Posted on 09/17/2021 11:22:40 AM PDT by lightman
An army of child welfare advocates are striking back at those who are making claims that requiring children to wear masks in school during a pandemic is a form of child abuse.
A statement issued by three dozen child welfare organizations and advocates said they are “deeply troubled by a growing chorus of Pennsylvanians, including some elected officials, who are equating child abuse with a child wearing a face covering intended to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”
It goes on to say such claims “brazenly diminish the harsh reality of child abuse” and shows “callous disregard” for the lifelong physical, emotional and economic scars such abuse leaves.
“There is nothing in Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law that would, in any way, equate child abuse with a child wearing a face covering during a global pandemic,” states the sharply worded statement (see below) released on Friday by the Berks County-based Center for Children’s Justice.
The statement comes in response to criticisms being made in public forums about Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam’s Aug. 31 order requiring, with some limited exceptions, that masks be worn inside school and in child care centers.
Gov. Tom Wolf directed Beam to issue that order after the General Assembly last month declined his request to return to session to vote on a statewide mask mandate. Wolf said he saw it as a way to keep students in school for in-person instruction.
Already this school year, schools have had to close or cancel sporting events due to outbreaks of the virus. That includes Northern York School District which didn’t enforce its mask mandate until Thursday and this week had to switch to remote learning at its high school and middle school due to large numbers of confirmed and pending cases. It also forced the cancellation of last week’s highly anticipated matchup of rivals Bishop McDevitt and Harrisburg High’s football teams.
So far this school year, more than 19,800 COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania involved children between the ages of 5 and 18, according to the state Department of Health’s latest data released on Thursday. That includes 7,215 cases from last week.
Opponents of school mask mandates justify their positions with statistics, studies, and claims that suggest mask-wearing is harmful to children. Statements to that effect are posted on social media and protest signs and presented during public comment sessions during area school board meetings.
At Thursday’s West Shore School Board meeting, a father made the argument that the district’s compliance with the Wolf Administration’s mask order means children likely are wearing moisture-contaminated masks that they are not properly handling. He referred to the masks as “chin diapers.
“If I left my child in a soiled diaper all day, I would hope children and youth services would be called on me to protect my child,” he said, and later asked: “Is children and youth services an option for us if we have concerns over about soiled, contaminated masks being on their faces for too long?”
Rep. Russ Diamond, R-Lebanon County, posted a meme on social media he created showing a picture of a mask with a red diagonal line across it that states, “A Masked Child is an Abused Child.”
Rep. Russ Diamond, R-Lebanon County, created this meme that he admits may be "a little over the top" but said it was intended to get people thinking about the impact of masking in school may be having on children. Screenshot from Diamond's Twitter account
Diamond said the meme is intended to start a conversation about the efficacy of masks as well as what he says are potential detrimental consequences they may have on children’s development. He said there are studies out there that argue either way.
“People need to think about these things and sometimes it takes somebody to say something that’s a little over the top in order for people to seriously think about it,” Diamond said. “That’s kinda my job is to make people think.”
Besides, he said Pennsylvania’s definition of child abuse includes situations where a child’s breathing is restricted and “if there is a belief out there this is restricting children’s breathing, well then maybe they should follow that up with a complaint to children and youth.”
Cathleen Palm, founder and executive director of the Center for Children’s Justice, said the child welfare system is already stretched thin and exists to respond to reports of abused children.
“The child welfare system, in no way, should be the place a parent or the public turn to litigate frustrations that are simply and solely related to COVID-19 related masking policies – whether that frustration links back to a child being required to wear a mask or a child being permitted to go without a mask,” Palm said. “Each of us should do our part to speak up for the child being abused and to in no way distract attention or resources away from that child.”
In their statement, the child welfare advocates state that they understand how the COVID-19 mitigation strategies have frayed nerves and patience but adds, “even in these turbulent times, however, we cannot excuse or minimize child abuse. To those who want to minimize children or manipulate the abused child, be assured we are watching.”
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1984 new speak.
It IS child abuse!
Mask mandate my ass. my child will not go to school with a mask.
that is completely wrong, the science shows that mask wearing is extremely harmful, especially to very young children.
I posted a thread on this several months ago after I smiled at a small child sitting in a grocery cart. When the child did not respond at all I briefly wondered if they were retarded, but realized that it was because of the mask I was required to wear.
just search for Facial expression in child development and you will see lots of proof that it is extremely harmful
We’re raising a generation of scared slaves.
And you're supposed to believe it when PA officials tell you they know what's best for health?
Besides, does any COVID Karen consider who much more difficult it is for children who are deaf who rely on lip reading? Or those hard of hearing or who have speech impediments? As if the abity for them to communicate and comprehend aren’t tough enough? Who’s the REAL child abusers?
“deeply troubled”
Oh no! Anything but the dreaded Deebly Troubled!!! This is troubling. Deeply so.
Masks don’t do anything, and otherwise healthy children have very little to fear from the virus.
And because this inhumane practice has been inflicted deliberately and for an extended period (now going on two years of a kid's childhood) by adults who should know better (that is, these masking bullies are either irretrievably ignorant or they know what they so very much want to believe is not true; that is, they're lying), it is arguably felony child endangerment.
And yet many American women and "men" not only tolerate it, they encourage this inhumane treatment of our children. Is this a great country or what?!
If masks worked, there’d be no spread and no variants, thus, a useless diaper that inhibits easy breathing
One problem is the masks don’t really work, especially cloth masks.
The second problem is young children must learn facial expressions to judge the emotional state of other people. If this skill is not developed it can result in all types of problems with social skills.
So...may we now ask “If masks and social distancing are so effective, why is the pandemic worse than ever?”
Oh, everyone must take a vaccine, twice. Now we need a booster. Scratch that, Saint Fauci has declared we need a booster every 5 months.
What next?
Is there a list somewhere of some of the ridiculous garbage they told us is child abuse?
I think it is child abuse, but they are also not my kids, so it’s none of my business.
If “social distancing” “works” why do we “need” masks?
If masks “work”, why do we “need” “social distancing?”
If the vaccines work why do we “need” either of those?
The abuse comes when they take off the mask or adjust it.
[[It goes on to say such claims “brazenly diminish the harsh reality of child abuse” and shows “callous disregard” for the lifelong physical, emotional and economic scars such abuse leaves.]]
Typical liberals lying through their teeth- So the state sanctioned child abusers are typically flat out denying that they are abusing kids-
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