His legal analysis doesn't make sense. Private schools have way more say over what their students do then public schools. Private schools are free to require masks, require vaccines, require respirators, require everyone float around in a bubble, whatever they want to do.

FCPS Anti-maskers, you’re not going to get what you want in schools. At least not this year. (And rightfully so, since literally no medical/public health body says that we should forego masks in schools).
And your governor 100% knew that when he signed the EO. He was hoping you would be stupid enough to believe that the EO actually meant something, though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t see why Scotty can’t have a conversation and come up with a plan to get rid of masks. Review data in a month or march or something. Acknowledge the situation and come up with a compromise. Is he really wanting masks until June 11?

Of course they have had those discussions- my guess is they’re aiming for spring and it would’ve been earlier but for Omicron. But if there is another variant, we might need masks again. You can’t make firm lines when the pandemic keeps changing. As long as all the health advisers say masks are recommended, it makes sense to keep it. Youngkin is basing his EO on politics and nothing else. The Republican way.

No way they considered a mask off ramp before Youngkin’s EO.

From newly elected Republican VA Delegate and attorney Tim Anderson:

I have received many requests from you regarding how Gov Youngkin’s order applies to school masking requirements.

For private schools - the answer is easy. Private schools were ordered by the former health commissioner to require masking in schools. That order is rescinded. Private schools should rely on the parental choice option and create a policy allowing mask wearing to be optional.

Public schools: This is more complicated. Last year a law was passed (SB1303) that requires public schools (only public - not private) to be open for in-person learning 5 days weeks while requires “ii) provide such in-person instruction in a manner in which it adheres, to the maximum extent practicable, to any currently applicable mitigation strategies for early childhood care and education programs and elementary and secondary schools to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 that have been provided by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

The CDC’s current recommendation related to masking is: CDC recommends universal indoor masking by all* students (ages 2 years and older), staff, teachers, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.

SB1303 expires August 1, 2022 - so after that day - parents without doubt have the option of sending children to schools without a mask. Between now and then - I think elected school boards are going to have to make decisions - and then parents on the other side of that decision will have to bring a court fight. That will take time - Courts do not move fast. So with the 5 months we have left of school this year - I would be surprised for the Supreme Court to provide binding guidance that would apply statewide.

Final answer: For this current year: I think public school boards will decide this answer - and there won’t be enough time to get the fights through the courts.

For next public school year: Parents will decide.

Order 2: https://bit.ly/3FstazH
SB1303: https://bit.ly/3ftkApB
CDC: https://bit.ly/3KeenMp

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of mask or no mask, I think the bigger issue is that the Governor through his EO has basically given permission for families and students to say, “I don’t have to listen to you. I don’t have to follow your rules”. Teachers think student behaviors are difficult now? Just wait.

This was shared on social media:

Dear Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin,

Have you ever been in a classroom when a teacher invites a child over for small group time and the child responds, “my mom said I don’t have to listen to you!”?

Have you ever been in a classroom when a teacher asks a student to put their phone away and they say, “my mom said I could keep it out.”

Or what about when a teacher assigns homework and the student says, “my mom said it was a dumb assignment so I didn’t need to do it.”

I completely understand that parents have different opinions about masks and a zillion other things - but when a governor announces “schools can set policies, but parents can choose not to follow them,” we are setting a very, very dangerous precedent.

For that matter, why does my daughter ever have to follow dress code again? Why does my son have to wear shoes? Heck, why do I need to worry about the attendance policy?

What if a parent tells a kid they can bring a weapon to school for personal protection? Or, like in Michigan, a parent refuses to follow school policy and our children are murdered because of it.

I 100% support parents making the best choices for their students, but that’s why homeschool and private school exist. When we send our kids to their school (or to a restaurant, a public library, or dentist, or…) part of choosing to send them there means we have to follow their rules. That’s something we learn in our citizenship units.

Sincerely,

A mom, educator, and citizen

I hate stupid things like this that people repost. If the rules say mask optional, people ARE following the rules.

This post is saying when a school board has a mask rule and the Governor comes along and says you don't have to, the rule is now you don't have to it is equivalent to when a teacher assigns homework and a mom comes along and says well you don't have to. FOR THE SLOW PEOPLE IN THE BACK!

School board had a mask rule because previous governor mandated them and they followed. Some parents were unhappy but complied. New governor, new rules, no mandate any more, FCPS follows, some parents are still unhappy but comply.

The new governor didn’t enact a mandate. He signed a meaningless EO that contradicts state law, and the state law trumps it.

What state law? Oh, the same that everyone mentions but nobody quotes because it says "masks are recommended"?

