DCPS: Masks Optional the rest of the year

[Anonymous]

I’m the PP with the class where all the other parents want masking indoors and out. My kid is 6. He will wear a mask because all the other kids are wearing one, it doesn’t matter what I say to him. And I really don’t want to put him in the position of having to defend his choice not to mask. It is too much to ask if a child this age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m the PP with the class where all the other parents want masking indoors and out. My kid is 6. He will wear a mask because all the other kids are wearing one, it doesn’t matter what I say to him. And I really don’t want to put him in the position of having to defend his choice not to mask. It is too much to ask if a child this age.

but for the rest of us...

1) DCPS or charter?
2) School policy or just peer pressure?

[Anonymous]

oops, just read your prior post (on the prior page). I see it was DCPS and this is not school policy, just you choosing to go with the majority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So excited for Wednesday!! No more masks!!!

Funny though it's just in time for spring allergies.

Looks like my school is going to keep masking, by parent demand. And we're stuck because no way am I going to discourage my kid from masking when they will be the only one and labeled by other people's family's as irresponsible.

I found out today that most parents in my kids class don't even want them to remove masks outside. I am starting to feel crazy. In two years of Covid, all evidence indicates that Covid does not spread outside except in packed, confined spaces (which recess is not). I understand the fear about unmasking indoors a little better, but I'm still amazed that apparently we are the only family in class that has some concerns about masking very young kids for so long. The kids are trying to learn to read, and still just figuring out social cues and interactions.

Given what a minority we are in this situation, I don't see what fighting it will do beyond make our family a target for criticism and ostracize our kid. So we're going to go along with it. But it's not right. I can't believe we're at this point.

How do you know this? Parent list serve?

PP here. The teacher initiated a group text to poll families on what they were thinking. Of the families that responded (about 80%), we were the only family interested in at least some maskless time. Every other family has asked that their kid stay masked inside and out.

It had not occurred to me until this that of course other family’s choices impact us. If it were more half and half maybe my kid would feel comfortable removing their mask. But it’s not. We’re just stuck with majority rule in this case. I don’t want to be the outlier family.

This is a DCPS and while I don’t know vax rate at the school, we are in a pretty high vax area. I was really surprised by this.

This is really inappropriate of the teacher. That's not what DCPS policy has said to do. I also think DCPS needs to get behind this more. The only communication we have had on this is a tweet from DCPS. Our school is usually very communicative about things and have not heard anything so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter said her teacher said they weren't going to be mask optional because kids are getting sick. I think I am probably missing some part of this explanation from my young child. Also this is in a dual language class where my child understands the language very well and most kids don't so maybe she was just talking forgetting kids would hear... We will see what happens tomorrow. I am more of the slow fade with the mask even though my child says she wants to take it off.

Adults really need to stop scaring kids about this virus.

She just said she is probably missing some of the conversation and we all know small children are not the best reporters. So maybe calm down

Whatever may have been said in this particular instance, my general comment still stands. If you haven't noticed how many kids are actually frightened of what the virus may do to them or of bearing the burden that they might be transmitting it to somebody vulnerable, you haven't been paying attention. Some kids are genuinely scared to take off their masks, and this fear people have instilled in children is one of the most serious consequences of our pandemic response, with potentially long-lasting psychological effects on some kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Newsflash, if a kid hasn't gotten it yet, they aren't getting it now.

So all those people who claimed they were spreading doses out, or were waiting for more data were lying?

Well, the new data that has come in since then hasn’t been great… not sure what I would do if I hadn’t already vaccinated my kids in November.

We decided to wait for our 5 year old. We are not anti vaxers by any stretch. All 4 of us in the house over 12 are vaccinated and boosted. I’m glad we decided to wait and see more data. As of now, we are not looking to vaccinate the 5 year old.

Great. Don’t come on here b**tching when your kid is quarantined because 1 kid in their class tested positive

Nope. I will lie about vax status. As long as the city has non science based policies, I will skirt my way around them.

+1

People have been lying about vaccination status all school year to avoid their kids’ having to quarantine. I have no qualms doing the same with my child.

Imagine being proud of being this trashy. Wow. This is why we needed a centralized national registry for vaccines, to out selfish liars.

You’re not going to get one. Get over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Newsflash, if a kid hasn't gotten it yet, they aren't getting it now.

So all those people who claimed they were spreading doses out, or were waiting for more data were lying?

Well, the new data that has come in since then hasn’t been great… not sure what I would do if I hadn’t already vaccinated my kids in November.

We decided to wait for our 5 year old. We are not anti vaxers by any stretch. All 4 of us in the house over 12 are vaccinated and boosted. I’m glad we decided to wait and see more data. As of now, we are not looking to vaccinate the 5 year old.

Great. Don’t come on here b**tching when your kid is quarantined because 1 kid in their class tested positive

Nope. I will lie about vax status. As long as the city has non science based policies, I will skirt my way around them.

+1

People have been lying about vaccination status all school year to avoid their kids’ having to quarantine. I have no qualms doing the same with my child.

Imagine being proud of being this trashy. Wow. This is why we needed a centralized national registry for vaccines, to out selfish liars.

I find it trashy to continue to force working families to keep kids home and keep kids out of school for two weeks at a time. You kept schools closed for almost a year and a half. Every effort should be made to keep kids in school.

I’m confused. My kids DCPS school requires the actual vaccination card if you say they are vaccinated for quarantines. Are you saying you would buy a fake card?

PP but my principal has explicitly stated we are not allowed to ask about vaccination status. So students just don’t quarantine and there is no verification. But the principal claims there are lots of DCPS mandates like we can’t randomly test kids, only ones who volunteer. This whole thing has been a joke. I’m glad masks are gone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Newsflash, if a kid hasn't gotten it yet, they aren't getting it now.

