When should DC drop its school mask mandate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I am PP but I actually think one of the things that would get us to end mask regulations is if everyone had to work in person. I find the most nervous people are the ones still working from home. My colleagues that were very nervous about Covid had to be in a school with hundreds of people all day and it relieved some of the anxiety.

I agree with this. Some are just so used to precautions that it's too scary to imagine them gone. I had a turning point when I realized that if being vaccinated isn't enough for me to resume some things, then what else do I need and when is it likely that I'll have those things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. The masks aren’t just about your kids they are about the adults working with your kids. Half of all DCPS teachers have gotten COVID and I can assure you we are all dedicated to making sure the other half of our colleagues don’t get it. You think there is a teacher shortage now? Drop masks and prepare for a teacher STOPPAGE.

Yes, this is what these parents are failing to understand.

Honest question- do you refrain from interacting with all non- members of your household unmasked? Really truly follow a zero COVID risk lifestyle? As long as you are wearing a n95 yourself your risk is extremely low so I’m assuming you are expecting zero risk if you are demanding to keep kids masked. I ask be cause I know my kids teachers don’t live like that. We have had two positives teachers where they knew their exposure was outside the classroom. I don’t fault them for having a social life but if I found out they were demanding to keep my kid masked forever, I would definitely want that hypocrisy exposed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. The masks aren’t just about your kids they are about the adults working with your kids. Half of all DCPS teachers have gotten COVID and I can assure you we are all dedicated to making sure the other half of our colleagues don’t get it. You think there is a teacher shortage now? Drop masks and prepare for a teacher STOPPAGE.

Yes, this is what these parents are failing to understand.

Honest question- do you refrain from interacting with all non- members of your household unmasked? Really truly follow a zero COVID risk lifestyle? As long as you are wearing a n95 yourself your risk is extremely low so I’m assuming you are expecting zero risk if you are demanding to keep kids masked. I ask be cause I know my kids teachers don’t live like that. We have had two positives teachers where they knew their exposure was outside the classroom. I don’t fault them for having a social life but if I found out they were demanding to keep my kid masked forever, I would definitely want that hypocrisy exposed.

+1

I have been fine with masks until now but feel it has gone on too long. I know my child’s teachers travel, go out to dinner, socialize with friends and family (as do we). I have no problem with any of that but I don’t understand why dropping masks at school (where there is mandatory testing, all adults are required to be vaccinated, and there’s a daily health screening and symptomatic kids must be picked up) is the uncrossable line.

I would feel differently if everyone was being very cautious outside of school, and I did feel differently back when people were more locked down than we are now. Things have changed a lot in the last year.

[Anonymous]

So....teachers are going to quit if there aren't masks on children in schools? Really?

Somehow I doubt this. Why? Because 1) they teachers are all vaccinated and their risk of hospitalization or death is very low because of that. I would expect that teachers have some basic risk assessment where that is clear to them. 2) a lot of them don't like the masks, either, 3) if they actually have some sort of consistent risk assessment then they aren't doing anything else that puts them at risk (and we know that's not true), 4) they know as well as the rest of us that kids aren't wearing masks perfectly.

I'm kind of tired of being threatened by the fears of the irrational.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So....teachers are going to quit if there aren't masks on children in schools? Really?

Somehow I doubt this. Why? Because 1) they teachers are all vaccinated and their risk of hospitalization or death is very low because of that. I would expect that teachers have some basic risk assessment where that is clear to them. 2) a lot of them don't like the masks, either, 3) if they actually have some sort of consistent risk assessment then they aren't doing anything else that puts them at risk (and we know that's not true), 4) they know as well as the rest of us that kids aren't wearing masks perfectly.

I'm kind of tired of being threatened by the fears of the irrational.

+1 I'm a teacher and I don't foresee any sort of work stoppage or mass exodus over removing the mask mandate. The outliers might leave but they are few and far between

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not that hard. When cases come down, the indoor masks can go. I will defer to the experts on what the right metric is for that. But we should be able to communicate that soon (obviously circumstances can change). I think it would provide a measure of relief and understanding for everyone on both sides of the divide.

+1 I'm a teacher who will keep following whatever rule the experts call for. I'm fine wearing a mask as long as its deemed appropriate and will most certainly be fine going mask free once experts approve.

I have no interest in debating who the experts are, as that is above my pay grade

My issue is that the experts are not being equitable- PK3 in DCPS only have to isolate for 7 days after exposure. Childcare facilities with the same age group have to isolate for 10 days. Why? What’s the difference? They both nap unmasked and eat unmasked. It’s not based on science so I’m done.

Exactly. The unevenness, unscientific rules in DC are killing me. Another example, DCIAA is now letting spectators back in to watch DCPS sports but limiting to 2 spectators per player due to social distance guidelines. But there are no social distance guidelines in DC with masked individuals. Why can’t everyone follow the science evenly in DC?

