Children are largely unaffected by COVID with an infection fatality rate and hospitalization rate of virtually 0. This is an established scientific fact recognized by the CDC. Kids are less likely to be negatively impacted by COVID than vaccinated adults. Cloth and fabric masks have not been statistically proven to protect the wearer in any clinical trials. As per FDA, facemasks are designated as experimental for emergency use with no long term safety trials for child daily use. Masks add no advantage of protection for children but they certainly have a negative impact on all of our kids as stated by the countless caring parents advocating for their kids.
Mask Adverse Events:
Children have suffered greatly with the pandemic response. Pediatric nurses and doctors have identified significantly increased reporting rates of the following adverse incidence for the child population related to mask wearing:
Headaches and migraines
Dizziness
Lethargy
Bloody Nose
Skin lesions, rashes and acne on the face
Skin breakdown behind the ears
Poor dentition - increased cavities, mouth sores and abscesses
Reduced ability to concentrate
Cognitive decline
Exacerbation of mental health issues including anxiety and depression
Difficulty breathing
Difficulty learning
Conclusion of masks and data:
Clearly the risk of serious side effects suffered by our children outweigh the perceived benefits of continued mask wearing. To justify the decision to mask the students we will need the following from the district.
Data that provides proof in which masks benefit the children in the districts physically and medically.
Proof that masks cause no harm to the students emotionally, mentally and physically.
A tally from the nurse’s log of the number of incidence of mask related problems as listed above for the in-person school year
A school study that shows the communication between kids, teacher, and peers have not been adversely affected by masks.
Proof the children with 504’s and IEP’s have not declined in learning this school year with the implementation of masks.
In Conclusion:
Until those results are provided and reviewed by the parents/guardians of each child, there is no right for the board to continue these harmful mask policies in the school. We do not consent and the BOE does have the power and obligation to make the change in school policy to protect the children from harm.
The Board of Education can make a return to school plan mask-optional citing that parents are medical advocates for their own children and will decide what’s the best interest of their children’s health. The mask optional return to school plans have been presented in other districts. See www.unmasknjschools.com/plan. What is the reasoning for the plan that you chose instead of one of the other options with less restrictive language?
And most importantly who will accept liability for the countless doctor visits and lost learning time to students that have occurred due to the mask the past school year? If the school is not liable then we can’t trust them to make the medical decisions for our children. With accountability comes liability.