When should DC drop its school mask mandate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“The kids don’t care” is the worst justification for an intervention with a marginal benefit. My kids don’t complain, they do what they’re told. But it’s total gaslighting to think anyone is cool with wearing a mask 8+ hours a day with the constant threat of getting yelled at if it drops under their nose.

The drama and histrionics are just so over the top. Who is getting yelled at?

+1 I'm a teacher in a school with very poor compliance and it doesn't really matter to us. We're not risking damaging relationships with kids over a piece of cloth. I'm cool with whatever DCPS and CDC and DCH and WTU and WTF decide, but the kids aren't being gaslit or going through trauma over these masks.

Your post is Exhibit A of how absurd the mandate is.

Yes, I completely agree. I know I don't speak for all the teachers, especially those who like to garner support through hysteria, but I'm so pleased the WTU released a statement of support. I just wish President Lyons had, you know, actually asked us LOL

Frankly, I don't see why teachers should have any say on a public health intervention imposed on children. They aren't experts and in no position to judge the efficacy of masks in schools, and they have only partial insight into their costs. What they should be able to demand is that the school district supply them with N95s, so they can protect themselves if that is what they need to feel safe.

Agree in theory but the union has an mou with dcps about masking through SY 2021-22

Which also states that it should be amended in the event of changed CDC guidance.

Taken directly fro the MOU (https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/wtulocal6action/pages/32/attachments/original/1629843389/Fall_2021_MOA_-_Signed.pdf?1629843389&link_id=31&can_id=71a0a5afff3f46297aaa67cab790c349&source=email-monday-morning-brew-february-7-2022&email_referrer=&email_subject=monday-morning-brew-february-7-2022)

1 General Provisions

1.1 DCPS shall align health and safety protocols to the fullest extent possible with CDC, OSSE and DC Health guidelines, as they may be periodically amended, for reopening and operating schools during the 2021-2022 school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You all are so weird. I posted I'm good to go with whatever gets decided and people are like "I don't know why teachers have a say." Its so hard to have good faith discussions here

What is weird about making a general comment about the merits of consulting teachers in response to your comment that you wish the WTU president had consulted you before saying they were fine with dropping the mandate? I wasn't attacking you, and I'm glad you are fine with dropping the mandate as well, but aside from the MOU, I really don't see a reason why teachers should be consulted on this. Not sure why you feel making a more general point like this is impeding good faith discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My MCPS kids were completely flat when I told them they didn't have to wear masks today. They prefer not to wear them, but it's just not the big deal all you psycho parents make it out to be. I've worked daily with children with special needs throughout the pandemic and masks are just not a big deal. At all. Tell yourselves what you want, but you are projecting your "stuff' onto your kids.

So you extrapolate from your kids to everybody else's? Strange move. As for the kids you work with, how do you know how they really feel? I know my kids don't complain about masks, but I also know that they and their classmates *celebrated* on the playground when they came off outside last week. But nice try insulting the parents who actually helped make the outdoor change happen. I thank them for their advocacy instead.

No, from my kids plus those I've worked with daily for the past two years. So a grand total of about approximately 120+2. And we're talking children with speech and language issues, children on the spectrum, children with trauma issues. (And by the way, the mandate has always allowed for children with special needs to not wear masks if they are unable to do so consistently and correctly.) All the hysterics over nothing!

[Anonymous]

My kid's DC private high school sent a note at 10:30 last night declaring mask optional. It is evident from this list that different kids have different experiences, but my son was to the moon with happiness as if it was Christmas morning. He is thrilled that the policy has finally caught up with community risk and that he can finish out the year in normal fashion. To those who say we parents are projecting our views on our kids, that is in no way the case in my household and a great many others in my experience. As for DCPS, it seems the teachers' union will have to fold like a deck of cards, albeit against their will. It is a travesty that DC governance is held hostage to union influence and the public school kids are not yet free from forced masking. Each day that the mandate persists, is another day of unjust masking.

