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Should Kids Have to Wear Masks in Schools? Here's Why This Preschool Teacher Dad Says No (What Do You Think?) by Mike Prochaska

Opinion

June 12, 2021

Should Kids Have to Wear Masks in Schools? Here's Why This Preschool Teacher Dad Says No (What Do You Think?)

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As a preschool teacher and as a dad, I'm hoping that in the fall, our kids won’t have to wear masks to school. I think that if parents get vaccinated, children under the age of 12 shouldn’t have to wear masks to school. Is it really fair to tell adults they don’t have to wear masks, but then make children wear them all day at school or daycare? In my opinion, no.

The COVID-19 school guidelines passed down by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) all across the nation are unnecessarily harming our kids by spreading more fear and confusion, in my opinion. Our kids have been traumatized as much as adults, if not more, by the pandemic. It time to make sure the next school year is as normal as we can make it.

Many school districts and local health departments are basing their face mask policies on this CDC guidance. But the CDC has flip-flopped on its position several times since March of 2020, leaving many confused. Now the CDC is recommending that children wear masks all day long in schools, despite the fact that these practices are not evidence-based and there's no long-term safety data on such practices. The small amount of children who contract COVID, only 0.00 percent to 0.19 percent of children are dying from it. Ten states have reported no child deaths. Children are at extremely low risk of harm from COVID with a 99.99 percent recovery rate.

For kids, there’s nothing more important than facial expressions, and I missed seeing their little faces at work. I am hoping that kids under 12 get exempt from mask mandate at school so school can go back to normal for them. I want to urge parents to let their voices be heard and ask administrators, governors and state representatives to to do their part to ensure that our schools are returned to normal for the 2021-22 school year.

In the past, we have trusted parents to make responsible choices for their children – choices like keeping kids home when they're sick. The presence of a virus that barely affects children is no reason to remove parents' choice now that most the teachers have been vaccinated. It's time to make sure the next school year is normal for all our kids.

What do YOU think? Share your thoughts below.

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Julie Rose

I appreciate you feel that way but I’m not so sure. Want to keep kids safe. ❤️

Like Reply 2 5 years ago

I understand I worried about kids mental health too but I understand. lwant them to be safe to but I also want them to be happy well adjusted kids who want to goto school. It Illinois moving to stage 5 and adults don’t need to wear masks I don’t think our youngest population that has had so much anxiety and depression because school not that same as it was before. It time for our children’s lives to go back to normal too!

Like Reply 1 5 years ago

Renée LaBossiere

I would definitely have to agree. I do believe it's going to effect our children's mental health in the long run. It's not developmentally appropriate to cover half their faces or ours when we're born to look for emotional facial cues.

Like Reply 3 5 years ago

Thanks you for sharing your views!

I miss seeing the kids smiling too!

Like Reply 5 years ago

Elisa Schmitz

Thanks for raising this question, Mike Prochaska . What a complicated situation. On the one hand, kids need to be safe, and without being able to be vaccinated, they are still at risk. And on the other hand, you want kids to have as "normal" a life as possible, and wearing masks is a challenge to that. I have spoken to many parents of younger kids, who have told me that their kids (like ages 4 and younger) don't realize that mask wearing is not normal. It's just something they have to do to be healthy. But for kids who are old enough to know life before COVID, it's definitely a change. I am so grateful that my kids are young adults who can understand the risks and benefits, etc. I really feel for parents and kids alike, having to work this all out. It's not easy!

Elisa A. Schmitz 30Seconds that is the intresting part I noticed too, the preschools and toddlers are totally fine with the masks. I see it in the school age kids and middle schoolers. Everyone was worried the daycare age wouldn’t keep their masks on but most kids that age just wanted to be at school. (At least what I saw). But I seen a lot of school age kids stuggling with the Covid protols at school. Loke only can play with certain kids at recess beduase of Grouping and always having to wear a mask and teachers yelling at them for geting to close to each other. I never once at work had to tell a kid they where to close to each other while they where playing. We didn’t keep them 6 feet apart from each other that not how kids operate. While my son would be told
To stay farther away from kids at school! Most of whom where at my house playing with him after school with no mask and for sure as hell no 6 feet apart. Kids are pack animals! Lol

Kristan Wager xome on! Share your views! Donna John Teacher Karen @PlayMonsterFun

Alan Guttman

It's up to the adults to give informed answers vs. answers that our children want to hear or that we would like to give them. As early caregivers, educators, and "preschool teachers" - parents may look to us and respect the guidance we provide. And so, what we share with or advise parents and families to do should be more than opinion. And so ...this former preschool teacher....and dad urges others in our field to be informed and responsible stewards for the children and families we serve and ensure that parents and families have the information they need to make decisions for their children. Here's additional guidance for children and families from Public health expert and mom of three, Keri Althoff: "It's important to remember our kids are still vulnerable until they are eligible for the protection that the vaccines provide. So there's a lot that still goes into family decision-making."

Cassiday

We have to follow the science to get out of the pandemic. We’re not done with it (or it’s not done with us) until everyone is protected.

Which science for every Day I read different science. I also want
To remind each other to be nice to each other. We all want what it best for our kids. Everyone don’t have to agree and that ok. As. I shared this tip I seen the ugliest of people come out! It ok to disagree but it not ok to call anyone names just because u disagree. In the word of president obama to hi not low. I know sometimes
It hard but We all want what best for the kiddos.

Thanks for your comments on this very important topic. I believe that we need to be following the science and the CDC recommendations. This is a fluid and evolving situation, and even the CDC does not always have all the answers. However, I believe they are our best resource during these very difficult times. That's why I encourage everyone to check the CDC website and guidelines carefully for updates. Here's a link to the CDC's current guidance for K-12 school safety operational strategy: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-n...

I'm more alarmed with the following stats from CDC: Their data shows a 24% increase in emergency room mental health visits for children ages 5 to 11, compared to 2019.
And, when asked last summer, 1 in 4 young adults had contemplated suicide in the previous month. Very troubling

stainlesssteel2021

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