When can we lose masks in elementary school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s the rationale for dropping masks indoors since they are not vaccinated? I agree, no masks outdoors though.

Because they are uncomfortable, interfere with teaching, and uneccesary when there’s extremely low community spread.

This is all not a big deal, also a good amount of language is body language, which masks don't cover. Kids will be fine, the only ones I'd be concerned for are those who are deaf/hard of hearing or Autistic.

Masks are a safety measure, kids aren't vaccinated. I'd rather this then MORE distance learning....

I agree I would prefer this to distance learning but we don’t know the effects wearing a mask will have on language and socialization of young children. I fear people are going to study this generation of young children and find this really did affect their language acquisition. But it will be too late to do anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s the rationale for dropping masks indoors since they are not vaccinated? I agree, no masks outdoors though.

Because they are uncomfortable, interfere with teaching, and uneccesary when there’s extremely low community spread.

This is all not a big deal, also a good amount of language is body language, which masks don't cover. Kids will be fine, the only ones I'd be concerned for are those who are deaf/hard of hearing or Autistic.

Masks are a safety measure, kids aren't vaccinated. I'd rather this then MORE distance learning....

What are your credentials in the area of child development?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s the rationale for dropping masks indoors since they are not vaccinated? I agree, no masks outdoors though.

Because they are uncomfortable, interfere with teaching, and uneccesary when there’s extremely low community spread.

This is all not a big deal, also a good amount of language is body language, which masks don't cover. Kids will be fine, the only ones I'd be concerned for are those who are deaf/hard of hearing or Autistic.

Masks are a safety measure, kids aren't vaccinated. I'd rather this then MORE distance learning....

What are your credentials in the area of child development?

DP. But I have a PhD in early childhood education. The most important thing is getting these kids into classrooms with teachers. Masks are secondary.

[Anonymous]

I hate that because DC did such a poor job of getting kids back into classrooms (compared with other school systems in the country) that we are now expected to just be happy that they will finally offer in-person learning and accept whatever other restrictions are added, even when they make no sense according to the science.

My four-year old has been masked in daycare this year. He just got referred by his pediatrician for speech therapy. Of course, maybe he would have been anyway, but I can't help but think his articulation has been affected by being masked and by having friends and teachers masked. Masking is a reasonable (and necessary!) measure to flatten the curve, when cases are high, etc. But there are costs too, and those need to be weighed against the real risks. At this point in time, young children shouldn't be masked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s the rationale for dropping masks indoors since they are not vaccinated? I agree, no masks outdoors though.

Because they are uncomfortable, interfere with teaching, and uneccesary when there’s extremely low community spread.

This is all not a big deal, also a good amount of language is body language, which masks don't cover. Kids will be fine, the only ones I'd be concerned for are those who are deaf/hard of hearing or Autistic.

Masks are a safety measure, kids aren't vaccinated. I'd rather this then MORE distance learning....

What are your credentials in the area of child development?

DP. But I have a PhD in early childhood education. The most important thing is getting these kids into classrooms with teachers. Masks are secondary.

Of course. I don’t think anyone disagrees with that, and you don’t need a PhD in ECE to figure it out. That doesn’t eliminate the question of whether masks have negative effects on development, or on the overall school experience, and whether the benefits outweigh the risks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with PP, they may still change it. Easier to dial back.

I do hope people vaccinate children. It will help reduce the chance of circulating variants in the winter.

You understand the odds of a vaccine being approved for young children before winter is basically nil, right? Maybe older elementary kids. But there is virtually no way that ECE or 1st-2nd grade kids will be able to get a vaccine in 2021, and the odds for 2022 aren't even that great.

But if 80% of adults and older kids are vaccinated, it likely won't matter. Which is one of the reasons the vaccine is likely to be approved -- it will seem to unnecessarily risky to use a relatively new vaccine on small children against a virus that exists only in very small numbers, if at all, and poses a limited risk to them. This isn't polio. All the cost/benefits of Covid are reversed from what they were during the polio crisis.