[Anonymous]

I am 100% in support of removing masks, but, my, will I miss perusing this entertaining thread while I have my morning coffee once the mandate is lifted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My MCPS kids were completely flat when I told them they didn't have to wear masks today. They prefer not to wear them, but it's just not the big deal all you psycho parents make it out to be. I've worked daily with children with special needs throughout the pandemic and masks are just not a big deal. At all. Tell yourselves what you want, but you are projecting your "stuff' onto your kids.

So you extrapolate from your kids to everybody else's? Strange move. As for the kids you work with, how do you know how they really feel? I know my kids don't complain about masks, but I also know that they and their classmates *celebrated* on the playground when they came off outside last week. But nice try insulting the parents who actually helped make the outdoor change happen. I thank them for their advocacy instead.

No, from my kids plus those I've worked with daily for the past two years. So a grand total of about approximately 120+2. And we're talking children with speech and language issues, children on the spectrum, children with trauma issues. (And by the way, the mandate has always allowed for children with special needs to not wear masks if they are unable to do so consistently and correctly.) All the hysterics over nothing!

You are grossly overestimating your insight as an individual teacher into the costs of masks for these and other kids, and your failure to observe any is in direct contradiction with the observations of many others who work in similar positions who are less primed to dismiss this as "nothing". You are not an expert, and larger longitudinal studies of this complex issue will likely prove you wrong in the future. A little humility would suit you well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am 100% in support of removing masks, but, my, will I miss perusing this entertaining thread while I have my morning coffee once the mandate is lifted.

Don’t worry, there will be something new for DCUM to rage about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mask requirements just lifted.
https://coronavirus.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/coronavirus/page_content/attachments/COVID-19_DC_Health_Guidance_for_Educational_Facilities_03-08-22.pdf

Not so fast! Bowser left it to individual schools/school systems. And Ferebee says, no thanks. Masks will stay on while he consults with the union. Of course.

The lawsuit is what drove them to lift the mandate. Thank private school parents.

For a town w a million political people you all know nothing about advocacy or how things work.

So it's just a coincidence that the lawsuit was filed plus another threat of lawsuit was sent two days ago that they decided to drop the mandate without any warning. Interesting.

https://adfmedialegalfiles.blob.core.windows.net/files/DuganComplaint.pdf

https://spero.law/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/DC-Mask-Mandate-Letter.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mask requirements just lifted.
https://coronavirus.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/coronavirus/page_content/attachments/COVID-19_DC_Health_Guidance_for_Educational_Facilities_03-08-22.pdf

Not so fast! Bowser left it to individual schools/school systems. And Ferebee says, no thanks. Masks will stay on while he consults with the union. Of course.

The lawsuit is what drove them to lift the mandate. Thank private school parents.

For a town w a million political people you all know nothing about advocacy or how things work.

So it's just a coincidence that the lawsuit was filed plus another threat of lawsuit was sent two days ago that they decided to drop the mandate without any warning. Interesting.

https://adfmedialegalfiles.blob.core.windows.net/files/DuganComplaint.pdf

https://spero.law/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/DC-Mask-Mandate-Letter.pdf

Yes, especially considering they the DC SBOE had this to say 4 days ago. Totally pressured by the lawsuits!! https://www.instagram.com/p/CasgDLmueqZ/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My MCPS kids were completely flat when I told them they didn't have to wear masks today. They prefer not to wear them, but it's just not the big deal all you psycho parents make it out to be. I've worked daily with children with special needs throughout the pandemic and masks are just not a big deal. At all. Tell yourselves what you want, but you are projecting your "stuff' onto your kids.

So you extrapolate from your kids to everybody else's? Strange move. As for the kids you work with, how do you know how they really feel? I know my kids don't complain about masks, but I also know that they and their classmates *celebrated* on the playground when they came off outside last week. But nice try insulting the parents who actually helped make the outdoor change happen. I thank them for their advocacy instead.

