Palm Beach County Teachers Say They Fear Even Speaking With Unmasked Kids, Afraid Parents Will React.
BY: ANDREW COLTON | Editor and Publisher
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2021 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Palm Beach County teacher contacting BocaNewsNow.com said she and her colleagues now have a new fear: failing, disciplining, or otherwise needing to provide specialized corrective treatment to children who don’t wear masks.
”We are now having to rethink everything we do,” said the elementary school teacher. “We all love kids, but we now have to deal with crazy parents who are threatening to sue us if we discipline a child without a mask for something that has absolutely nothing to do with mask wearing.”
The teacher, who asked to remain anonymous, said she believes there will be mass resignations over the next several months. Whether that turns out to be true or not, the concerns are apparently valid. BocaNewsNow.com published a letter on Monday written by a parent who is threatening to sue any teacher who disciplines a child not wearing a mask.
”How are we supposed to operate?” asked the elementary school teacher. “Part of elementary school is telling Johnny not to poke Susie. Is a parent going to interpret that sort of discipline as harassing a child who doesn’t wear a mask? This is an impossible situation.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ Department of Education issued a ‘rule’ stating that any child subjected to harassment due to not wearing mask can seek transfer to another school district.
Palm Beach County Classroom Teacher Association President Justin Katz did not respond to a request for comment Monday night. He was expected to issue a statement regarding the Palm Beach County mask mandate on Monday, but no statement was issued. Interim Superintendent Michael Burke issued a mask mandate on Saturday. Parents may opt-out their children by sending a signed letter, but teachers, staffers and visitors to school buildings have no opt-out option.
”You have no idea how many teachers are having prescriptions fill for Xanax,” said the teacher — half joking. “We are entering a school year with an unprecedented level of stress for educators who just want to teach the kids.”
The Palm Beach County School year starts today, August 10th, 2021.
