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Anonymous wrote:Our family is getting a cake tonight to celebrate. The kids are so happy to soon no longer be forcibly masked at school anymore. VICTORY!

Us too. We haven't been this happy over a political development since Trump lost.

You're right. This is pure politics and has nothing to do with health or science. Not sure why it is worth celebrating that politicians instead of medical professionals are setting public health policy.

It doesn’t make sense from a public health perspective to to have optional masking virtually everywhere but then require them in schools.

Have you ever considered schools are doing it right and everywhere else is doing it wrong? Or are you a lemming and generally decide to do what everyone else is doing?

Masks are uniquely bad in schools. They are the first place that should go mask free. You’re the lemming if you don’t realize that.

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Anonymous wrote:Worst case, it’s just over two weeks until we find out which kids have completely antisocial, self-absorbed parents, and therefore are best avoided.

Yep - just look for the kids wearing masks and then you will know who has parents like that !

While the masking wearing will tell us about parents, in fact kids we see not wearing masks in school will suggest that their parents are selfish, uncaring, jerks who should be avoided.

Honestly, my heart just sunk because I have to navigate my Kindergarten class through this. This is so sad because we try so hard to teach the kids in school respect for others rights etc and now here we are parents gathering “intel” on each other to see who is social or antisocial based on making preference. What you don’t get is that the “fake concern” about the law, is really an attempt to put the kids first so we aren’t in this place where parents and kids are making fun of each other at school.

My heart sinks at the idea of parents having to decide whether to pull their kids out of in-person schooling because mom is going through chemo and this bill would mean their kid could be stuck sitting next to someone spewing an active covid infection all over because they aren’t wearing a mask.

How is that different from the seasonal flu? Been there and done that, caught the flu while my wife was going through chemo. She took Tamiflu and I did as well, there are preventions for those unique situations.

NP. Your wife had access to Tamiflu for treatment? Is there readily available treatment for COVID for all ages? Has it been tested and refined for years? No and no. Surely you see the difference.

That kid can get vaxxed, wear a good one way mask, and be no worse off than he / she is now. Get that through your head, PP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our family is getting a cake tonight to celebrate. The kids are so happy to soon no longer be forcibly masked at school anymore. VICTORY!

Us too. We haven't been this happy over a political development since Trump lost.

You're right. This is pure politics and has nothing to do with health or science. Not sure why it is worth celebrating that politicians instead of medical professionals are setting public health policy.

It doesn’t make sense from a public health perspective to to have optional masking virtually everywhere but then require them in schools.

Have you ever considered schools are doing it right and everywhere else is doing it wrong? Or are you a lemming and generally decide to do what everyone else is doing?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Worst case, it’s just over two weeks until we find out which kids have completely antisocial, self-absorbed parents, and therefore are best avoided.

Yep - just look for the kids wearing masks and then you will know who has parents like that !

While the masking wearing will tell us about parents, in fact kids we see not wearing masks in school will suggest that their parents are selfish, uncaring, jerks who should be avoided.

Honestly, my heart just sunk because I have to navigate my Kindergarten class through this. This is so sad because we try so hard to teach the kids in school respect for others rights etc and now here we are parents gathering “intel” on each other to see who is social or antisocial based on making preference. What you don’t get is that the “fake concern” about the law, is really an attempt to put the kids first so we aren’t in this place where parents and kids are making fun of each other at school.

My heart sinks at the idea of parents having to decide whether to pull their kids out of in-person schooling because mom is going through chemo and this bill would mean their kid could be stuck sitting next to someone spewing an active covid infection all over because they aren’t wearing a mask.

How is that different from the seasonal flu? Been there and done that, caught the flu while my wife was going through chemo. She took Tamiflu and I did as well, there are preventions for those unique situations.

NP. Your wife had access to Tamiflu for treatment? Is there readily available treatment for COVID for all ages? Has it been tested and refined for years? No and no. Surely you see the difference.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our family is getting a cake tonight to celebrate. The kids are so happy to soon no longer be forcibly masked at school anymore. VICTORY!

Us too. We haven't been this happy over a political development since Trump lost.

You're right. This is pure politics and has nothing to do with health or science. Not sure why it is worth celebrating that politicians instead of medical professionals are setting public health policy.

Because these aren't pure medical decisions. They're public policy decisions, weighing many factors and tradeoffs. It's like if you said all terrorism decisions should be made by terrorism experts - people would look at you if you're insane.