[Anonymous]

I feel like you people are on a different planet. Read this and tell me that it’s a good idea to take masks off while transmission is still “high” in DC …

https://www.science.org/content/article/covid-19-takes-serious-toll-heart-health-full-year-after-recovery

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like you people are on a different planet. Read this and tell me that it’s a good idea to take masks off while transmission is still “high” in DC …

https://www.science.org/content/article/covid-19-takes-serious-toll-heart-health-full-year-after-recovery

If they have a years worth of data, all of the people in this study caught the virus pre-vaccination. Weighing the benefit of mandatory masking against the risk of disease is an entirely different calculation when vaccines are available. And as of right now, everyone over the age of 5 has the opportunity to be fully vaccinated. I have no problem letting individual students/teachers continue to mask to protect themselves. But to continue to impose the burden across the entire school population to protect others is no longer acceptable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like you people are on a different planet. Read this and tell me that it’s a good idea to take masks off while transmission is still “high” in DC …

https://www.science.org/content/article/covid-19-takes-serious-toll-heart-health-full-year-after-recovery

If they have a years worth of data, all of the people in this study caught the virus pre-vaccination. Weighing the benefit of mandatory masking against the risk of disease is an entirely different calculation when vaccines are available. And as of right now, everyone over the age of 5 has the opportunity to be fully vaccinated. I have no problem letting individual students/teachers continue to mask to protect themselves. But to continue to impose the burden across the entire school population to protect others is no longer acceptable.

It's really not a burden. You are making it a burden because you are a drama llama.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So....teachers are going to quit if there aren't masks on children in schools? Really?

Somehow I doubt this. Why? Because 1) they teachers are all vaccinated and their risk of hospitalization or death is very low because of that. I would expect that teachers have some basic risk assessment where that is clear to them. 2) a lot of them don't like the masks, either, 3) if they actually have some sort of consistent risk assessment then they aren't doing anything else that puts them at risk (and we know that's not true), 4) they know as well as the rest of us that kids aren't wearing masks perfectly.

I'm kind of tired of being threatened by the fears of the irrational.

+1 I'm a teacher and I don't foresee any sort of work stoppage or mass exodus over removing the mask mandate. The outliers might leave but they are few and far between

Agree. And those outliers shouldn't be in the classroom in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. The masks aren’t just about your kids they are about the adults working with your kids. Half of all DCPS teachers have gotten COVID and I can assure you we are all dedicated to making sure the other half of our colleagues don’t get it. You think there is a teacher shortage now? Drop masks and prepare for a teacher STOPPAGE.

Yes, this is what these parents are failing to understand.

Honest question- do you refrain from interacting with all non- members of your household unmasked? Really truly follow a zero COVID risk lifestyle? As long as you are wearing a n95 yourself your risk is extremely low so I’m assuming you are expecting zero risk if you are demanding to keep kids masked. I ask be cause I know my kids teachers don’t live like that. We have had two positives teachers where they knew their exposure was outside the classroom. I don’t fault them for having a social life but if I found out they were demanding to keep my kid masked forever, I would definitely want that hypocrisy exposed.

Plenty of DCPS teachers on tinder and hinge with no problem going out to bars on weekends maskless.

[Anonymous]

DC provides case numbers by Ward. Let those numbers guide the decision as to when masks come off in schools. This is not a one solution fits all situation - nor was it ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like you people are on a different planet. Read this and tell me that it’s a good idea to take masks off while transmission is still “high” in DC …

https://www.science.org/content/article/covid-19-takes-serious-toll-heart-health-full-year-after-recovery

If they have a years worth of data, all of the people in this study caught the virus pre-vaccination. Weighing the benefit of mandatory masking against the risk of disease is an entirely different calculation when vaccines are available. And as of right now, everyone over the age of 5 has the opportunity to be fully vaccinated. I have no problem letting individual students/teachers continue to mask to protect themselves. But to continue to impose the burden across the entire school population to protect others is no longer acceptable.

It's really not a burden. You are making it a burden because you are a drama llama.

You really aren't in a position to judge what is a burden to others or who is a "drama llama". The world is apparently full of "drama llamas" because LOTS of people find masks annoying for one reason or another. You just can't imagine it anymore because you so deeply believe that they are necessary, which helps you tolerate them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So....teachers are going to quit if there aren't masks on children in schools? Really?

Somehow I doubt this. Why? Because 1) they teachers are all vaccinated and their risk of hospitalization or death is very low because of that. I would expect that teachers have some basic risk assessment where that is clear to them. 2) a lot of them don't like the masks, either, 3) if they actually have some sort of consistent risk assessment then they aren't doing anything else that puts them at risk (and we know that's not true), 4) they know as well as the rest of us that kids aren't wearing masks perfectly.

I'm kind of tired of being threatened by the fears of the irrational.

+1 I'm a teacher and I don't foresee any sort of work stoppage or mass exodus over removing the mask mandate. The outliers might leave but they are few and far between

Agree. And those outliers shouldn't be in the classroom in the first place.

I have thought about a career change to teaching, but I will wait until the mask mandate is gone. I am not an "anti-masker" and am still fine wearing one at stores, but no way would I want to wear one all day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like you people are on a different planet. Read this and tell me that it’s a good idea to take masks off while transmission is still “high” in DC …

https://www.science.org/content/article/covid-19-takes-serious-toll-heart-health-full-year-after-recovery

If they have a years worth of data, all of the people in this study caught the virus pre-vaccination. Weighing the benefit of mandatory masking against the risk of disease is an entirely different calculation when vaccines are available. And as of right now, everyone over the age of 5 has the opportunity to be fully vaccinated. I have no problem letting individual students/teachers continue to mask to protect themselves. But to continue to impose the burden across the entire school population to protect others is no longer acceptable.

It's really not a burden. You are making it a burden because you are a drama llama.

Right?! If they give my vaccinated children the option to wear a mask, how will my neighbors know I'm a good person? As it is, they can barely see my 'thank You Dr. Fauci" sign from the street...