Removing the Mask Mandate - Opening Up to More Issues

The Dim Bulb

The Occasional Musings of an Educator

by Michael Keany

#11 - February 1, 2022

The brain is capable of performing 10 quadrillion (that’s 10 to the 16th) “calculations,” or synaptic events, per second using only about 15 watts of power. At this rate, a computer as powerful as the human brain would require 1 gigawatt of power. Maybe a dim bulb isn't really as dim as it seems.

The photo at the left is the  Livermore Centennial bulb, the world's longest burning electric bulb. 

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At this writing many states are removing or considering removing mask mandates in schools.  Proponents argue that teaching is difficult, possible even impossible, if students cannot see the teachers face or clearly hear what the teacher says.  Special situations such as music lessons, physical education, world languages and reading present their own challenges.  Many others argue that children's social development is threatened by not being able to see their classmates faces.There is a false assumption that simply removing the masks will be a return to normalcy.  On one level, this may be true but removing the mask mandates will raise many more questions.  Be prepared!

1.  Some teachers will obviously wish to maintain their masking.  What happens if a "no-masking" parent objects and says her child is now handicapped by not being able to see the teachers face? 

2.  What happens when a "pro-masking" parent insists that the school enforce his or her wish to have their own child wear a mask throughout the day?

3.  What happens when unmask students bullied masked students?  Or vice-versa?

4.  What happens when parents insist, especially in close contact situations like one-on-one teaching, that teachers were masks and the teacher refuses?

5.  What happens if teachers (or the union) objects to lifting the mask mandate?

6.  What happens if students or teachers become ill after the mask mandate is removed?  What will be the legal liability?

7.  If case counts rise, will mandates be instituted?  What will be the trigger point?

8.  Will the removal of masks increase the pressure to have all staff vaccinated?

9.  How will this change policies on COVID testing?  Quarantine practices?

10.  How will the removal of masking mandates impact the politics of school board candidates?  

I am sure there are many others which will be uncovered in due time.  It's probably best to brainstorm these and others and have some cross-conversations across districts to map out some common strategeis.