SEYMOUR — A group of parents asked the board of education to remove mask requirements when students go back to school in the fall, or at least give parents the right to choose whether to mask their kids.
The requests were made during the June 22 meeting of the Seymour Board of Education.
Members of the school board didn’t address the concerns during the meeting.
However, earlier in the day, outgoing Superintendent of Schools Michael Wilson sent a communication to all parents regarding the district’s “Safe Return to School Plan” for fall. The message put the onus on the higher ups when it comes to kids wearing masks in the fall.
“Please understand that we would love nothing more than for our students to not have to wear masks for the 2021 – 2022 school year. However, as a school district, we must follow the guidance of the State Department of Education, the State Department of Health, and the Naugatuck Valley Health Department. As of today, their guidance and directive still remains the same in terms of masks being mandatory. We have been told at this time masks are still required while still in school buildings.”
Connecticut is in good shape in terms of controlling the COVID-19 virus and many restrictions have been lifted. Recent studies have shown new vaccinations to be remarkably well.
Children under 12 — an age group not as impacted by the virus as seriously as older adults — are not yet eligible to receive vaccinations. In an article published June 29, the Associated Press reported that Gov. Ned Lamont said he’s not ready to lift the mandate in schools.
But Lamont signaled a change in policy is possible before students go back to school.
The Democrat said his administration is still “having conversations” with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and is awaiting new guidance that’s expected in a couple weeks.
At the June 22 Seymour school board meeting, a handful of concerned moms, calling themselves “mama bears,” urged the board to “un-muzzle our kids.”
Casey Grenier, a mother of an 18-year-old and an eight-year old, said masks harm children and aren’t backed up by science.
Numerous scientific studies have shown properly-worn masks are effective at reducing the transmission of COVID-19.
A report issued June 30 from Duke University looking at schools in North Carolina provided additional evidence that wearing masks reduces transmission of the virus.
Grenier said it’s time to drop the masks in school. She tied mask mandates to ulterior motives, such as the fear of losing federal funding.
“This summer our children will be outside breathing fresh air, but they will be forced to be muzzled this fall. You are cultivating a culture that schools will be viewed as prisons and suffocation and outside activities away from school will be viewed as freedom. Be the change in this state. Allowing our children to breathe should be your top priority, don’t sell out our kids to gain federal funding,” Grenier said.
Other moms talked about the psychological impact the pandemic is having on children. Kids are scared and confused, they said.
Sadie Patrick said she recently took her five-year old to play outside at the Bungay School playground. Her son realized he wasn’t wearing his mask and was afraid he wouldn’t be allowed to play there. When Patrick assured him he was outside and it was okay to not wear a mask, the child had “a minor panic attack.”
“He was terrified to play outside without a mask, which is why I had to speak out,” Patrick said. “Take the muzzles off of our kids. The average drug store masks are largely ineffective and don’t function after 20 minutes of saturation after they become dirty and moist. Get these masks off our kids’ faces. Do right and stand by our kids. Give us parents the right to decide what’s best for our kids.”
Experts recommend caring for your masks, which includes washing them and using new masks if one becomes dirty.
A few other parents urged the board to at least make mask-wearing optional, giving parents the power to decide if their children should wear them to school.
