Parents Say They’ll Tell Their Kids To Stay Away From Unmasked Children. “Parties Will Never Be The Same.”
BY: ANDREW COLTON | Editor and Publisher
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2021 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — If they are to be believed, parents contacting BocaNewsNow.com suggest that the largest shift ever in parent and student friendships may unfold over the next several days in the Palm Beach County School District.
Scores of parents emailing and contacting BocaNewsNow.com are simultaneously praising the new mask mandate ordered by interim superintendent Michael Burke, while saying they will have their kids create lists of students in their classrooms who are not wearing masks.
”Parties will never be the same,” wrote the dad of a West Delray Beach 5th grader in an email. “We will not let our children play with kids whose parents are so inconsiderate that they’re opting out of masks.”
”You better believe that we will instruct our daughter’s teacher that she must be seated away from any child whose parents said he or she doesn’t have to wear a mask,” wrote a mom of a 3rd grader in a Boca Raton elementary school.
“Absolutely masking is imperative,” wrote a mom in Boynton Beach. “Good luck to those who feel for certain they want their children unmasked We will be lucky if schools stay open at this pace. Wise decision by superintendent. Got to protect our children from this horrible virus.”
The mandate, ordered Saturday afternoon, provides parents and guardians with the opportunity to “opt out” of the mask mandate for their children. A signed note must be provided to the teacher of the child’s first period class. While questionable from a legal perspective, several parents contacting BocaNewsNow.com say they plan to file public information requests to obtain any email request sent by another parent opting their children out.
”As parents, we must be able to know what children are unmasked in school, and do everything we can to keep our kids away from those children.”
It was not immediately clearly if parents can demand that their masked children be seated away from other children who are unmasked.
For all of the support, there is certainly a vocal group of parents who tell BocaNewsNow.com that they will absolutely opt their kids out. Among the several responses we received since the mandate was announced:
“My son is not wearing a mask. They don’t do anything.”
“I will march my child into school without a mask and tell everyone that she is never going to cover her face, ever.”
“Communists have taken over PBC. Medical decisions will always be made by the parents. Parental Bill of Rights Florida law HB 241 (2021) effective July 1, 2021. Why don’t you read it before you report your fake news? Fake people and fake news.”
While parents can opt their children out of mask use, teachers, staffers and all visitors to Palm Beach County School District buildings have no choice. The are required to wear masks until further notice.
Justin Katz, president of the Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Association — the closest thing teachers have in Palm Beach County to a union — told BocaNewsNow.com Saturday night that he will not have an official statement until he discusses the masking mandate with school administration on Monday.
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