The state law requires that schools abide by CDC guidance to the maximum extent possible. Ergo, schools that do not comply with the CDC’s recommendations to wear masks in school would not be adhering to CDC-recommended mitigation to the maximum extent possible, and therefore would not be in compliance with the state law.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of mask or no mask, I think the bigger issue is that the Governor through his EO has basically given permission for families and students to say, “I don’t have to listen to you. I don’t have to follow your rules”. Teachers think student behaviors are difficult now? Just wait.

This was shared on social media:

Dear Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin,

Have you ever been in a classroom when a teacher invites a child over for small group time and the child responds, “my mom said I don’t have to listen to you!”?

Have you ever been in a classroom when a teacher asks a student to put their phone away and they say, “my mom said I could keep it out.”

Or what about when a teacher assigns homework and the student says, “my mom said it was a dumb assignment so I didn’t need to do it.”

I completely understand that parents have different opinions about masks and a zillion other things - but when a governor announces “schools can set policies, but parents can choose not to follow them,” we are setting a very, very dangerous precedent.

For that matter, why does my daughter ever have to follow dress code again? Why does my son have to wear shoes? Heck, why do I need to worry about the attendance policy?

What if a parent tells a kid they can bring a weapon to school for personal protection? Or, like in Michigan, a parent refuses to follow school policy and our children are murdered because of it.

I 100% support parents making the best choices for their students, but that’s why homeschool and private school exist. When we send our kids to their school (or to a restaurant, a public library, or dentist, or…) part of choosing to send them there means we have to follow their rules. That’s something we learn in our citizenship units.

Sincerely,

A mom, educator, and citizen

I hate stupid things like this that people repost. If the rules say mask optional, people ARE following the rules.

This post is saying when a school board has a mask rule and the Governor comes along and says you don't have to, the rule is now you don't have to it is equivalent to when a teacher assigns homework and a mom comes along and says well you don't have to. FOR THE SLOW PEOPLE IN THE BACK!

School board had a mask rule because previous governor mandated them and they followed. Some parents were unhappy but complied. New governor, new rules, no mandate any more, FCPS follows, some parents are still unhappy but comply.

Who says FCPS will follow?

Experience. You will see soon.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of mask or no mask, I think the bigger issue is that the Governor through his EO has basically given permission for families and students to say, “I don’t have to listen to you. I don’t have to follow your rules”. Teachers think student behaviors are difficult now? Just wait.

This was shared on social media:

Dear Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin,

Have you ever been in a classroom when a teacher invites a child over for small group time and the child responds, “my mom said I don’t have to listen to you!”?

Have you ever been in a classroom when a teacher asks a student to put their phone away and they say, “my mom said I could keep it out.”

Or what about when a teacher assigns homework and the student says, “my mom said it was a dumb assignment so I didn’t need to do it.”

I completely understand that parents have different opinions about masks and a zillion other things - but when a governor announces “schools can set policies, but parents can choose not to follow them,” we are setting a very, very dangerous precedent.

For that matter, why does my daughter ever have to follow dress code again? Why does my son have to wear shoes? Heck, why do I need to worry about the attendance policy?

What if a parent tells a kid they can bring a weapon to school for personal protection? Or, like in Michigan, a parent refuses to follow school policy and our children are murdered because of it.

I 100% support parents making the best choices for their students, but that’s why homeschool and private school exist. When we send our kids to their school (or to a restaurant, a public library, or dentist, or…) part of choosing to send them there means we have to follow their rules. That’s something we learn in our citizenship units.

Sincerely,

A mom, educator, and citizen

I hate stupid things like this that people repost. If the rules say mask optional, people ARE following the rules.

This post is saying when a school board has a mask rule and the Governor comes along and says you don't have to, the rule is now you don't have to it is equivalent to when a teacher assigns homework and a mom comes along and says well you don't have to. FOR THE SLOW PEOPLE IN THE BACK!

School board had a mask rule because previous governor mandated them and they followed. Some parents were unhappy but complied. New governor, new rules, no mandate any more, FCPS follows, some parents are still unhappy but comply.

The new governor didn’t enact a mandate. He signed a meaningless EO that contradicts state law, and the state law trumps it.

What state law? Oh, the same that everyone mentions but nobody quotes because it says "masks are recommended"?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some say with the airborne nature of omicron, most masks are just decorative. And most kids aren’t really affected by Covid including omicron in a way that warrants masking and the like. Time to move on. People who need protecting, have vaccines now. Kids don’t need masks.

“Some say” LOL

Exactly. Who is “some”? Steve Bannon?

CNN medical analyst?

"Cloth masks are little more than facial decorations. There's no place for them in light of Omicron,"

https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/24/health/cloth-mask-omicron-variant-wellness/index.html

The doc you quote (Wen, at GWU) very clearly advocates for wearing a better mask—not ditching masks altogether because some types are not effective against omicron. She also has said many times that everyone—including kids—DO need to be wearing masks. Your original post was framed as an argument to do away with masking but the stance of expert you cite to back up your post couldn’t be further from that.