You're saying because these public health experts have risk tolerances that are WAY more cautious than the average American, that should control. Nope. You can stay masked inside your house until COVID goes away though (which is never going to happen).

I do think terrorism experts should be making terrorism decisions. Are you also comfortable with politicians making decisions about abortion?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Worst case, it’s just over two weeks until we find out which kids have completely antisocial, self-absorbed parents, and therefore are best avoided.

Yep - just look for the kids wearing masks and then you will know who has parents like that !

While the masking wearing will tell us about parents, in fact kids we see not wearing masks in school will suggest that their parents are selfish, uncaring, jerks who should be avoided.

Honestly, my heart just sunk because I have to navigate my Kindergarten class through this. This is so sad because we try so hard to teach the kids in school respect for others rights etc and now here we are parents gathering “intel” on each other to see who is social or antisocial based on making preference. What you don’t get is that the “fake concern” about the law, is really an attempt to put the kids first so we aren’t in this place where parents and kids are making fun of each other at school.

My heart sinks at the idea of parents having to decide whether to pull their kids out of in-person schooling because mom is going through chemo and this bill would mean their kid could be stuck sitting next to someone spewing an active covid infection all over because they aren’t wearing a mask.

How is that different from the seasonal flu? Been there and done that, caught the flu while my wife was going through chemo. She took Tamiflu and I did as well, there are preventions for those unique situations.

Anonymous wrote:Has any district sent out guidance to the community on this yet? I'm in ACPS and we haven't seen anything. I'm curious if the response will be to wait until 3/1 for the opt out process, or if they'll file another lawsuit to try and prevent it completely?

LCPS sent the following:

Dear School Community, Students, and Staff,

We are writing to notify you of a shift in the masking requirements in Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS).

Senate Bill 739, which allows parents to opt out their children from mask requirements in schools, recently passed both Houses of the Virginia Legislature. On Tuesday, the governor signed the legislation and added an emergency provision to allow the law to take effect on March 1, 2022.

Although transmission rates in Loudoun County are high, they continue to decrease. To that end, LCPS will make a shift in safety protocols to allow parents to opt out their children from the mask requirement starting Tuesday, February 22. Other COVID-19 mitigation measures will remain in place.

Although masks are no longer mandatory, LCPS encourages the continued use of masks while community transmission rates remain high.

The Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Administration and LCPS require non-vaccinated employees to wear masks while transmission levels are high. Vaccinated employees may elect not to wear a mask.

Mask wearing on buses is still required by a federal order, which governs public transportation. If a student forgets their mask, the bus driver will supply one.

According to federal regulations, any preschool program governed by Head Start will continue to require masks.

As always, if your student is feeling sick or has a fever, please keep them at home and let the school office know they will be absent.

We ask our families to help us maintain a healthy and safe learning environment by staying vigilant and taking precautions that protect against the transmission of COVID-19, including outside our school buildings. We will continue to keep our families and community informed of any future changes to our mitigation strategies.

Thank you for your ongoing patience and understanding as we work together to keep our students and staff safe and our schools open for in-person learning.

Sincerely,

Scott A. Ziegler, Ed.D.
Superintendent

Anonymous wrote:Has any district sent out guidance to the community on this yet? I'm in ACPS and we haven't seen anything. I'm curious if the response will be to wait until 3/1 for the opt out process, or if they'll file another lawsuit to try and prevent it completely?

Loudoun announced they're going mask optional February 22nd! #unmaskthekids!

Has any district sent out guidance to the community on this yet? I'm in ACPS and we haven't seen anything. I'm curious if the response will be to wait until 3/1 for the opt out process, or if they'll file another lawsuit to try and prevent it completely?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our family is getting a cake tonight to celebrate. The kids are so happy to soon no longer be forcibly masked at school anymore. VICTORY!

Us too. We haven't been this happy over a political development since Trump lost.

You're right. This is pure politics and has nothing to do with health or science. Not sure why it is worth celebrating that politicians instead of medical professionals are setting public health policy.

It doesn’t make sense from a public health perspective to to have optional masking virtually everywhere but then require them in schools.

Students are in the school’s care (in loco parentis) during the school day so they have a high standard and duty to keep them safe and protected, as compared to private businesses like restaurants.

