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

[Anonymous]

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

I'm surprised that they aren't blaming the teacher's union

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

I'm surprised that they aren't blaming the teacher's union

Haven't figured out how. Yet.

[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.

I wonder if this will change once 5 to 11 are vaccinated. There’s already a little spread.

[Anonymous]

Mandate vaccines for kids, then lift the mask mandate. Go yell now.

[Anonymous]

My 7th grader DS completely surprised me yesterday when we discussed this topic. I was disappointed MCPS didnt lift mask guidelines at least in secondary schools. and his reaction was: "are you nuts? That was totally the right call. With over a thousand kids stuffed into small spaces, masks are a necessity". I guess masks are not stifling his development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

I'm surprised that they aren't blaming the teacher's union

LOL - yes that same disgruntled poster who goes on about the teachers union, the lack of SROs, and how they hate restorative justice in almost every freaking thread.

[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.

I wonder if this will change once 5 to 11 are vaccinated. There’s already a little spread.

And the 5 to 11 age group should have time to be fully vaccinated, not just upon approval / availability of first shot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 7th grader DS completely surprised me yesterday when we discussed this topic. I was disappointed MCPS didnt lift mask guidelines at least in secondary schools. and his reaction was: "are you nuts? That was totally the right call. With over a thousand kids stuffed into small spaces, masks are a necessity". I guess masks are not stifling his development.

Agree but it impinges on the Freedom of Trumpublicans (who are paid posters that don't live in MoCo).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 7th grader DS completely surprised me yesterday when we discussed this topic. I was disappointed MCPS didnt lift mask guidelines at least in secondary schools. and his reaction was: "are you nuts? That was totally the right call. With over a thousand kids stuffed into small spaces, masks are a necessity". I guess masks are not stifling his development.

That, plus MCPS can't lift mask guidelines in secondary schools BECAUSE IT'S A STATE REQUIREMENT.

For what it's worth, my (vaccinated) tenth-grader is also far more adamant about masks than I am.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 7th grader DS completely surprised me yesterday when we discussed this topic. I was disappointed MCPS didnt lift mask guidelines at least in secondary schools. and his reaction was: "are you nuts? That was totally the right call. With over a thousand kids stuffed into small spaces, masks are a necessity". I guess masks are not stifling his development.

That, plus MCPS can't lift mask guidelines in secondary schools BECAUSE IT'S A STATE REQUIREMENT.

For what it's worth, my (vaccinated) tenth-grader is also far more adamant about masks than I am.

This is true. It is a state requirement.

But I also believe that, over the summer, MCPS announced the mask mandate BEFORE the state made it a requirement. So, even if the state lifted it, its reasonable to ask if MCPS would keep in place for their school system.

But yes, those that want it lifted need to start with the State BOE and the State Superintendent.

Then, once the state requirement is lifted, you will likely have to do the same campaign all over again at the local level

[Anonymous]

There should be no consideration of dropping mask requirements in schools until after the winter holiday travel season. Case rates may be low in MoCo right now, but there’s still too many cases elsewhere in the US. It’s too likely that people will bring back cases from elsewhere. If by the end of January we are still as low as we are now, then let’s talk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There should be no consideration of dropping mask requirements in schools until after the winter holiday travel season. Case rates may be low in MoCo right now, but there’s still too many cases elsewhere in the US. It’s too likely that people will bring back cases from elsewhere. If by the end of January we are still as low as we are now, then let’s talk.

I don't think we'll see a big bump from travel. Certainly hope not.

People traveled all summer, while Delta case rates were rising. Schools opened, and Delta/Covid rates keep falling nationally. Friends who are doctors, even my own kids' pediatrician, really thought we'd be lucky to keep school buildings open more than 4-6 weeks. They are still open. MoCo rates (and rates around the country ) have continued to go down.

I'm fine with masks continuing in schools for now. But at some point we need to all accept that this is now an endemic disease and will be with us for the duration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be no consideration of dropping mask requirements in schools until after the winter holiday travel season. Case rates may be low in MoCo right now, but there’s still too many cases elsewhere in the US. It’s too likely that people will bring back cases from elsewhere. If by the end of January we are still as low as we are now, then let’s talk.

I don't think we'll see a big bump from travel. Certainly hope not.

People traveled all summer, while Delta case rates were rising. Schools opened, and Delta/Covid rates keep falling nationally. Friends who are doctors, even my own kids' pediatrician, really thought we'd be lucky to keep school buildings open more than 4-6 weeks. They are still open. MoCo rates (and rates around the country ) have continued to go down.

I'm fine with masks continuing in schools for now. But at some point we need to all accept that this is now an endemic disease and will be with us for the duration.

I think inevitably you're going to see a bump because of holiday travel/just the fact that people are more likely to get sick during the winter which is why we called flu season but not as bad as last winter or the delta bump

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 7th grader DS completely surprised me yesterday when we discussed this topic. I was disappointed MCPS didnt lift mask guidelines at least in secondary schools. and his reaction was: "are you nuts? That was totally the right call. With over a thousand kids stuffed into small spaces, masks are a necessity". I guess masks are not stifling his development.

At least your kid has more common sense than you. 6th graders are not vaccinated except for the kids held back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be no consideration of dropping mask requirements in schools until after the winter holiday travel season. Case rates may be low in MoCo right now, but there’s still too many cases elsewhere in the US. It’s too likely that people will bring back cases from elsewhere. If by the end of January we are still as low as we are now, then let’s talk.

I don't think we'll see a big bump from travel. Certainly hope not.

People traveled all summer, while Delta case rates were rising. Schools opened, and Delta/Covid rates keep falling nationally. Friends who are doctors, even my own kids' pediatrician, really thought we'd be lucky to keep school buildings open more than 4-6 weeks. They are still open. MoCo rates (and rates around the country ) have continued to go down.

I'm fine with masks continuing in schools for now. But at some point we need to all accept that this is now an endemic disease and will be with us for the duration.

We don't have adequate testing to know the true spread. MCPS is only doing opt in and even the opt in is a random sample. Kids aren't complaining so why are the parents?