Have you seen the masks kids wear at school and how they wear them? I’d agree that a class room full of kids wearing N95s would be ideal but that just isn’t the case and won’t be. But let’s be realistic on what we are protecting kids from with these masks i these ideal conditions… a cold equivalent in most cases, while vaccines are available to kids and parents alike to protect themselves. Now kids will be strapped up all day in n95s for something people can protect themselves against and rarely even affects kids?

Yes. Because kids themselves can get pretty sick and even die. Even if rare, I’m all for taking easy steps to avoid that, no matter how rare. Also, unmasking kids in schools means that all of those unmasked kids who pick up the virus will then take it home and everywhere else they go, contributing to the spread to susceptible/vulnerable people

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some say with the airborne nature of omicron, most masks are just decorative. And most kids aren’t really affected by Covid including omicron in a way that warrants masking and the like. Time to move on. People who need protecting, have vaccines now. Kids don’t need masks.

“Some say” LOL

Exactly. Who is “some”? Steve Bannon?

CNN medical analyst?

"Cloth masks are little more than facial decorations. There's no place for them in light of Omicron,"

https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/24/health/cloth-mask-omicron-variant-wellness/index.html

The doc you quote (Wen, at GWU) very clearly advocates for wearing a better mask—not ditching masks altogether because some types are not effective against omicron. She also has said many times that everyone—including kids—DO need to be wearing masks. Your original post was framed as an argument to do away with masking but the stance of expert you cite to back up your post couldn’t be further from that.

Have you seen the masks kids wear at school and how they wear them? I’d agree that a class room full of kids wearing N95s would be ideal but that just isn’t the case and won’t be. But let’s be realistic on what we are protecting kids from with these masks i these ideal conditions… a cold equivalent in most cases, while vaccines are available to kids and parents alike to protect themselves. Now kids will be strapped up all day in n95s for something people can protect themselves against and rarely even affects kids?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of mask or no mask, I think the bigger issue is that the Governor through his EO has basically given permission for families and students to say, “I don’t have to listen to you. I don’t have to follow your rules”. Teachers think student behaviors are difficult now? Just wait.

This was shared on social media:

Dear Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin,

Have you ever been in a classroom when a teacher invites a child over for small group time and the child responds, “my mom said I don’t have to listen to you!”?

Have you ever been in a classroom when a teacher asks a student to put their phone away and they say, “my mom said I could keep it out.”

Or what about when a teacher assigns homework and the student says, “my mom said it was a dumb assignment so I didn’t need to do it.”

I completely understand that parents have different opinions about masks and a zillion other things - but when a governor announces “schools can set policies, but parents can choose not to follow them,” we are setting a very, very dangerous precedent.

For that matter, why does my daughter ever have to follow dress code again? Why does my son have to wear shoes? Heck, why do I need to worry about the attendance policy?

What if a parent tells a kid they can bring a weapon to school for personal protection? Or, like in Michigan, a parent refuses to follow school policy and our children are murdered because of it.

I 100% support parents making the best choices for their students, but that’s why homeschool and private school exist. When we send our kids to their school (or to a restaurant, a public library, or dentist, or…) part of choosing to send them there means we have to follow their rules. That’s something we learn in our citizenship units.

Sincerely,

A mom, educator, and citizen

I hate stupid things like this that people repost. If the rules say mask optional, people ARE following the rules.

This post is saying when a school board has a mask rule and the Governor comes along and says you don't have to, the rule is now you don't have to it is equivalent to when a teacher assigns homework and a mom comes along and says well you don't have to. FOR THE SLOW PEOPLE IN THE BACK!

School board had a mask rule because previous governor mandated them and they followed. Some parents were unhappy but complied. New governor, new rules, no mandate any more, FCPS follows, some parents are still unhappy but comply.

The new governor didn’t enact a mandate. He signed a meaningless EO that contradicts state law, and the state law trumps it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of mask or no mask, I think the bigger issue is that the Governor through his EO has basically given permission for families and students to say, “I don’t have to listen to you. I don’t have to follow your rules”. Teachers think student behaviors are difficult now? Just wait.

This was shared on social media:

Dear Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin,

Have you ever been in a classroom when a teacher invites a child over for small group time and the child responds, “my mom said I don’t have to listen to you!”?

Have you ever been in a classroom when a teacher asks a student to put their phone away and they say, “my mom said I could keep it out.”

Or what about when a teacher assigns homework and the student says, “my mom said it was a dumb assignment so I didn’t need to do it.”

I completely understand that parents have different opinions about masks and a zillion other things - but when a governor announces “schools can set policies, but parents can choose not to follow them,” we are setting a very, very dangerous precedent.

For that matter, why does my daughter ever have to follow dress code again? Why does my son have to wear shoes? Heck, why do I need to worry about the attendance policy?

