Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She said the perception of masks making us safer was all that matters. That makes no sense and is worthy of ridicule.

This is one more reason why there shouldn't be a full-fledge student member of the board. They are taking a position where they are able to make broad decisions regarding our school system and yet it is not politically correct to criticize them when they say things that don't make sense.

+100

Where y'all transplants came from?

No excuse for adult behavior but MCPS needs to step up to help ALL victims of bullying. Jai’lyn Jones RIP https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wusa9.com/amp/article/news/local/maryland/mother-fights-for-answers-after-son-found-dead-in-montgomery-county/65-d4375e38-6baa-46dd-b519-64fa3ba10f0b

Anonymous wrote:She said the perception of masks making us safer was all that matters. That makes no sense and is worthy of ridicule.

This is one more reason why there shouldn't be a full-fledge student member of the board. They are taking a position where they are able to make broad decisions regarding our school system and yet it is not politically correct to criticize them when they say things that don't make sense.

+100

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She said the perception of masks making us safer was all that matters. That makes no sense and is worthy of ridicule.

No, that is not what she said. This is what she said:

“The last thing I want is for schools to be a source of anxiety for our students and it feels like making masks optional because of all the messaging, especially at the beginning of the pandemic, that my mask not only protects me, it protects my community,” O’Looney said at the meeting. “… That’s still a lingering sentiment. Regardless of what data says, perception is reality for students and families. I’m really afraid that if we get rid of the mask mandate, it’s going to cause a lot of fear for our students and families.”

It’s still all about perception- not science. And that’s very misguided. As a full member of the Board of Education should will be held responsible for her comments, just like any other full voting member. That position is full of perks but unfortunately this is the downside, having your comments be critiqued, just like the other members.

However, she should not be bullied, mocked or have any racist comments on her way. Rather, a rational discussion of her point of view was warranted.

Honest question: what were the racists comments?

I saw the stupid comments about her last name. Which, lets be honest, we're pretty lame attempts at trolling or bullying. But I didn't see anything that brings up her race? What was said?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She said the perception of masks making us safer was all that matters. That makes no sense and is worthy of ridicule.

No, that is not what she said. This is what she said:

“The last thing I want is for schools to be a source of anxiety for our students and it feels like making masks optional because of all the messaging, especially at the beginning of the pandemic, that my mask not only protects me, it protects my community,” O’Looney said at the meeting. “… That’s still a lingering sentiment. Regardless of what data says, perception is reality for students and families. I’m really afraid that if we get rid of the mask mandate, it’s going to cause a lot of fear for our students and families.”

It’s still all about perception- not science. And that’s very misguided. As a full member of the Board of Education should will be held responsible for her comments, just like any other full voting member. That position is full of perks but unfortunately this is the downside, having your comments be critiqued, just like the other members.

However, she should not be bullied, mocked or have any racist comments on her way. Rather, a rational discussion of her point of view was warranted.

She was making these comments in the context of CDC recommendations so it was very much consistent with the science. It’s not her fault the CDC changed its mind the next day to make hospital capacity, not illness, the touchstone of its masking reccommendations (and its not even clear hospital capacity is the right metric for a decision about school masking).

I am sure she is happy to be held “accountable” by her constituents— but that is very different from being the subject of nationwide internet mob.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To be fair, what she said about masks was really really dumb.

Yes. And I feel bad that people used her last name to call her a looney-tune; that was definitely in poor taste

But it also seems like the folks that want the masks to stay in place are making a mountain out of a mole hill, and blowing this WAY out of proportion, in order to distract from just how dumb the comments were

So what her comments were dumb. Is that a reason for grown adults to bully and mock her. Parents like you are the downfall of MCPS

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She said the perception of masks making us safer was all that matters. That makes no sense and is worthy of ridicule.

No, that is not what she said. This is what she said:

“The last thing I want is for schools to be a source of anxiety for our students and it feels like making masks optional because of all the messaging, especially at the beginning of the pandemic, that my mask not only protects me, it protects my community,” O’Looney said at the meeting. “… That’s still a lingering sentiment. Regardless of what data says, perception is reality for students and families. I’m really afraid that if we get rid of the mask mandate, it’s going to cause a lot of fear for our students and families.”

She refers to masking policies and beliefs from two years ago as a reason to keep them on now. That is also dumb (new poster here by the way).

If you watched the meeting you would have heard her describe how she had been visiting schools over the last few weeks talking with students, and this was a common sentiment she was hearing from them. As the student representative on the board, it seems appropriate that she would formulate her positions based on the feedback from her constituents. I will also note that at that meeting she said she would be unable to attend the 3/8 meeting when the voting would be taking place, so she was making her comments then, probably assuming that the vote would go the other way, but still wanting her thoughts to be included.

