As parents of current Buford City Schools children, we would like to express our concern for the upcoming 2021/2022 school year and the regulations that could be, and we fear may be, kept in place.
With the widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccinations, herd immunity being reached and low case numbers, it is our belief that it is time to allow our kids to have the option to learn unmasked.
In the most recent study released by Stanford University, released only a few days ago, it is stated that not only are masks ineffective but could also be causing long-term health problems, citing that "both medical and non-medical facemasks are ineffective to reduce human-to-human transmission and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19." The article continues to detail that "wearing facemasks has adverse physiological and psychological effects and long-term consequences of wearing facemasks on health are detrimental." Certainly the health and safety of our children is of the utmost importance to us as parents and we know that you share in this concern. With more and more studies citing depression and anxiety, a rise in stress hormones, immunosuppression, chronic headaches and a decline in cognitive performance, we would like to stress that masks are detrimental to our student's health.
Consider as well that other counties in the state of Georgia have been learning in person and without masks for most of the school year, with COVID-19 infection numbers similar to those school systems that have been masked. Concerned parents are beginning to take a stand with a stance that fear dominates discourse; Cobb county being one (see article).
We appreciate the boldness that has already been shown by the Buford City School system in our return to learning for the current school year, as well as the continuation of the commitment to keep our children in school where they can best be served. We support and applaud the promise for the upcoming year that has already been made for in-person learning and the option to learn at home for those who still do not feel comfortable returning. We ask that in the same vein, those who do not desire to wear masks be allowed to do so while those who do wish to continue to wear masks, be given that option. It is time to allow this to be a choice rather than a system-wide mandate. Let's make masks optional.
*This is in no way meant to be an ultimatum or threat but rather a way for our voices to be heard and considered.
