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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many other places in the country don’t require masks in schools. Moco will get increasingly pressured to lift the mask or well I guess some people will just move. We’re thinking about it anyways given telework is now a given for both our jobs do not sure why we’d stay somewhere that hobbles our kid’s development.

It's a state requirement. If you want to yell at someone, yell at the State Board of Education. Not MCPS.

https://news.maryland.gov/msde/new-masking-requirement-effective-immediately-for-all-maryland-public-schools/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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/

It is right around the corner for the masks to come off in schools!! And private schools will probably be doing it even sooner!!

Today on WTOP "Maryland school officials consider revising mask mandates, quarantine rules"

https://wtop.com/maryland/2021/10/md-school-board-will-consider-revising-mask-mandates-quarantining-rules/?fbclid=IwAR1Z4OdFVYqcZYKDDpUEtIBjB1yhGyoKC9CQxi2i4ogdF8THkhKzK-E08c8

Really irresponsible when many kids are not vaccinated.

And yet totally in line with CDC guidelines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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/

It is right around the corner for the masks to come off in schools!! And private schools will probably be doing it even sooner!!

Today on WTOP "Maryland school officials consider revising mask mandates, quarantine rules"

https://wtop.com/maryland/2021/10/md-school-board-will-consider-revising-mask-mandates-quarantining-rules/?fbclid=IwAR1Z4OdFVYqcZYKDDpUEtIBjB1yhGyoKC9CQxi2i4ogdF8THkhKzK-E08c8

Really irresponsible when many kids are not vaccinated.

Once the 5-11 year-old set has a chance to be fully vaccinated, I think school officials should be able to revise their masking requirement and allow kids to not wear a mask in school. I do not think that would be irresponsible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The last couple of months have gone great for MCPS (although last year was such an utter failure when the rest of the country went back that they deserve no kudos).

Over the last few weeks we have had unmasked homecoming, parties, kids are having playdates constantly, and even unmasked lunch in schools. And almost no spread (very minimal at worst).

With the 5 to 11 group set to vaccinated very shortly, when do we start discussing masks? If you are a "mask forever" type please spare me, you are not based in reality or science. This is a serious discussion about when we think it will be safe. That day is coming, and probably sooner than we think. Me? I am think by Jan 2022 masks won't be necessary in schools and MCPS will ultimately have to bow to public pressure.

It's a STATE requirement. Did you know that?

https://news.maryland.gov/msde/new-masking-requirement-effective-immediately-for-all-maryland-public-schools/

So if it's a state requirement, then that shows that the vaccine's are working? Montgomery County has two schools listed with outbreaks of 2 and 3 cases each. All the other counties have multiple cases in multiple schools.

We also (at least for the moment) have a countywide indoor mask mandate, which other counties haven’t necessarily implemented. There are a lot of elements that have contributed to keeping case numbers low, especially as breakthrough cases become less rare.

Vaccinated cases aren't going to become less rare and many other countries have had surges post vaccine. The vaccines have shown long term that their effectiveness wears off. With people traveling, no masking and life back to normal, reality is we will have another surge especially with the holidays. We don't know the true spread as many with covid are not getting tested.

A “surge” with few hospitalizations and even fewer deaths. Kind of like the flu, which we don't agonize over to catch every case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many other places in the country don’t require masks in schools. Moco will get increasingly pressured to lift the mask or well I guess some people will just move. We’re thinking about it anyways given telework is now a given for both our jobs do not sure why we’d stay somewhere that hobbles our kid’s development.

Good riddance if wearing a mask hobbles their development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The last couple of months have gone great for MCPS (although last year was such an utter failure when the rest of the country went back that they deserve no kudos).

Over the last few weeks we have had unmasked homecoming, parties, kids are having playdates constantly, and even unmasked lunch in schools. And almost no spread (very minimal at worst).

With the 5 to 11 group set to vaccinated very shortly, when do we start discussing masks? If you are a "mask forever" type please spare me, you are not based in reality or science. This is a serious discussion about when we think it will be safe. That day is coming, and probably sooner than we think. Me? I am think by Jan 2022 masks won't be necessary in schools and MCPS will ultimately have to bow to public pressure.

It's a STATE requirement. Did you know that?

https://news.maryland.gov/msde/new-masking-requirement-effective-immediately-for-all-maryland-public-schools/

So if it's a state requirement, then that shows that the vaccine's are working? Montgomery County has two schools listed with outbreaks of 2 and 3 cases each. All the other counties have multiple cases in multiple schools.

We also (at least for the moment) have a countywide indoor mask mandate, which other counties haven’t necessarily implemented. There are a lot of elements that have contributed to keeping case numbers low, especially as breakthrough cases become less rare.

Vaccinated cases aren't going to become less rare and many other countries have had surges post vaccine. The vaccines have shown long term that their effectiveness wears off. With people traveling, no masking and life back to normal, reality is we will have another surge especially with the holidays. We don't know the true spread as many with covid are not getting tested.

A “surge” with few hospitalizations and even fewer deaths. Kind of like the flu, which we don't agonize over to catch every case.

I don't want my family to catch it. Its not just about hospitalization for us. It can have long term health issues, unlike the flu.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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/

It is right around the corner for the masks to come off in schools!! And private schools will probably be doing it even sooner!!

Today on WTOP "Maryland school officials consider revising mask mandates, quarantine rules"

https://wtop.com/maryland/2021/10/md-school-board-will-consider-revising-mask-mandates-quarantining-rules/?fbclid=IwAR1Z4OdFVYqcZYKDDpUEtIBjB1yhGyoKC9CQxi2i4ogdF8THkhKzK-E08c8

Really irresponsible when many kids are not vaccinated.

