Posted on 03/07/2022 6:14:24 PM PST by lightman
A Seattle teachers union is pushing for keeping the district's school mask mandate in place until May, despite the state and county no longer requiring masks, arguing that the forced masking ensures a sense of "safety and normalcy."
Seattle Education Association President Jennifer Matter told NPR-affiliate KUOW that the mask mandate should remain until at least May 1, two weeks after students return from spring break, saying there "should be no rush to lift the mask mandate."
"We have people who are immunocompromised, we have pregnant educators, we have educators who have children of their own that are under 5 years of age that cannot be vaccinated," she said.
This comes after Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee (D) announced last week that the state's indoor mask mandate, including for schools, would be lifted beginning March 12. And King County updated its guidance shortly after the governor's announcement to say that indoor masking for schools and several other establishments would not be required starting March 12.
Yet, Seattle Public Schools said in a statement last week that it would maintain its school mask mandate "until further notice."
According to the district's statement, it must negotiate with the SEA, "as required by the current collective bargaining agreement, to arrive at a mutually agreeable position regarding any permanent change to mask use requirements throughout the district."
And in a statement, SEO claimed masking has become "routine and accepted" and brings "feelings of safety and normalcy."
"In our experience, universal required masking has been our most important in-classroom and in-building mitigation measure during this pandemic," the statement read, according to FOX 13. "Our students and educators have been wearing masks in schools for over a year now, and it has become routine and accepted. In fact, masks contribute to feelings of safety and normalcy that schools provide our students."
"Further, removing the mask mandate now fails the many students and educators who are immuno-compromised or pregnant, who live with someone who is, or who live with children under age 5 who cannot yet receive a vaccine," it continued. "A large number of children under 12 remain unvaccinated with disproportionately higher numbers of those living in our more socially and economically diverse communities."
It went on to say that it is important to consult with the students and teachers who are "most vulnerable" to COVID when discussing changes to mask mandates, adding that their needs are "historically dismissed in hasty moves to normalcy."
While Seattle Public School's masking requirement will remain in place for now, some other districts in the state – including the Mercer Island School District and the Lake Washington School District – have made masking optional.
(Irrational fear of children's noses)
If the masks work so well, why can’t the educators wear them for protection?
Good grief, what a bunch of loons.
A prime example that this “union” has severe honesty, morality, and most important, logic problems.
And remember, they’re teaching (unsuccessfully) some unfortunate children. Children who will have no choice other to become future teachers, studies majors, or journalists.
Covid Karens
We can thank the women for this as they’ve taken over most public school teaching positions and administrator spots. For 40+ years the move has been on to get rid of as many straight male teachers and administrators as possible.
This is the crap you end up with.
Is anything “normal” in Seattle?
The truth is, the lazy ass teachers of the SEA like depressed anxious children in masks. They are easier to control and propagandize. Actually successfully teaching them to read and write is quite far down on the priority list.
There are still some of them but they are liberal.
UC Davis had announced last week that they would retain the mask mandate due to “change fatigue.” Some sensible students must have objected to that ridiculousness—our future leaders and neuroscientists and engineers—be use they reversed the next day and finally dropped the mask mandate.
Loons indeed.
This goes way beyond a realistic fear. It must be some sort of group psychosis which suggests to me the Seattle Teachers Union and it’s members are not rational, sane or safe to be with children. Thus I suggest send each of them for a mental health evaluation and replace them with substitutes until each of them receives a clean mental bill of health.
Gotta love the Babylon Bee!
INVOLUNTARY MASKING OF CHILDREN IS NOT NORMALCY.
Let me refine
Traditional straight males
:)
So they just want to “follow the science” when it suits them. Got it.
It’s not “normal” to breathe through a filter all day.
“All Jews should remain in concentration camps for an additional 6 months after the liberation of Germany to maintain a sense of normalcy.”
The norm for the Seattle Teacher’s Union is useless rules that abuse the children so mask mandate extensions are a no brainer.
Chicago teacher’s union is doing the same thing! Morons.
Funny you should mentioned that. The way the liberals have trashed the term “Conservative,” I’ve often wondered if “Traditional” might be a good alternative. It’s a word that says a lot, and is seldom used.
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