But how can this be the case if Pfizer is saying they will submit for an EUA for 5-11-year-olds in September? Or do you mean that FDA will require full approval of the vaccine? In that case I agree that kids under 12 will be waiting much longer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with PP, they may still change it. Easier to dial back.

I do hope people vaccinate children. It will help reduce the chance of circulating variants in the winter.

You understand the odds of a vaccine being approved for young children before winter is basically nil, right? Maybe older elementary kids. But there is virtually no way that ECE or 1st-2nd grade kids will be able to get a vaccine in 2021, and the odds for 2022 aren't even that great.

But if 80% of adults and older kids are vaccinated, it likely won't matter. Which is one of the reasons the vaccine is likely to be approved -- it will seem to unnecessarily risky to use a relatively new vaccine on small children against a virus that exists only in very small numbers, if at all, and poses a limited risk to them. This isn't polio. All the cost/benefits of Covid are reversed from what they were during the polio crisis.

2-12 is coming up soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with PP, they may still change it. Easier to dial back.

I do hope people vaccinate children. It will help reduce the chance of circulating variants in the winter.

You understand the odds of a vaccine being approved for young children before winter is basically nil, right? Maybe older elementary kids. But there is virtually no way that ECE or 1st-2nd grade kids will be able to get a vaccine in 2021, and the odds for 2022 aren't even that great.

But if 80% of adults and older kids are vaccinated, it likely won't matter. Which is one of the reasons the vaccine is likely to be approved -- it will seem to unnecessarily risky to use a relatively new vaccine on small children against a virus that exists only in very small numbers, if at all, and poses a limited risk to them. This isn't polio. All the cost/benefits of Covid are reversed from what they were during the polio crisis.

But how can this be the case if Pfizer is saying they will submit for an EUA for 5-11-year-olds in September? Or do you mean that FDA will require full approval of the vaccine? In that case I agree that kids under 12 will be waiting much longer.

The EUA may not be approved. It shouldn’t be, as there is no Covid emergency for kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with PP, they may still change it. Easier to dial back.

I do hope people vaccinate children. It will help reduce the chance of circulating variants in the winter.

You understand the odds of a vaccine being approved for young children before winter is basically nil, right? Maybe older elementary kids. But there is virtually no way that ECE or 1st-2nd grade kids will be able to get a vaccine in 2021, and the odds for 2022 aren't even that great.

But if 80% of adults and older kids are vaccinated, it likely won't matter. Which is one of the reasons the vaccine is likely to be approved -- it will seem to unnecessarily risky to use a relatively new vaccine on small children against a virus that exists only in very small numbers, if at all, and poses a limited risk to them. This isn't polio. All the cost/benefits of Covid are reversed from what they were during the polio crisis.

But how can this be the case if Pfizer is saying they will submit for an EUA for 5-11-year-olds in September? Or do you mean that FDA will require full approval of the vaccine? In that case I agree that kids under 12 will be waiting much longer.

The EUA may not be approved. It shouldn’t be, as there is no Covid emergency for kids.

Sure, Jan. Just like we wouldn’t get a vaccine. Or it would take 13 years. Or blah blah blah.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s the rationale for dropping masks indoors since they are not vaccinated? I agree, no masks outdoors though.

Because they are uncomfortable, interfere with teaching, and uneccesary when there’s extremely low community spread.

This is all not a big deal, also a good amount of language is body language, which masks don't cover. Kids will be fine, the only ones I'd be concerned for are those who are deaf/hard of hearing or Autistic.

Masks are a safety measure, kids aren't vaccinated. I'd rather this then MORE distance learning....

What are your credentials in the area of child development?

Funny enough I have an MS in childhood development and a specialty certification in ASD.
So no, masks aren't the end all be all for children. If your child gets speech, the speech therapist will likely wear a clear mask for the session, only to help them see the movement more clearly, NOT for the child to understand what they are saying.

Please stop trying to validate not wearing a mask, solely because you or your child doesn't like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s the rationale for dropping masks indoors since they are not vaccinated? I agree, no masks outdoors though.