And yet totally in line with CDC guidelines.

CDC and AAP recommend masking in schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many other places in the country don’t require masks in schools. Moco will get increasingly pressured to lift the mask or well I guess some people will just move. We’re thinking about it anyways given telework is now a given for both our jobs do not sure why we’d stay somewhere that hobbles our kid’s development.

Good riddance if wearing a mask hobbles their development.

How does it hobble development? Get mental health treatment as that is bizarre.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many other places in the country don’t require masks in schools. Moco will get increasingly pressured to lift the mask or well I guess some people will just move. We’re thinking about it anyways given telework is now a given for both our jobs do not sure why we’d stay somewhere that hobbles our kid’s development.

Good riddance if wearing a mask hobbles their development.

How does it hobble development? Get mental health treatment as that is bizarre.

NP. Young children learn emotional intelligence and language skills by observing and mimicking facial expressions of adults around them. Learning to read the room through nonverbal cues. This is not possible when adults and other kids around them are masked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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/

It is right around the corner for the masks to come off in schools!! And private schools will probably be doing it even sooner!!

Today on WTOP "Maryland school officials consider revising mask mandates, quarantine rules"

https://wtop.com/maryland/2021/10/md-school-board-will-consider-revising-mask-mandates-quarantining-rules/?fbclid=IwAR1Z4OdFVYqcZYKDDpUEtIBjB1yhGyoKC9CQxi2i4ogdF8THkhKzK-E08c8

Really irresponsible when many kids are not vaccinated.

And yet totally in line with CDC guidelines.

CDC and AAP recommend masking in schools.

The link was to an article about the lifting of MoCo’s mandate, which does follow CDC guidelines now that we’re no longer at Substantial transmission levels. But you’re correct that the mask mandate in schools is an important part of the CDC’s guidelines.

I honestly can’t see MCPS lifting the mandate before January, and possibly not even then if cases are spiking again during the winter. I think we’ll need to be back to June/July levels again before they lift it. But it will be interesting to see what kind of vaccine rate we see for the 5-11 age group in MoCo, and how that affects case rates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many other places in the country don’t require masks in schools. Moco will get increasingly pressured to lift the mask or well I guess some people will just move. We’re thinking about it anyways given telework is now a given for both our jobs do not sure why we’d stay somewhere that hobbles our kid’s development.

Good riddance if wearing a mask hobbles their development.

How does it hobble development? Get mental health treatment as that is bizarre.

NP. Young children learn emotional intelligence and language skills by observing and mimicking facial expressions of adults around them. Learning to read the room through nonverbal cues. This is not possible when adults and other kids around them are masked.

One would think they'd get it outside school or is your home really that bad that the school has to meet all their needs. Kids are fine being masked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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/

It is right around the corner for the masks to come off in schools!! And private schools will probably be doing it even sooner!!

Today on WTOP "Maryland school officials consider revising mask mandates, quarantine rules"

https://wtop.com/maryland/2021/10/md-school-board-will-consider-revising-mask-mandates-quarantining-rules/?fbclid=IwAR1Z4OdFVYqcZYKDDpUEtIBjB1yhGyoKC9CQxi2i4ogdF8THkhKzK-E08c8

Really irresponsible when many kids are not vaccinated.

And yet totally in line with CDC guidelines.

CDC and AAP recommend masking in schools.

The link was to an article about the lifting of MoCo’s mandate, which does follow CDC guidelines now that we’re no longer at Substantial transmission levels. But you’re correct that the mask mandate in schools is an important part of the CDC’s guidelines.

I honestly can’t see MCPS lifting the mandate before January, and possibly not even then if cases are spiking again during the winter. I think we’ll need to be back to June/July levels again before they lift it. But it will be interesting to see what kind of vaccine rate we see for the 5-11 age group in MoCo, and how that affects case rates.

MCPS will go along with the screaming parents. It will take a few kids dying before they or many parents take it seriously. Hopefully that will not happen but removing masks puts kids (and adults) in harms way especially with winter coming. But, the irresponsible parents who cannot handle their kids would prefer to scream about masks than actually spending time with their kids.

[Anonymous]

Which part of it being a state requirement does everyone not understanding? Such classic mcps (misplaced) hate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

MCPS will go along with the screaming parents. It will take a few kids dying before they or many parents take it seriously. Hopefully that will not happen but removing masks puts kids (and adults) in harms way especially with winter coming. But, the irresponsible parents who cannot handle their kids would prefer to scream about masks than actually spending time with their kids.

I remember reading a large number of posts much like this in August, before school started. (Likely posted by a small number of posters.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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/

It is right around the corner for the masks to come off in schools!! And private schools will probably be doing it even sooner!!

Today on WTOP "Maryland school officials consider revising mask mandates, quarantine rules"

https://wtop.com/maryland/2021/10/md-school-board-will-consider-revising-mask-mandates-quarantining-rules/?fbclid=IwAR1Z4OdFVYqcZYKDDpUEtIBjB1yhGyoKC9CQxi2i4ogdF8THkhKzK-E08c8

Did you read the article you linked to?

"Right around the corner" means "the state school board will discuss the issue at their December 7 meeting.

That is about 5 weeks away...right around the corner is relative.

Bottom line, mandate for schools likely lifted during this school year.

My prediction: MSDe lifts the ban pending vaccinations and downward trends of cases

Mcps keeps the ban in place til June. Maybe March if we're lucky

Hogan gives another passive aggressive press conference where he has a big Sad about Moco