from other people would be the end of the world.

I feel so radicalized by this experience. I don't even know how it's going to shake out, like who I'm going to be when it's all over. This is fundamentally changing my politics and how I see the world.

You should get some counseling for that it. It's not normal, to feel radicalized by 'masks', soon you could get triggered by bandaids or sunglasses. It's not rational.

DP. My issue isn't "masks" writ large or anything like that -- it is the ignoring of research, experts, science from the people who I would have expected to support research, experts, and science. Plus, an amazing lack of empathy for the real issues caused by the mitigation efforts. The continued moralizing of the pandemic, the need to vilify and shame. The Republican party is grotesque and I would never vote for them, but I feel completely appalled by many of the local Democrats I know who spout some amazingly unnuanced garbage continuously.

NP. This exactly. And the PP is exhibit A with her insincerely empathetic recommendation of counseling really meant to question the other poster’s sanity, while completely missing the larger point.

[Anonymous]

Why at this time, are masks 'the devil'? We must get rid of masks NOW and then......what? Will Covid be gone too? I don't get it.

[Anonymous]

After masks, we must get rid of hand sanitizer in schools, and uniforms - my kids hate them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid was diagnosed with speech issues during the pandemic. He's receiving services where they are both masked. Obviously I don't have access to the counterfactual here, and as was pointed out, no one has run the study on this yet so we don't have access to that as possible body of knowledge. But this obviously isn't ideal. He has trouble with certain sounds, and masks impede both comprehension and seeing each other's mouths. It's not how anyone would choose to do this if what we were trying to do was provide effective services for children.

He is vaccinated. So is the person providing services. They are both tested regularly. And no one thinks this is going to end before the end of the year even if rates plummet. No one would publicly defend this, because of course it doesn't make sense. My kid is collateral damage. Of course I am not ok with this.

Solidarity.

+2 and I don't even have a kid in speech therapy. But I have a good friend going through the same thing and it's just insane because the response of everyone involved is "oh well, this is the best we can do." Like just having these extremely low risk people voluntarily take off their masks in a room separated from other people would be the end of the world.

I feel so radicalized by this experience. I don't even know how it's going to shake out, like who I'm going to be when it's all over. This is fundamentally changing my politics and how I see the world.

This is me as well. I would not have thought this would happen. I thought public schools were something that we all agreed were really important to have in-person, and that accepting a very small risk to get kids with developmental issues effective therapy was a no-brainer. My level of trust in institutions has plummeted. I've joked that I'd become a Republican if it weren't for seeing what the actual Republicans were up to. But I don't know where to go.

+1 I think the left wing of the D party is radically underestimating how much they are losing right now. Maybe I won't go R but I also won't vote D either.

[Anonymous]

Here’s your study, crazy pp’s who claim that never seeing another human being’s face in the context of a casual social interaction has no long term effects on children’s health and development, though this outcome seems incredibly obvious?

https://neurosciencenews.com/masks-facial-perception-20031/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here’s your study, crazy pp’s who claim that never seeing another human being’s face in the context of a casual social interaction has no long term effects on children’s health and development, though this outcome seems incredibly obvious?

https://neurosciencenews.com/masks-facial-perception-20031/

Nice try, but that study did not say there is any social, educational or mental health impacts of masks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So none of you have any studies AT ALL to back up the BS you are spewing about masks being harmful. Got it.

Many many many many children had speech issues prior to the pandemic (including my own, diagnosed years before the pandemic). I get that you would like to blame your kids' speech issues on masks, but that's not the reason your kid needs speech therapy.

DP, but wow. People are very calmly telling you of their experiences with their special needs kids. They are saying that their childrens' progress is hurt by masking.

I mean, you sound like one of the anti-maskers saying that there have always been immunocompromised kids, so who cares about them now.

One of my kids needs glasses and the ophthalmologist very matter of factly said yeah they fog up with the masks when the child is this young it’s very hard to get a snug enough fit. No not much you can do besides take them off constantly to try and clear them. Try to get your kid to wear them anyway but I know it’s really difficult. So glasses, which DC actually really needs apparently, are second priority to the mask which doesn’t do much (DC is fully vaccinated). I really wish doctors who who will stay this stuff in private would be more out spoken publicly.

[Anonymous]

Wow, I am a parent of an ECE kid and am itching to have the mask mandate rescinded and am pleasantly surprised that the tide seems to be turning towards that based on the responses on this thread.