No, from my kids plus those I've worked with daily for the past two years. So a grand total of about approximately 120+2. And we're talking children with speech and language issues, children on the spectrum, children with trauma issues. (And by the way, the mandate has always allowed for children with special needs to not wear masks if they are unable to do so consistently and correctly.) All the hysterics over nothing!

You are grossly overestimating your insight as an individual teacher into the costs of masks for these and other kids, and your failure to observe any is in direct contradiction with the observations of many others who work in similar positions who are less primed to dismiss this as "nothing". You are not an expert, and larger longitudinal studies of this complex issue will likely prove you wrong in the future. A little humility would suit you well.

It will be interesting to see if those studies will ever be conducted, and in good faith. I would not be surprised if academia had little appetite for actually finding out about the negative consequences of our misguided Covid policies, just like they have made no effort to conduct a randomized controlled trial on the efficacy of mask mandates in schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid's DC private high school sent a note at 10:30 last night declaring mask optional. It is evident from this list that different kids have different experiences, but my son was to the moon with happiness as if it was Christmas morning. He is thrilled that the policy has finally caught up with community risk and that he can finish out the year in normal fashion. To those who say we parents are projecting our views on our kids, that is in no way the case in my household and a great many others in my experience. As for DCPS, it seems the teachers' union will have to fold like a deck of cards, albeit against their will. It is a travesty that DC governance is held hostage to union influence and the public school kids are not yet free from forced masking. Each day that the mandate persists, is another day of unjust masking.

It is so bizarre that you would center yourself as a private school parent with your cuckoo for cocoa puffs "unjust masking" and "travesty" rhetoric. You give exactly zero effs what goes on in the lived experiences of public school children and teachers.

[Anonymous]

So it just seems like the "continuing maskers" people are doing some sort of intense tone-policing and gaslighting now. "Don't get hysterical!" "There were no problems!"

Your kid can continue masking. Other people's kids had different experiences than yours. Have some empathy that other kids have not had as easy of a time with masking as yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So it just seems like the "continuing maskers" people are doing some sort of intense tone-policing and gaslighting now. "Don't get hysterical!" "There were no problems!"

Your kid can continue masking. Other people's kids had different experiences than yours. Have some empathy that other kids have not had as easy of a time with masking as yours.

Right, it's the people who want children to be vaccinated and wear masks indoors when they can't/won't be vaccinated who are gas-lighting and engaging in town police. Cool story, bro.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it just seems like the "continuing maskers" people are doing some sort of intense tone-policing and gaslighting now. "Don't get hysterical!" "There were no problems!"

Your kid can continue masking. Other people's kids had different experiences than yours. Have some empathy that other kids have not had as easy of a time with masking as yours.

Right, it's the people who want children to be vaccinated and wear masks indoors when they can't/won't be vaccinated who are gas-lighting and engaging in town police. Cool story, bro.

Well, there's nothing about vaccination here, so that seems like a weird addition on your part.

Are you not calling people "psycho" and "hysterical"? That seems like some tone-policing.

Are you not saying that every kid is fine with masking? That seems like gas-lighting.

Are you proposing that CDC guidance should NOT be followed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's DC private high school sent a note at 10:30 last night declaring mask optional. It is evident from this list that different kids have different experiences, but my son was to the moon with happiness as if it was Christmas morning. He is thrilled that the policy has finally caught up with community risk and that he can finish out the year in normal fashion. To those who say we parents are projecting our views on our kids, that is in no way the case in my household and a great many others in my experience. As for DCPS, it seems the teachers' union will have to fold like a deck of cards, albeit against their will. It is a travesty that DC governance is held hostage to union influence and the public school kids are not yet free from forced masking. Each day that the mandate persists, is another day of unjust masking.

It is so bizarre that you would center yourself as a private school parent with your cuckoo for cocoa puffs "unjust masking" and "travesty" rhetoric. You give exactly zero effs what goes on in the lived experiences of public school children and teachers.

"Lived experiences of public school children and teachers" -- ???

Please, tell us what life is like down in the slums and trenches.