This Introduction Is Their Story
Parent protests are erupting at many schools everywhere. The voices of mothers and fathers ring out in unison with other parents demanding their brand of justice.
These impassioned parents are not speaking out against the educational inequalities and inequities that have remained pervasive in many schools throughout the United States.
The emotional screams of these enraged parents are not confronting the problem of underfunding that so many schools have to constantly deal with.
Infuriated mothers and fathers with eyes filled with fury are not advocating for the achievement gap that has existed for decades among diverse student populations to be narrowed.
Loud organized protesting parent groups are not pleading for increased mental and behavioral health services for students who need these designated interventions and attend at-risk schools.
Parents are holding signs containing demands that have nothing to do with soliciting increased supports for students who receive special education services.
These indignant men and women are not expressing their desire for reduced class sizes neither are they petitioning for safer school environments.
Instead, these parents do not want their children wearing masks at school.
This Is What Matters the Most To Them
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Despite the revised masking guidelines provided by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)due to the rapidly spreading and aggressive Delta variant, these parents do not want their children to wear a mask at school.
Even though the cases of young, unvaccinated children contracting the coronavirus are growing and hospitalizations are mounting, these outspoken parents do not want their children to wear a mask at school.
Regardless of the testimonials of people who have lost family members due to the coronavirus including younger loved ones, these disgruntled parents do not want their children to wear a mask at school.
The only thing that matters to these parents is their ambivalent desire: wanting what they want and getting what they don’t want.
As A Nation, What Should We Do?
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Here is the solution that I offer.
“Love must prevail.”
Members of our national and global society have a responsibility to take care of our youngest members. Love and concern for our neighbors are unconditionally spread, parents and other resisters need to continue to be educated about the seriousness of the coronavirus and the precautions needed to preserve the safety of loved ones.
Loving and protecting our children and youth includes schools adhering to guidelines to keep them safe. The implementation of school-wide mask policies is what is needed to support this.
There is another important consideration that has not risen to the forefront of conversations related to students and masks. Principals, teachers, and schools have the legal responsibility to function
“in loco parentis”.
This means that school officials have the right and responsibility to function as the parent while students attend.
Therefore, if any student attends a school, they remain obligated to abide by the rules and policies outlined by the school or school district.
If a school implements a new or revised mask policy, students will have no other choice than to abide by this rule.
And there will be nothing that parents can do about it.
Photo by Guillermo Latorre on Unsplash
Here is my golden ticket that helps me accomplish my mission.
Dr. Deborah M. Vereen is a retired Teacher and School Administrator. Her website is www.Drdeborahmvereen.com and her YouTube Channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS1DPhBeA29UlybU9jzDkdQ.
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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Photo credit: Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash