School students in the US are being caught in a political battle over masks. Though wearing masks is an important way of preventing the spread of the coronavirus, some Republican leaders are trying to prevent school districts from requiring masks.
Most people know that Covid-19 is spread mainly through droplets in the air. These droplets come from the mouth and nose when we cough, sneeze, or even talk. That’s why wearing a mask is a powerful way of stopping the spread of the virus.
That’s important in places where there aren’t enough vaccines. And it’s especially important for children, who aren’t yet allowed to get vaccinated.
(Source: Dan Gaken [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons.)
In spite of this, many Republican leaders are trying to stop school districts from requiring students to wear masks. Most of these efforts are happening in states where the coronavirus is spreading extremely quickly.
Across the United States, the numbers of coronavirus cases are rising rapidly again. The Delta variant is the most common version of the coronavirus in the US. It spreads more easily and causes far more serious health problems then most other versions of the coronavirus.
(Source: Ythlev [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons.)
In Mississippi, Florida, Texas, and other states, the virus is spreading so quickly and affecting so many people that hospitals are nearly full. The health care system is having trouble keeping up with all the cases.
Even so, governors in Florida and Texas are trying to stop school districts from requiring students to wear masks. For these Republican governors, forcing students to wear masks isn’t seen as a response to a health crisis affecting everyone, but as a question of freedom and individual rights.
Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, says when school districts require masks, it interferes with the rights of parents to decide how to manage their children’s health.
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Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis (above), says when school districts require masks, it interferes with the rights of parents to decide how to manage their children’s health.
But Mr. DeSantis and Texas Governor Greg Abbott will also be running for re-election next year. Many people believe they’re taking strong anti-mask positions to win votes from Republicans who supported Ex-President Donald Trump in the last election.
Though the anti-mask position may be popular with some Republicans, research shows that most parents in Florida, Texas, and across the US are in favor of requiring masks.
In Texas, several school districts are fighting Mr. Abbott’s plan. The situation will likely be decided in court. For now, the Texas Supreme Court chose not to support the governor’s position.
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In Texas, several school districts are fighting Mr. Abbott’s plan. The situation will likely be decided in court. For now, the Texas Supreme Court chose not to support the governor’s position. Above, Mr. Abbott a few days before he got Covid-19.
The leaders of the largest school districts in Florida have said that they will require students to wear masks, in spite of the governor’s rules. Mr. DeSantis says the state will punish these districts by cutting the amount of money the state gives them.
President Joe Biden, who supports mask-wearing, says the US government will help districts that have lost money for requiring masks.
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The leaders of the largest school districts in Florida have said that they will require students to wear masks, in spite of the governor’s rules. Above, students arrive for the first day of classes at a public school in Miami Lakes, Florida on Monday.
Though the coronavirus is more likely to affect adults, the numbers of children affected by the virus are growing. About 20% of new coronavirus cases are children.
Though students in many states have not yet returned to school this fall, already there are tens of thousands of students in quarantine because they have either gotten Covid-19, or been close to someone with the illness. In Mississippi alone, over 20,000 students are quarantining.
The subject of whether masks should be required in schools is far from settled. At the heart of the problem is the difficult question: Which is more important – individual freedoms or the health and safety of everyone?
Did You Know…?
On August 17, Mr. Abbott got Covid-19, even though he had already been vaccinated. Mr. Abbott took special medicine to fight the illness, and now seems to be doing better.
Note: The coronavirus pandemic can be confusing and scary. Though we know many of the steps needed to control it, the effects of the virus are very real and very serious. If this article brings up questions or worries for you, be sure to discuss them with an adult you trust.