Because they are uncomfortable, interfere with teaching, and uneccesary when there’s extremely low community spread.

This is all not a big deal, also a good amount of language is body language, which masks don't cover. Kids will be fine, the only ones I'd be concerned for are those who are deaf/hard of hearing or Autistic.

Masks are a safety measure, kids aren't vaccinated. I'd rather this then MORE distance learning....

What are your credentials in the area of child development?

Funny enough I have an MS in childhood development and a specialty certification in ASD.
So no, masks aren't the end all be all for children. If your child gets speech, the speech therapist will likely wear a clear mask for the session, only to help them see the movement more clearly, NOT for the child to understand what they are saying.

Please stop trying to validate not wearing a mask, solely because you or your child doesn't like it.

No one has provided any good reason they SHOULD wear it, with all willing adults vaccinated and case rates incredibly low. The only thing I’ve seen from the pro-mask people in this thread is defensiveness, hostility, and personal attacks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The whining by privileged parents is really ridiculous.

+1 every question/comment from parents at our school meeting is people whining, because they don’t have it their way. Always the same privileged people. I just rolled my eyes, because they don’t even realized how privileged they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s the rationale for dropping masks indoors since they are not vaccinated? I agree, no masks outdoors though.

Because they are uncomfortable, interfere with teaching, and uneccesary when there’s extremely low community spread.

This is all not a big deal, also a good amount of language is body language, which masks don't cover. Kids will be fine, the only ones I'd be concerned for are those who are deaf/hard of hearing or Autistic.

Masks are a safety measure, kids aren't vaccinated. I'd rather this then MORE distance learning....

What are your credentials in the area of child development?

Funny enough I have an MS in childhood development and a specialty certification in ASD.
So no, masks aren't the end all be all for children. If your child gets speech, the speech therapist will likely wear a clear mask for the session, only to help them see the movement more clearly, NOT for the child to understand what they are saying.

Please stop trying to validate not wearing a mask, solely because you or your child doesn't like it.

No one has provided any good reason they SHOULD wear it, with all willing adults vaccinated and case rates incredibly low. The only thing I’ve seen from the pro-mask people in this thread is defensiveness, hostility, and personal attacks.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope they keep the masks even once vaccines are available. Kids are germy and gross. They struggle to cover their mouths when they cough and sneeze. Masks can help with diseases like the flu in addition to covid.

Are you serious? I suppose you think everyone should wear masks forever then, just in case? That's ridiculous.

I do. I also think food service employees should be required to wash their hands after using the bathroom. That we should be required to wear seat belts and that smoking indoors should be illegal. It is not just in case. Masks actually keep germs from spreading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with PP, they may still change it. Easier to dial back.

I do hope people vaccinate children. It will help reduce the chance of circulating variants in the winter.

You understand the odds of a vaccine being approved for young children before winter is basically nil, right? Maybe older elementary kids. But there is virtually no way that ECE or 1st-2nd grade kids will be able to get a vaccine in 2021, and the odds for 2022 aren't even that great.

But if 80% of adults and older kids are vaccinated, it likely won't matter. Which is one of the reasons the vaccine is likely to be approved -- it will seem to unnecessarily risky to use a relatively new vaccine on small children against a virus that exists only in very small numbers, if at all, and poses a limited risk to them. This isn't polio. All the cost/benefits of Covid are reversed from what they were during the polio crisis.

But how can this be the case if Pfizer is saying they will submit for an EUA for 5-11-year-olds in September? Or do you mean that FDA will require full approval of the vaccine? In that case I agree that kids under 12 will be waiting much longer.

The EUA may not be approved. It shouldn’t be, as there is no Covid emergency for kids.

Sure, Jan. Just like we wouldn’t get a vaccine. Or it would take 13 years. Or blah blah blah.

No, totally different kind of question. Although I'm afraid it is more likely for the EUA for young kids to be approved in the US due to political pressure than it was at the beginning of the pandemic that we would be so fortunate to get a vaccine that is 95% effective.