Mask Mandates Don’t Belong In Schools, Gov. Abbott Agrees

The recent ruling by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention that vaccinated individuals no longer have to wear their masks in indoor and outdoor situations has made several Democratic leaders clinging onto whatever power they have left. It was never about ‘following the science’ when it came to mask-wearing mandates, government-mandated lockdowns, and COVID-19 related restrictions that put millions of people out of work. It was always about how much power they could get and how long they could hold onto it.

The hot topic of discussion has been in regards to school district mask mandates and whether or not masks will be optional at graduation ceremonies and during summer school. Most cities and counties have dropped their mask requirements, but the Texas Education Agency gave their local school boards full authority over mask policies. While Democrat-ran unions continue to impose mask mandates and oppose CDC’s latest guidance, GOP leaders are following the science and letting families make the decision for their family’s wellbeing, not the government.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently issued an executive order prohibiting counties, cities, school districts, public health officials, and government employees from requiring masks. While students, parents, and teachers can continue wearing masks in school through June 4, they will not be required to wear one on campus after that. His order will mostly affect school districts such as Dallas and Fort Worth.

“The Lone Star State continues to defeat COVID-19 through the use of widely-available vaccines, antibody therapeutic drugs, and safe practices utilized by Texans in our communities. Texans, not the government, should decide their best health practices, which is why masks will not be mandated by public school districts or government entities. We can continue to mitigate COVID-19 while defending Texans’ liberty to choose whether or not they mask up,” Gov. Abbott said.

According to the announcement, local government workers or state officials that attempt to impose mask mandates could be subject to a fine of up to $1,000. The only places that are exempt from the order are state-supported living centers, government-owned or operated hospitals, and county/municipal jails.

Gov. Abbott said the decision is left to the individual businesses and public entities, not the state. He said it does not end personal responsibility but that the state mandates are no longer needed. Texans do not need to wear face-coverings in public places and businesses can reopen to 100% capacity. Attorney General Ken Paxton even sued Austin and Travis County over their plans to continue mandating masks.

Other states, however, are still fighting to end their district’s in-school mask mandate. A 10-year-old fourth-grader begged the Martin County School District in southeastern Florida to end their mask policies and told horrifying stories of what happened with the mandates in his school.

He said many teachers defied the mask mandate and took their own “mask breaks” at their desks without giving students the same privilege and walked around with a clipboard full of referrals if a student’s mask wasn’t on properly. He also said that teachers would yell at them if they lowered their masks to take a drink of water while waiting outside in the car line. They told students they’d have to wait until they were in their parent’s car to have a drink of water.

“Wearing a mask all day makes me feel really tired and gives me really bad headaches. Sometimes I’m at school and I need to lay low in the dark until they’re gone. My mask also sticks to my face when it’s hot and it makes it hard to breathe. I feel like I can’t catch my breath and that makes me feel claustrophobic and anxious. It’s really stressful,” the student said.

The board voted 4-1 to make masks optional beginning June 1 in Martin county.

Teacher unions have been trying to hammer the final nail in indoctrinating children to their mask-wearing policies, but even the ‘science’ is against their madness on this one.