Time to stop school mask mandate
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Example of the 2-inch plastic face mask referenced in the letter.
Dear Editor,
In last week’s “Coosa County News,” Superintendent David Stover responded to some questions about the ongoing mask requirement for our local schools. However, as I move around Coosa County, I hardly see anyone wearing masks at Triple R, Dollar General, the Pig in Goodwater, or even at Walmart or Home Depot when I venture outside of the county.
Yes, some people are still wearing masks; good for them. Especially if they are vulnerable, have underlying health conditions or simply feel safer with a mask. We should not look down on those who choose to mask up or not. Our parents and children at school should be allowed to have the same ability to choose what is best, mask up or not, as everyone else gets to outside of the schools.
On Tuesday, November 2, there were only 125 COVID-19 positive reports for the entire state of Alabama (www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/usa/alabama). The logic that Mr. Stover used that “we don’t have COVID in our schools because we had our masks on since the [day] it started” is flawed, for if we apply the same logic, we could say “if there is little COVID-19 in our state and most people are not wearing masks, then it must be because most people are not wearing masks any longer that the COVID rate has dropped so low.” Everyone knows that is a flawed argument. Again, the same logic would argue that when there was COVID in our schools and we wore masks, it was the fault of everyone wearing masks. Silliness again, we all know. So, here are my reasons why the school board and Mr. Stover need to make the masks optional starting today.
First, I want the people of Coosa County to realize that more than half of the state’s school districts are no longer requiring masks. And literally more and more are dropping the requirement each week. Most of the ones still requiring masks are urban cities with full classrooms and full buses. (Coosa County has neither of these.) Search for “Alabama Education Lab” and you can get a complete list of who is and who is no longer requiring masks. It is time that Coosa County joins that list today. Coosa County is falling behind the lead of these other districts. These other districts have access to the same data that Mr. Stover and the school board have, yet other leaders are recognizing that it is time for masks to become optional, many starting weeks ago.
Secondly, many of these school districts are also not requiring the mask on school buses. They have their own arguments of what to do with the federal mandate from the CDC regarding school buses. Some argue that they provide masks on the buses, but not requiring them to wear the masks in their district, thus they are fulfilling the mandate; others say the federal CDC mandate does not have authority to tell Alabama school districts what to do regarding masks. (Search districts in Alabama like Decatur, Albertville, or Colbert to name a few.) Like many things in the world right now, people argue about the authority of the federal government over state and local government. Either way, talking to school bus drivers, most do not actually enforce the masks on the bus; they have way too much to do to keep the kids safe driving them to and from the schools. There are a few bus drivers who do enforce the masks, but most just make them put on masks as they get off the bus. So, if we are not enforcing the mandate now why should we continue the façade?
There are other reasons, such as the ridiculous “masks” that I have seen some teachers wear that are simply a 2-inch piece of plastic that covers their mouths only, which is as effective as not wearing a mask. Again, if teachers can basically not wear a mask, then why should the children? Nevertheless, this letter is already long enough to continue with other reasons.
I believe we the parents of children of Coosa County schools know what is best of our children, too. It is time to end the mask requirements. Parents, it is time to call and email Mr. Stover and the whole school board your feelings on masks. Maybe you actually still believe masks are helpful; if so, let your voice be heard in support. Either way, remember they are YOUR elected officials, not the owners of the school district. Personally, I think it is time to stop the mask mandate in Coosa County Schools and let it be optional.
Sincerely,
A concerned parent