The timing is strange given we are in the height of the pandemic. My kids will still mask until the numbers drop. They are also vaccinated. But honestly, all the family have been attending large public schools without masks for most of the pandemic and their numbers aren’t far off from those here.

My kids will still mask at their Arlington diocese school, but I like at least having the choice.

Meant to add- we are waiting until the Omicrom booster is available to booster DC. We will mask until booster shot.

Also, I think the Deltacron is not a real variant. It is not listed on the WHO variant site.

My kids will stay masked until #s drop down. But, in other states kids are already unmasked. I completely understand the anxiety though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach at a Catholic school and am not looking forward to having unmasked students in my room. My elderly parent lives with me. She is vaxxed and boosted, but may still be vulnerable. I am considering quitting because of that whole “Honor thy Father and Mother” thing, oh, and that “pro-life” thing as well. The Diocese could have waited a few more weeks to make this call. Also, what if another strain of the virus comes along, like a “deltacron” or something? Will masks still be optional then? Shouldn’t we be able to adapt? This mask optional executive order is too definitive. I would like to assume the people who are too excited to have their kids leave their masks at home, are vaxxed and willing/prepared to go online in case your school has staffing shortages. Our school already has a few faculty members out either with covid, or taking care of a loved one with the virus.
One class had about ten kids home these past days. Teachers are at their wits end already. This is like a slap to our faces.

I’m very sorry. My kids will remain masked at school and I’m sure many others will as well.

Yes. Ours will as well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Gov’s exec order is unenforceable and will almost certainly be overturned.

As for the Archdiocese, my read of its letter is cowardice, or perhaps equally crummy legal work.

Would someone post the text of the letter? We are considering a Catholic school for next year but this could be a deal breaker for our family with vulnerable immunocompromised individuals.

“By now you are all aware of Governor Youngkin’s Executive Order 2, “Reaffirming the Rights of Parents in the Upbringing, Education, and Care of Their Children.” The order rescinds Governor Northam’s Executive Order 79 of 2021 and states, in critical part, “The parents of any child enrolled in a[n] elementary or secondary school or a school based early childcare and educational program may elect for their children not to be subject to any mask mandate in effect at the child’s school or educational program.” Executive Order 2 takes effect on Monday, January 24, 2022.

The health and safety of all students and staff in our schools, while maintaining in-person instruction, remains our top priority. Throughout the pandemic, our Catholic schools have been directed to follow state and local public health directives. Where those have been in conflict, the state requirement has primacy. Therefore, Diocesan direction to our schools is to continue following local public health guidance, without however, violating the rights of parents as described in Executive Order 2. The governor’s executive order is clear on the right of parents not to have their child be subject to a mask mandate.

Joe Vorbach, Superintendent “

Anonymous wrote:I teach at a Catholic school and am not looking forward to having unmasked students in my room. My elderly parent lives with me. She is vaxxed and boosted, but may still be vulnerable. I am considering quitting because of that whole “Honor thy Father and Mother” thing, oh, and that “pro-life” thing as well. The Diocese could have waited a few more weeks to make this call. Also, what if another strain of the virus comes along, like a “deltacron” or something? Will masks still be optional then? Shouldn’t we be able to adapt? This mask optional executive order is too definitive. I would like to assume the people who are too excited to have their kids leave their masks at home, are vaxxed and willing/prepared to go online in case your school has staffing shortages. Our school already has a few faculty members out either with covid, or taking care of a loved one with the virus.
One class had about ten kids home these past days. Teachers are at their wits end already. This is like a slap to our faces.

I’m very sorry. My kids will remain masked at school and I’m sure many others will as well.

Anonymous wrote:Boston Archdiocese did as suggested above. If you’re vaccinated, you can go mask free. Still not great during Omicron given contagiousness, but certainly better and more sensible than a free for all unmasking.

This sounds like a reasonable compromise. However, many anti-maskers are also anti-vaxxers. Just so sad.

I teach at a Catholic school and am not looking forward to having unmasked students in my room. My elderly parent lives with me. She is vaxxed and boosted, but may still be vulnerable. I am considering quitting because of that whole “Honor thy Father and Mother” thing, oh, and that “pro-life” thing as well. The Diocese could have waited a few more weeks to make this call. Also, what if another strain of the virus comes along, like a “deltacron” or something? Will masks still be optional then? Shouldn’t we be able to adapt? This mask optional executive order is too definitive. I would like to assume the people who are too excited to have their kids leave their masks at home, are vaxxed and willing/prepared to go online in case your school has staffing shortages. Our school already has a few faculty members out either with covid, or taking care of a loved one with the virus.
One class had about ten kids home these past days. Teachers are at their wits end already. This is like a slap to our faces.

Boston Archdiocese did as suggested above. If you’re vaccinated, you can go mask free. Still not great during Omicron given contagiousness, but certainly better and more sensible than a free for all unmasking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So ashamed of the Diocese right now. Would they have followed an order from a Democratic Governor that forced Catholic schools to survey parents about incorporating more Catholic Social Teaching into the curriculum? Or their dress code? Highly doubt it. Since when is a religiously affiliated school beholden to a state actor? This is nuts!

They just followed a Democrat governor in August 2021 when they were all set to start the yeah with a “mask optional” policy and then Northam issued his mandatory mask order. And yes, the Arlington Diocese complied with that order.