+1. Her testimony came at a time when the CDC was still recommending masks in all school settings, and her position was based on actual sentiments of the students she represents. Judging by how many adults are choosing to still mask in public settings even with the mandate lifted in MoCo, it stands to reason that a decent majority of students will choose to remain masked. It doesn’t mean that the policy shouldn’t be considered/changed, but it is a perspective that should be elevated. Also, the same people who bullied her online just so happen to be the same mask choice bullies who just so happen to be the open the schools screamers who just so happen to bully everyone on various Facebook pages. These parents are toxic and reprehensible and out of touch with everyone not in their little echo chamber.

Anonymous wrote:To be fair, what she said about masks was really really dumb.

And that's a reason to bully and mock her? My gosh

Anonymous wrote:There are more details in this article, including how National Review wrote about it, and how they did not identify her in their article as a student board member.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/school-board-condemns-online-harassment-of-student-member-after-comments-about-masks/

Parents shouldn't be making those types of comments about adult board members either. How about have constructive comments instead of the name calling which gets absolutely nowhere?

Call me a cynic. Why do we even have this position? The SMOB position is window dressing so the Board can pretend to listen to students (how could one student possible represent 160,000+ anyway?). I am truly sorry that she was bullied by adults. Those folks should be ashamed of themselves. Hopefully she was able to parlay this experience into a good college acceptance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She said the perception of masks making us safer was all that matters. That makes no sense and is worthy of ridicule.

No, that is not what she said. This is what she said:

“The last thing I want is for schools to be a source of anxiety for our students and it feels like making masks optional because of all the messaging, especially at the beginning of the pandemic, that my mask not only protects me, it protects my community,” O’Looney said at the meeting. “… That’s still a lingering sentiment. Regardless of what data says, perception is reality for students and families. I’m really afraid that if we get rid of the mask mandate, it’s going to cause a lot of fear for our students and families.”

She refers to masking policies and beliefs from two years ago as a reason to keep them on now. That is also dumb (new poster here by the way).

If you watched the meeting you would have heard her describe how she had been visiting schools over the last few weeks talking with students, and this was a common sentiment she was hearing from them. As the student representative on the board, it seems appropriate that she would formulate her positions based on the feedback from her constituents. I will also note that at that meeting she said she would be unable to attend the 3/8 meeting when the voting would be taking place, so she was making her comments then, probably assuming that the vote would go the other way, but still wanting her thoughts to be included.

I sure hope it goes the other way. UNMASK OUR KIDS

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She said the perception of masks making us safer was all that matters. That makes no sense and is worthy of ridicule.

No, that is not what she said. This is what she said:

“The last thing I want is for schools to be a source of anxiety for our students and it feels like making masks optional because of all the messaging, especially at the beginning of the pandemic, that my mask not only protects me, it protects my community,” O’Looney said at the meeting. “… That’s still a lingering sentiment. Regardless of what data says, perception is reality for students and families. I’m really afraid that if we get rid of the mask mandate, it’s going to cause a lot of fear for our students and families.”

She refers to masking policies and beliefs from two years ago as a reason to keep them on now. That is also dumb (new poster here by the way).

If you watched the meeting you would have heard her describe how she had been visiting schools over the last few weeks talking with students, and this was a common sentiment she was hearing from them. As the student representative on the board, it seems appropriate that she would formulate her positions based on the feedback from her constituents. I will also note that at that meeting she said she would be unable to attend the 3/8 meeting when the voting would be taking place, so she was making her comments then, probably assuming that the vote would go the other way, but still wanting her thoughts to be included.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She said the perception of masks making us safer was all that matters. That makes no sense and is worthy of ridicule.

No, that is not what she said. This is what she said:

“The last thing I want is for schools to be a source of anxiety for our students and it feels like making masks optional because of all the messaging, especially at the beginning of the pandemic, that my mask not only protects me, it protects my community,” O’Looney said at the meeting. “… That’s still a lingering sentiment. Regardless of what data says, perception is reality for students and families. I’m really afraid that if we get rid of the mask mandate, it’s going to cause a lot of fear for our students and families.”

It’s still all about perception- not science. And that’s very misguided. As a full member of the Board of Education should will be held responsible for her comments, just like any other full voting member. That position is full of perks but unfortunately this is the downside, having your comments be critiqued, just like the other members.

However, she should not be bullied, mocked or have any racist comments on her way. Rather, a rational discussion of her point of view was warranted.

Anonymous wrote:There are more details in this article, including how National Review wrote about it, and how they did not identify her in their article as a student board member.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/school-board-condemns-online-harassment-of-student-member-after-comments-about-masks/

All the more reason for people to THINK before they start ranting and calling someone names on the internet.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She said the perception of masks making us safer was all that matters. That makes no sense and is worthy of ridicule.

No, that is not what she said. This is what she said:

“The last thing I want is for schools to be a source of anxiety for our students and it feels like making masks optional because of all the messaging, especially at the beginning of the pandemic, that my mask not only protects me, it protects my community,” O’Looney said at the meeting. “… That’s still a lingering sentiment. Regardless of what data says, perception is reality for students and families. I’m really afraid that if we get rid of the mask mandate, it’s going to cause a lot of fear for our students and families.”

She refers to masking policies and beliefs from two years ago as a reason to keep them on now. That is also dumb (new poster here by the way).