As a member of the healthcare field my wife and I are keeping our children home and out of school, up until vaccines are made available to those under 12. At which point we will allow our children to return to school, but will tell them to remain masked as much as possible.
Our local schools claimed to have mask mandates prior to the CDC's announcement, but they didnt really. They allowed children to remove masks when seated at desks with plexiglass providers, and when crowded into the cafeteria for lunch. So they were essentially maskless the majority of the day. Which is why our children have been out of school this entire time.
The only reason my kids are at school is because we live in Washington (state) and our OSPI and Governor have done a phenomenal job. My husband is also an elementary teacher. Our 2 kindergarteners have been in person in some capacity since October, and have been 2 days a week since shortly after that. Their rules are so stringent, masks, handwashing/sanitizing, small carefully tracked cohorts, there is one way traffic to walk around the outside of the building when going anywhere. They've done a phenomenal job.
My daughter is a 6th grader in a different district, but only a few miles away from husband and the boys). It's the same great story there. When she was preparing to go back 2 mornings a week in February, the associate principal specifically said "if your student can't or won't wear a mask and follow the rules consistently, then they should continue with cohort c (the fully online group). We simply do not have any flexibility in masking." As parents who are listening to the science (and have history and education in Education and Healthcare, as well as science), love people, and also want to keep" our" people safe, that was what we needed to hear. Those words (and all the measures in place) are what we needed. Our daughter is now back 4 days a week, and doing so much better socially, academically and emotionally. While there have been isolated cases at each of their schools, there has been no spread (that has been tracked) because of the measures in place.
Our kids are making and meeting new friends, and loving school and learning more (again). All of that was/is only possible because we see and believe they are as safe as they can be at school. Most of their teachers are now vaccinated, our 12 year old got her first shot last Thursday (as soon as she could in our state).
I wish every kid could have the experience my kids have in the last few months. Douglas, I admire and support the wise decisions your making to keep your family safe. Thank you for your work and for caring for people.
I really don't understand not only pulling requirements but stating they will fine anyone enforcing it in their location. I'm lucky that at my work we are still enforcing wearing masks for our employees and our customers (I am located in NC). I worry about those who are still unvaccinated. I worry about kids under 12. I worry about kids under 16 who haven't had a chance to get their vaccine yet. I have a coworker who refuses to get vaccinated until it's "officially approved by the FDA, not just emergency-approved"... I've tried to explain why she should just go get it, for her grandkids sake at least! I was lucky to get vaccinated early as a healthcare professional, and I've been able to keep my kids safe and at home, but I know they need to get back to school and socialization. As soon as they turn 12 they are getting vaccinated and then off to middle school they go.
Good luck to us all! We are in this together. Thank you for being outspoken about what the science is telling us, even if it's not what politicians are saying. Keep up the good fight!
As a member of the healthcare field my wife and I are keeping our children home and out of school, up until vaccines are made available to those under 12. At which point we will allow our children to return to school, but will tell them to remain masked as much as possible.
Our local schools claimed to have mask mandates prior to the CDC's announcement, but they didnt really. They allowed children to remove masks when seated at desks with plexiglass providers, and when crowded into the cafeteria for lunch. So they were essentially maskless the majority of the day. Which is why our children have been out of school this entire time.
The only reason my kids are at school is because we live in Washington (state) and our OSPI and Governor have done a phenomenal job. My husband is also an elementary teacher. Our 2 kindergarteners have been in person in some capacity since October, and have been 2 days a week since shortly after that. Their rules are so stringent, masks, handwashing/sanitizing, small carefully tracked cohorts, there is one way traffic to walk around the outside of the building when going anywhere. They've done a phenomenal job.
My daughter is a 6th grader in a different district, but only a few miles away from husband and the boys). It's the same great story there. When she was preparing to go back 2 mornings a week in February, the associate principal specifically said "if your student can't or won't wear a mask and follow the rules consistently, then they should continue with cohort c (the fully online group). We simply do not have any flexibility in masking." As parents who are listening to the science (and have history and education in Education and Healthcare, as well as science), love people, and also want to keep" our" people safe, that was what we needed to hear. Those words (and all the measures in place) are what we needed. Our daughter is now back 4 days a week, and doing so much better socially, academically and emotionally. While there have been isolated cases at each of their schools, there has been no spread (that has been tracked) because of the measures in place.
Our kids are making and meeting new friends, and loving school and learning more (again). All of that was/is only possible because we see and believe they are as safe as they can be at school. Most of their teachers are now vaccinated, our 12 year old got her first shot last Thursday (as soon as she could in our state).
I wish every kid could have the experience my kids have in the last few months. Douglas, I admire and support the wise decisions your making to keep your family safe. Thank you for your work and for caring for people.
I really don't understand not only pulling requirements but stating they will fine anyone enforcing it in their location. I'm lucky that at my work we are still enforcing wearing masks for our employees and our customers (I am located in NC). I worry about those who are still unvaccinated. I worry about kids under 12. I worry about kids under 16 who haven't had a chance to get their vaccine yet. I have a coworker who refuses to get vaccinated until it's "officially approved by the FDA, not just emergency-approved"... I've tried to explain why she should just go get it, for her grandkids sake at least! I was lucky to get vaccinated early as a healthcare professional, and I've been able to keep my kids safe and at home, but I know they need to get back to school and socialization. As soon as they turn 12 they are getting vaccinated and then off to middle school they go.
Good luck to us all! We are in this together. Thank you for being outspoken about what the science is telling us, even if it's not what politicians are saying. Keep up the good fight!
Thank you. It’s a strange time and so politically motivated. I’m struggling too.