Now the political directive has changed. Ahhh, freedom!

The law is well established that state actors have authority to take protective measures during a public health emergency. That doesn’t mean the authority extends to prohibiting masks at private schools. Outside of this very limited exception for imposing public health measures, the government has no business interfering with private school operations or controlling its decisions.

Where has the government prohibited people from wearing masks?

It prohibits schools from requiring masks. You know what I meant.

Why would the state of Virginia get to tell Catholic schools they can’t require masks? Seriously, what is the legal authority for this?

Who said the Catholic schools want to require masks ?

I guess I figured they would follow the Pope’s position on masks. He has criticized people who protest and refuse masking.

Did the Pope take a position on masking in schools. Can you post that.

Why on earth would any Catholic support something that will spread more disease?

They could have at least required vaccination for those that want to remove masks. Crazy to think there will now be unmasked and unvaxxed kids in these schools!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So ashamed of the Diocese right now. Would they have followed an order from a Democratic Governor that forced Catholic schools to survey parents about incorporating more Catholic Social Teaching into the curriculum? Or their dress code? Highly doubt it. Since when is a religiously affiliated school beholden to a state actor? This is nuts!

They just followed a Democrat governor in August 2021 when they were all set to start the yeah with a “mask optional” policy and then Northam issued his mandatory mask order. And yes, the Arlington Diocese complied with that order.

Now the political directive has changed. Ahhh, freedom!

The law is well established that state actors have authority to take protective measures during a public health emergency. That doesn’t mean the authority extends to prohibiting masks at private schools. Outside of this very limited exception for imposing public health measures, the government has no business interfering with private school operations or controlling its decisions.

Where has the government prohibited people from wearing masks?

It prohibits schools from requiring masks. You know what I meant.

Why would the state of Virginia get to tell Catholic schools they can’t require masks? Seriously, what is the legal authority for this?

Who said the Catholic schools want to require masks ?

I guess I figured they would follow the Pope’s position on masks. He has criticized people who protest and refuse masking.

Did the Pope take a position on masking in schools. Can you post that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So ashamed of the Diocese right now. Would they have followed an order from a Democratic Governor that forced Catholic schools to survey parents about incorporating more Catholic Social Teaching into the curriculum? Or their dress code? Highly doubt it. Since when is a religiously affiliated school beholden to a state actor? This is nuts!

They just followed a Democrat governor in August 2021 when they were all set to start the yeah with a “mask optional” policy and then Northam issued his mandatory mask order. And yes, the Arlington Diocese complied with that order.

Now the political directive has changed. Ahhh, freedom!

The law is well established that state actors have authority to take protective measures during a public health emergency. That doesn’t mean the authority extends to prohibiting masks at private schools. Outside of this very limited exception for imposing public health measures, the government has no business interfering with private school operations or controlling its decisions.

Where has the government prohibited people from wearing masks?

It prohibits schools from requiring masks. You know what I meant.

Why would the state of Virginia get to tell Catholic schools they can’t require masks? Seriously, what is the legal authority for this?

Who said the Catholic schools want to require masks ?

I guess I figured they would follow the Pope’s position on masks. He has criticized people who protest and refuse masking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So ashamed of the Diocese right now. Would they have followed an order from a Democratic Governor that forced Catholic schools to survey parents about incorporating more Catholic Social Teaching into the curriculum? Or their dress code? Highly doubt it. Since when is a religiously affiliated school beholden to a state actor? This is nuts!

They just followed a Democrat governor in August 2021 when they were all set to start the yeah with a “mask optional” policy and then Northam issued his mandatory mask order. And yes, the Arlington Diocese complied with that order.

Now the political directive has changed. Ahhh, freedom!

The law is well established that state actors have authority to take protective measures during a public health emergency. That doesn’t mean the authority extends to prohibiting masks at private schools. Outside of this very limited exception for imposing public health measures, the government has no business interfering with private school operations or controlling its decisions.

Where has the government prohibited people from wearing masks?

It prohibits schools from requiring masks. You know what I meant.

Why would the state of Virginia get to tell Catholic schools they can’t require masks? Seriously, what is the legal authority for this?

Who said the Catholic schools want to require masks ?

The Catholic schools in Arlington are on the side of parents: allowing each family to make the choice that is best for them.

This was always the plan for the Arlington Diocese—they only mandated masks in response to an executive order from Northam.

Now they are simply returning to their original plan. I don’t get the faux-outrage and surprise. We knew all along that this was the preferred path for the Arlington Diocese.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why didn’t they just wait a few weeks? They could have announced that in mid-Feb when cases are expected to be lower that masks would become optional. Instead, they took the most divisive position possible and there will be significant issues at school now. 2 classes of students and it will cause problems. Such an ill-thought out plan.

I think the Governor’s order precluded that option. They’d have to have defied the order and prepare for a legal fight. I’m saddened that it came to this, but I understand why they made the choice they did.

The law is very much on the schools’ side, as this is a clear case of government overreach, particularly where it comes to private and independent schools. We all know there are lots of lawyers around here and nobody has yet to point to any legal authority for the order. The state can’t ban private schools from requiring masks.

Correct. Everyone should understand very clearly that the diocese made this decision. There is no legal precedent that would require they to follow Youngkin’s order. I have no idea why they did this now. It only will cause more division. They could have easily waited for Omicron cases to subside, which will likely be in the next few weeks.