That may be, but it’s a separate issue from what makes the most sense in terms of public health. Children are by far the lowest risk demographic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our family is getting a cake tonight to celebrate. The kids are so happy to soon no longer be forcibly masked at school anymore. VICTORY!

Us too. We haven't been this happy over a political development since Trump lost.

You're right. This is pure politics and has nothing to do with health or science. Not sure why it is worth celebrating that politicians instead of medical professionals are setting public health policy.

It doesn’t make sense from a public health perspective to to have optional masking virtually everywhere but then require them in schools.

Students are in the school’s care (in loco parentis) during the school day so they have a high standard and duty to keep them safe and protected, as compared to private businesses like restaurants.

The first thing my daughter asked today is whether what her teacher said was true - they are almost done with masks? She was thrilled and great for the teacher for telling the kids in a positive way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our family is getting a cake tonight to celebrate. The kids are so happy to soon no longer be forcibly masked at school anymore. VICTORY!

Us too. We haven't been this happy over a political development since Trump lost.

You're right. This is pure politics and has nothing to do with health or science. Not sure why it is worth celebrating that politicians instead of medical professionals are setting public health policy.

It doesn’t make sense from a public health perspective to to have optional masking virtually everywhere but then require them in schools.

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Anonymous wrote:Next Youngkin is going to ban hand sanitizer and soap from schools and businesses that sell food. "We're sick as he11 and we're not going to take it anymore!"

Seriously, I do worry that red states will start overturning all vaccine requirements and we'll see more measles and mumps. The school vaccine requirements are a really important public health measure, and it's absolutely crazy there are people out saying they want to overturn them.

OMG. Youngkin’s proposal has bipartisan support and is very reasonable, based on the numbers and science.

PP - you hysterical reaction, along with the other political sniping, is proof that progressivism is a mental disorder.

It is disingenuous to say it has bipartisan support. I think it has 3 democratic senators and even fewer (if any) delegates. It’s not based on numbers or science — the cdc, the aap and other heath groups say we need masks now. If another variant comes along, districts won’t be able to reinstate the mandate. Their hands are tied from handling the conditions. That is not reasonable. It is based on an Atlantic article and a Republican political strategy. If the law had metrics for mask removal, it would be based on science. If it allowed local districts to decide based on their own conditions, it would make sense (like what NJ and CT did). Parental opt out is not science.

Local decisions may make sense elsewhere in the state, but in Northern Virginia they're only going to follow the political winds from the Federal government. At this point, I don't trust the school system to EVER remove masks willingly, so I'm thankful they're being taken out of the decision. The only way ACPS would willingly make masks optional is if Biden called up Hutchings personally, and asked, with a photo op, of course... With every single jurisdiction removing mask mandates, for literally everywhere except schools, I'm kind of losing my mind, and thankful I live in Virginia.

Completely agree, NoVA will never stop voluntarily for the foreseeable future. The D politicians love their power over our lives, yet call Republicans the authoritarians.

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Anonymous wrote:The ACLU lawsuit is ridiculous. The ADA entitles a qualified individual with a disability to an effective accommodation- not the accommodation of their choice. Prior to filing suit, an individual with a disability has to go through an interactive process to get such an accommodation. In this lawsuit, the plaintiffs attempt to argue that somehow other students not wearing a cloth mask (which is not a proven effective 'accommodation' in any event) means they are not being accommodated? It should get tossed out of court immediately. Now- if the law said no student was allowed to wear a mask, preventing immuno compromised students from wearing a n95 mask themselves, that might get somewhere.

Agree completely. The lawsuit is preposterous. Cloth masks provide very little benefit and one way masking with a high-quality mask is a very effective accommodation. The ACLU jumped the shark with this lunacy, especially when many disabled kids are suffering from mask mandates.

This is what kills me the most about the stupidity of the ACLU lawsuit. Where is the concern for kids with Autism, speech issues, sensory issues, cognitive disabilities, etc. who have struggled with masking? Where was the outcry when children with IEPs lost in-person services last year? The absolute focus on COVID infection as the *only* possible harm that exists in the world is beyond insane to me. Not to mention, they are asking other people to change *their* behavior as an accommodation for someone else. When there is the scientifically proven accommodation of having the immunocompromised person mask. Further, even if cloth masks were more than a facial decoration at this point, I’m not sure you can classify masking of tens and thousands of children across the state to be “reasonable.”

Please stop arguing with logic, my emotions are more important.