What if a parent tells a kid they can bring a weapon to school for personal protection? Or, like in Michigan, a parent refuses to follow school policy and our children are murdered because of it.

I 100% support parents making the best choices for their students, but that’s why homeschool and private school exist. When we send our kids to their school (or to a restaurant, a public library, or dentist, or…) part of choosing to send them there means we have to follow their rules. That’s something we learn in our citizenship units.

Sincerely,

A mom, educator, and citizen

I hate stupid things like this that people repost. If the rules say mask optional, people ARE following the rules.

This post is saying when a school board has a mask rule and the Governor comes along and says you don't have to, the rule is now you don't have to it is equivalent to when a teacher assigns homework and a mom comes along and says well you don't have to. FOR THE SLOW PEOPLE IN THE BACK!

School board had a mask rule because previous governor mandated them and they followed. Some parents were unhappy but complied. New governor, new rules, no mandate any more, FCPS follows, some parents are still unhappy but comply.

Who says FCPS will follow?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some say with the airborne nature of omicron, most masks are just decorative. And most kids aren’t really affected by Covid including omicron in a way that warrants masking and the like. Time to move on. People who need protecting, have vaccines now. Kids don’t need masks.

“Some say” LOL

Exactly. Who is “some”? Steve Bannon?

CNN medical analyst?

"Cloth masks are little more than facial decorations. There's no place for them in light of Omicron,"

https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/24/health/cloth-mask-omicron-variant-wellness/index.html

The doc you quote (Wen, at GWU) very clearly advocates for wearing a better mask—not ditching masks altogether because some types are not effective against omicron. She also has said many times that everyone—including kids—DO need to be wearing masks. Your original post was framed as an argument to do away with masking but the stance of expert you cite to back up your post couldn’t be further from that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of mask or no mask, I think the bigger issue is that the Governor through his EO has basically given permission for families and students to say, “I don’t have to listen to you. I don’t have to follow your rules”. Teachers think student behaviors are difficult now? Just wait.

This was shared on social media:

Dear Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin,

Have you ever been in a classroom when a teacher invites a child over for small group time and the child responds, “my mom said I don’t have to listen to you!”?

Have you ever been in a classroom when a teacher asks a student to put their phone away and they say, “my mom said I could keep it out.”

Or what about when a teacher assigns homework and the student says, “my mom said it was a dumb assignment so I didn’t need to do it.”

I completely understand that parents have different opinions about masks and a zillion other things - but when a governor announces “schools can set policies, but parents can choose not to follow them,” we are setting a very, very dangerous precedent.

For that matter, why does my daughter ever have to follow dress code again? Why does my son have to wear shoes? Heck, why do I need to worry about the attendance policy?

What if a parent tells a kid they can bring a weapon to school for personal protection? Or, like in Michigan, a parent refuses to follow school policy and our children are murdered because of it.

I 100% support parents making the best choices for their students, but that’s why homeschool and private school exist. When we send our kids to their school (or to a restaurant, a public library, or dentist, or…) part of choosing to send them there means we have to follow their rules. That’s something we learn in our citizenship units.

Sincerely,

A mom, educator, and citizen

I hate stupid things like this that people repost. If the rules say mask optional, people ARE following the rules.

This post is saying when a school board has a mask rule and the Governor comes along and says you don't have to, the rule is now you don't have to it is equivalent to when a teacher assigns homework and a mom comes along and says well you don't have to. FOR THE SLOW PEOPLE IN THE BACK!

School board had a mask rule because previous governor mandated them and they followed. Some parents were unhappy but complied. New governor, new rules, no mandate any more, FCPS follows, some parents are still unhappy but comply.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t see why Scotty can’t have a conversation and come up with a plan to get rid of masks. Review data in a month or march or something. Acknowledge the situation and come up with a compromise. Is he really wanting masks until June 11?

Of course they have had those discussions- my guess is they’re aiming for spring and it would’ve been earlier but for Omicron. But if there is another variant, we might need masks again. You can’t make firm lines when the pandemic keeps changing. As long as all the health advisers say masks are recommended, it makes sense to keep it. Youngkin is basing his EO on politics and nothing else. The Republican way.

Of course, there is always another variant looming, and the pandemic keeps changing, so therefore, we need to stay in masks indefinitely. This is why long time Democrats are switching sides. We trust in the vaccines... I wish you guys realized that they are working remarkably well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some say with the airborne nature of omicron, most masks are just decorative. And most kids aren’t really affected by Covid including omicron in a way that warrants masking and the like. Time to move on. People who need protecting, have vaccines now. Kids don’t need masks.

“Some say” LOL

Exactly. Who is “some”? Steve Bannon?

CNN medical analyst?

"Cloth masks are little more than facial decorations. There's no place for them in light of Omicron,"

https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/24/health/cloth-mask-omicron-variant-wellness/index.html