When should DC drop its school mask mandate?

[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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Do not worry - we still have the mandate for vaccines (that are efficient only for 1 month for 5-11 group) in place for the next school year! And as far as I remember, we're the only school district in the country that has this mandate. I don't think with our DC mayor and school district we'll ever have lack of dumb shit to be angry about

they'll drop the vaccine mandate before the next school year starts. Count on it.

[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!

This, this, this.

[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.

My kids are vaccinated and they are still masking outdoors, masking indoors, getting tested every week, and checking in with an app every morning that says they should stay home if they have a runny nose. No one recommends doing this, but here we are. Yes, I'm annoyed.

[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!

This, this, this.

What does this exemption for kids whose special needs make them unable to wear a mask consistently or correctly do for those whose learning is impaired in various ways by wearing a mask all day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

So telling that you equate public school with slums and trenches, Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

My kids are vaccinated and they are still masking outdoors, masking indoors, getting tested every week, and checking in with an app every morning that says they should stay home if they have a runny nose. No one recommends doing this, but here we are. Yes, I'm annoyed.

That's crazy. What school is this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

My kids are vaccinated and they are still masking outdoors, masking indoors, getting tested every week, and checking in with an app every morning that says they should stay home if they have a runny nose. No one recommends doing this, but here we are. Yes, I'm annoyed.

That's crazy. What school is this?

Not sure, but this is same as what is happening at CMI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

My kids are vaccinated and they are still masking outdoors, masking indoors, getting tested every week, and checking in with an app every morning that says they should stay home if they have a runny nose. No one recommends doing this, but here we are. Yes, I'm annoyed.

That's crazy. What school is this?

It is crazy! Sela. We just got an email yesterday that they're doing additional antigen tests post spring break, plus the regular weekly testing, and also that 'in the coming days' they will make a determination about outdoor masking and other restrictions. It apparently takes a week just to tell us that they're considering whether to lift outdoor masking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

So telling that you equate public school with slums and trenches, Sidwell.

Don’t mind that whistling noise just overhead…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

My kids are vaccinated and they are still masking outdoors, masking indoors, getting tested every week, and checking in with an app every morning that says they should stay home if they have a runny nose. No one recommends doing this, but here we are. Yes, I'm annoyed.

That's crazy. What school is this?

It is crazy! Sela. We just got an email yesterday that they're doing additional antigen tests post spring break, plus the regular weekly testing, and also that 'in the coming days' they will make a determination about outdoor masking and other restrictions. It apparently takes a week just to tell us that they're considering whether to lift outdoor masking.

We're at Sela, and the reason that they have been able to be open since November 2020 (yup, 2020) is that they have been exceedingly careful. We cannot on one hand argue that charter schools are semi-autonomous entities, and then argue that they are bound to have fewer restrictions because DOH or OSSE says so at any given moment. Sadly, only 54% of eligible students are vaccinated and only 69% of teachers/staff are boosted (all are vaccinated). Those aren't great numbers in a school with five PK classes. It makes sense to have antigen tests after many families will be traveling. Weekly testing also makes sense. Sela is test-to-stay. Being opposed to testing is curious. The school will eventually lift on masking outdoors. I would not suspect that they will lift on masking indoors for younger grades - and they will likely maintain aftercare pods until after PK students can be vaccinated. We will see if the school decides to mandate the COVID vaccine next year. Hopefully, they will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

My kids are vaccinated and they are still masking outdoors, masking indoors, getting tested every week, and checking in with an app every morning that says they should stay home if they have a runny nose. No one recommends doing this, but here we are. Yes, I'm annoyed.

That's crazy. What school is this?

It is crazy! Sela. We just got an email yesterday that they're doing additional antigen tests post spring break, plus the regular weekly testing, and also that 'in the coming days' they will make a determination about outdoor masking and other restrictions. It apparently takes a week just to tell us that they're considering whether to lift outdoor masking.

We're at Sela, and the reason that they have been able to be open since November 2020 (yup, 2020) is that they have been exceedingly careful. We cannot on one hand argue that charter schools are semi-autonomous entities, and then argue that they are bound to have fewer restrictions because DOH or OSSE says so at any given moment. Sadly, only 54% of eligible students are vaccinated and only 69% of teachers/staff are boosted (all are vaccinated). Those aren't great numbers in a school with five PK classes. It makes sense to have antigen tests after many families will be traveling. Weekly testing also makes sense. Sela is test-to-stay. Being opposed to testing is curious. The school will eventually lift on masking outdoors. I would not suspect that they will lift on masking indoors for younger grades - and they will likely maintain aftercare pods until after PK students can be vaccinated. We will see if the school decides to mandate the COVID vaccine next year. Hopefully, they will.

Have you been paying any other attention to what other schools are doing this year? They are all open. Most do not have higher vaccination rates. Very few are doing what Sela is doing, which now increasingly deviates from public health guidance with zero explanation as to why. This is not 2020 anymore. And why is 'eventually' ok for the most basic and no-brainer policy of lifting outdoor masking? What science do they have access to that practically no one else in the country is?

[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.

I have just as much right as anyone else to express my views. Your "lived experience" is really just the latest trendy way to say that you alone have superior opinions that cannot be challenged because no one else walks in your shoes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I have just as much right as anyone else to express my views. Your "lived experience" is really just the latest trendy way to say that you alone have superior opinions that cannot be challenged because no one else walks in your shoes.

I think all private schools are trusts and should be broken up as de facto segregation academies and forced to admit high percentages of at-risk kids on scholarship or pay higher taxes.

[Anonymous]

Yes yes yes - no vaccine mandate no masks PERIOD