
See, my kids were close contacts in an unmasked setting and didn't get Covid - we both have anecdotes on our side! And the science says the mask science is weak. To account for the gap between the 'masks work' studies and the 'masks don't work' studies, check this article, which points out there's a difference between what masks do in a lab on dummies and how they work on real people who may not particularly like them: https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevensalzberg/2022/02/01/masks-work-mask-wearing-policies-dont/?sh=b24e7581b5ca This article talks about what makes a good mask study and why most of those mask studies you've seen actually are bad studies: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/10/commentary-what-can-masks-do-part-2-what-makes-good-mask-study-and-why-most This is another article that reviews actual studies and evidence: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/01/kids-masks-schools-weak-science/621133/ (Chap cited this one in his letter) |
I would love a source for this - genuinely. A Time magazine op-ed disagrees with you. https://time.com/6145291/end-mandatory-masks-schools/ |
We didn't do that because, as the CDC still acknowledges on their website, there was inconclusive evidence that masks would help with those illnesses. And they'd run many randomized controlled trials to see. |
Here is a source: https://twitter.com/LJ4fcps/status/1483825563072704513?cxt=HHwWgsC9uZ3fzZcpAAAA |
“Also, state law requires districts comply with CDC guidance to the maximum extent practicable. CDC still recommends universal masks in schools. Why does he want schools to break the law?”
No one has a response to this? |
You people are monitored, you know. |
Chap wants a purple pony and he WANTS IT RIGHT NOW!!!! (Stomping feet!) |
He wrote an op-ed back in August when Northam's VDH put out the school mask mandate saying SB 1303 didn't require masking. WaPo refused to publish it, but that's been his stance all year. He, in his lawyerly opinion I guess, thinks SB 1303 is not a mask mandate. The Supreme Court of Virginia agreed yesterday in the decision throwing out the Chesapeake parent lawsuit (but didn't say the EO Youngkin put out was legal either). The judge clearly said school boards can forgo recommended CDC strategies.
(https://www.oag.state.va.us/files/MIYARES2022/ORD02-07-2022Castillo,M.pdf) Chap's also saying he'll get the law changed if he has to, and as the Joe Manchin of Virginia he probably can do that. The General Assembly can overrule school boards - the judge in Arlington was pretty clear about that. So - no law breaking. Law making to make is so school boards cannot do mask mandates if required. |
Thanks. Genuinely thanks. |
I give serious side-eye to any politician who wants to end Forced Masking in schools but is not pushing for mandatory vaccinations. Yes, you can still get covid if you’re vaccinated but you’re not clogging up the emergency room or sitting in a pediatric waiting room with children too young to be vaccinated if you catch it and are vaxed. Not to mention, vaccinated students don’t have to quarantine. This dude is always talking about how children need to be in school. That’s one way to keep them in. |
Adding - that was true on Jan 19 when omicron had yet to peak or was just at peak. I bet it's less true on February 8 and will be very much less true on March 1. We have probably at least 2 months of reprieve from Covid as this thing goes in waves, and seasonality makes it less likely we'll see a spring or summer wave barring a crazy variant. Public opinion will skew away from mask mandates in school when cases are low. And like Chap says, once people see school is fine without masks they won't want to go back. |
You could also homeschool your kids if you don’t want to follow public health regulations. |
Masking kids doesn't move the needle on hospitalizations like boosting seniors does. We need to move ALL our messaging to getting 3 shots in the arms of every at risk person. We know well how to define that category now. And it's not kids. Not even (at least most) immunocompromised ones. Here's a study in the UK, where their public health data is much better than ours.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016344532100548X#bib0016) I find it really too bad that our public health people don't share the reassuring data. |
Saying 10 to 1 parents WHO CONTACTED THE SCHOOL BOARD MONTHS AGO preferred masks is extremely not relevant, LOL. |
What a lovely argument for school choice you are making here. |