On Monday, kids won’t have to wear masks in school anymore. The governor lifted the mask mandate. In a time of confusion and constant change, I wonder if this will help us move forward or if it will create unnecessary angst and conflict.
On the side of taking masks off, the omicron variant is milder. People are getting it, they’re sick for a few days, then they’re over it. The hospitalization and death rates are lower. Our hospitals are no longer overwhelmed with cases. Patients who’ve needed treatment for other ailments but were displaced by Covid patients are finally able to make their appointments.
Some teachers welcome it, too. I ran into an acquaintance last week. She’s a kindergarten teacher, and I asked her what she thought about the mask mandate being lifted. “I love it!” she exclaimed. She told me how hard it is to hear her kids through their masks when they’re reading aloud. She can’t wait. Then she hesitated before saying, “I hope it’s as easy for them to take the masks off as it was to put them on.” When we taught kids to put their masks on, we had to impress upon them the gravity of the situation. Did we do such a good job they’ll be scared to remove them?
On the side of leaving masks on, some people within our communities have underlying conditions that make even the omicron variant dangerous for them. Teachers with at risk family members, kids with at risk parents or grandparents. For them, the thought of walking into school everyday interacting with people who are maskless induces a whole new anxiety. “What if I give it to my grandmother?”
To those who are concerned about their families, we try to reassure them by saying, “You can still wear a mask.”
Are we aware of the underlying message we’re sending? “I’m sorry you’re in that situation, but you’ll have to deal with it on your own.”
Mary came home Friday and shared that one of her teachers asked kids to keep wearing masks. She’s worried about one of her family members. Another teacher told her students teachers aren’t allowed to ask students to wear masks (apparently the first teacher doesn’t know this yet). All of the teachers are trying to learn what the rules are and how best to adapt to the new expectations. All in one week. We’ve been wearing masks for two years, and we gave the teachers one week. Emily and Ellie’s school is in a city building where, apparently, masks are still required. No one is spending their weekend trying to figure out how to transition to new expectations.
The divide will be visible. Students and teachers with at-risk family members will continue wearing masks, feeling constant anxiety they might bring COVID-19 home with them while others will feel the freedom of walking around maskless.
The question is, how will we handle it? Will we band together in support of that teacher and voluntarily put on our masks in their classroom? Or will we celebrate our new found freedom dismissive of what our fellow teachers, friends, families are going through? Afterall, they can still wear a mask……
Mary isn’t sure what to do. She feels badly for the people she knows who are worried about their families. She’s planning to keep wearing her mask. They’ve been doing it for so long, she wonders what’s being gained by taking it off.
That’s the question I keep asking myself. What’s gained? We’re about two months to the end of the school year. Are we creating a change management nightmare? We’ve gotten the kids to put on their masks. Now we’re going to encourage kids to take them off. Maybe struggling to convince some it’s safe. What if another variant surges and we have to put the mask mandate back in place?
It would have been easier to keep masks on for the rest of the school year. It would have given us several months to see what’s next with Covid-19. If we’re really through the worst, great. Those who are feeling angst today will feel greater comfort and confidence returning to a maskless environment next Fall. If another variant emerges, no change in mask policy will be needed. As we approach the new school year, a decision can be made and new expectations can be set. Implementing change at the start of a new school year will be easier than doing it mid-flight.
There isn’t a single good answer. Taking masks off will be a welcome change for many – like the Kindergarten teacher I talked with. For others it brings more anxiety in an already anxiety ridden year (or two). I just hope we can approach this upcoming change with empathy and kindness. Empathy for those who are concerned, kindness towards everyone trying to adapt.
The Frampton Clan 