So all those people who claimed they were spreading doses out, or were waiting for more data were lying?

Well, the new data that has come in since then hasn’t been great… not sure what I would do if I hadn’t already vaccinated my kids in November.

We decided to wait for our 5 year old. We are not anti vaxers by any stretch. All 4 of us in the house over 12 are vaccinated and boosted. I’m glad we decided to wait and see more data. As of now, we are not looking to vaccinate the 5 year old.

Great. Don’t come on here b**tching when your kid is quarantined because 1 kid in their class tested positive

Nope. I will lie about vax status. As long as the city has non science based policies, I will skirt my way around them.

+1

People have been lying about vaccination status all school year to avoid their kids’ having to quarantine. I have no qualms doing the same with my child.

Imagine being proud of being this trashy. Wow. This is why we needed a centralized national registry for vaccines, to out selfish liars.

You’re not going to get one. Get over it.

+1

National registry. Move to a socialist country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Newsflash, if a kid hasn't gotten it yet, they aren't getting it now.

So all those people who claimed they were spreading doses out, or were waiting for more data were lying?

Well, the new data that has come in since then hasn’t been great… not sure what I would do if I hadn’t already vaccinated my kids in November.

We decided to wait for our 5 year old. We are not anti vaxers by any stretch. All 4 of us in the house over 12 are vaccinated and boosted. I’m glad we decided to wait and see more data. As of now, we are not looking to vaccinate the 5 year old.

Great. Don’t come on here b**tching when your kid is quarantined because 1 kid in their class tested positive

Nope. I will lie about vax status. As long as the city has non science based policies, I will skirt my way around them.

+1

People have been lying about vaccination status all school year to avoid their kids’ having to quarantine. I have no qualms doing the same with my child.

Imagine being proud of being this trashy. Wow. This is why we needed a centralized national registry for vaccines, to out selfish liars.

I find it trashy to continue to force working families to keep kids home and keep kids out of school for two weeks at a time. You kept schools closed for almost a year and a half. Every effort should be made to keep kids in school.

I’m confused. My kids DCPS school requires the actual vaccination card if you say they are vaccinated for quarantines. Are you saying you would buy a fake card?

PP but my principal has explicitly stated we are not allowed to ask about vaccination status. So students just don’t quarantine and there is no verification. But the principal claims there are lots of DCPS mandates like we can’t randomly test kids, only ones who volunteer. This whole thing has been a joke. I’m glad masks are gone.

Wow PP that is crazy. I would move my child out of that school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So excited for Wednesday!! No more masks!!!

Funny though it's just in time for spring allergies.

Looks like my school is going to keep masking, by parent demand. And we're stuck because no way am I going to discourage my kid from masking when they will be the only one and labeled by other people's family's as irresponsible.

I found out today that most parents in my kids class don't even want them to remove masks outside. I am starting to feel crazy. In two years of Covid, all evidence indicates that Covid does not spread outside except in packed, confined spaces (which recess is not). I understand the fear about unmasking indoors a little better, but I'm still amazed that apparently we are the only family in class that has some concerns about masking very young kids for so long. The kids are trying to learn to read, and still just figuring out social cues and interactions.

Given what a minority we are in this situation, I don't see what fighting it will do beyond make our family a target for criticism and ostracize our kid. So we're going to go along with it. But it's not right. I can't believe we're at this point.

How do you know this? Parent list serve?

PP here. The teacher initiated a group text to poll families on what they were thinking. Of the families that responded (about 80%), we were the only family interested in at least some maskless time. Every other family has asked that their kid stay masked inside and out.

It had not occurred to me until this that of course other family’s choices impact us. If it were more half and half maybe my kid would feel comfortable removing their mask. But it’s not. We’re just stuck with majority rule in this case. I don’t want to be the outlier family.

This is a DCPS and while I don’t know vax rate at the school, we are in a pretty high vax area. I was really surprised by this.

This is really inappropriate of the teacher. That's not what DCPS policy has said to do. I also think DCPS needs to get behind this more. The only communication we have had on this is a tweet from DCPS. Our school is usually very communicative about things and have not heard anything so far.

+1

Any kind of ‘retaliation’ for taking the mask off is getting into grounds for a lawsuit.

[Anonymous]

You all are STILL talking about this?! LOLOL!!!

[Anonymous]

Our family came up with a compromise for if teachers want the masks. We are sending cloth masks. Everyone in the family recently recovered from COVID, so they can't get it, but we don't want things awkward especially for my middle schooler. At least the cloth ones are more comfortable and don't cause acne as much. The Kindergartner we want the mask to stay off and i think the early childhood teachers recognize the importance of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our family came up with a compromise for if teachers want the masks. We are sending cloth masks. Everyone in the family recently recovered from COVID, so they can't get it, but we don't want things awkward especially for my middle schooler. At least the cloth ones are more comfortable and don't cause acne as much. The Kindergartner we want the mask to stay off and i think the early childhood teachers recognize the importance of this.

That’s actually not true with this new BA.2 variant. Prior covid infection does not prevent it. But whatever

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our family came up with a compromise for if teachers want the masks. We are sending cloth masks. Everyone in the family recently recovered from COVID, so they can't get it, but we don't want things awkward especially for my middle schooler. At least the cloth ones are more comfortable and don't cause acne as much. The Kindergartner we want the mask to stay off and i think the early childhood teachers recognize the importance of this.

That’s actually not true with this new BA.2 variant. Prior covid infection does not prevent it. But whatever

In two weeks? Please provide a link otherwise this is covid misinformation.

[Anonymous]

But what about BA.2?!?!?!? Forever and ever, amen.