Here’s just one of the many letters I am receiving from educators about the plans for reopening schools in Ontario and their many concerns about the mandating of face masks on both staff and students.
Despite their efforts and mine, neither teachers’ unions nor the government are responding to these concerns.
In the face of significant institutional shaming towards professionals who would speak out against COVID policies, I applaud these teachers for expressing their convictions and views in these challenging times.
If you agree this is something we must address, contact the Premier, your MPP, School Board Trustee and tell them it is time to talk. Democracy works best when we all use it; phone, email, or visit your elected members.
Premier: [email protected] or [email protected] or 416-325-1941
Find Your MPP: https://www.ola.org/en/members
Find Your Local Health Unit: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/common/system/services/phu/locations.aspx
Dear Mr. Randy Hillier,
As Ontario educators, we wanted to contact you about mandatory masks that are now required in schools.
We’ve looked at the Science, and it does not support masking healthy people, especially since the curve of this virus, with a 99.74% survival rate, was ‘flattened’ long ago! We are treating everyone as if they are sick. We could learn something from the legal system, where one is innocent, until proven guilty.
Many of us are parents, and we are concerned about the effects that these draconian measures will have on our kids. We’ve written letters to Premier Ford and Education Minister, Stephen Lecce, addressing the many issues associated with mandating both kids and educators to wear masks, but we have not heard back with any of the scientific studies that were used by their experts to implement these policies.
Collectively, we are more concerned about the consequences of masking everyone, than we are about the virus, due to the following reasons:
- Masks don’t work – hand washing is much more effective at reducing the spread of viruses, and the pores in the masks are too large
- Communication issues – how can the students hear us, and how will we know what anyone is feeling, to support them?
- The measures do not match the risk, especially for the young. They have a much lower viral load than adults, and studies have shown that they are more likely to get it from their home, and there has been no known student-to-teacher transmission, globally
- Anxiety has increased, over the years, in children and teens, so whether they are uncomfortable wearing a mask, or they are afraid of catching Covid, we’re concerned that we will see a rise in anxiety, again this year. Our students have already experienced isolation from their friends, and this year, social interactions will be minimal.
- Besides anxiety, what other psychological damage will our kids suffer, looking at faceless teachers and peers?
- Our health will potentially be adversely affected – decreased oxygen, increased CO2, headaches, anxiety – all worsened in some 90+ degree classrooms in September
- The ridiculous ‘pandemic’ narrative is perpetuated – this is NOT unlike a cold or flu, and it has NOT been affecting kids (death rate for those under 19 is 0.0%!!)
Some of us with Science backgrounds, have been able to put into perspective the non-stop reporting of new ‘cases’, knowing that they are merely detecting genetic material, rather than detecting infection. But, when so many others have been scared by mainstream media, education of our population will be needed to ease their anxiety, so they are able to make rational decisions, based on evidence, rather than fear.
For those students or staff who cannot wear a mask, we’re concerned about division, and bullying! Who will be looking out for these individuals, and who will be held accountable for the negative consequences of implementing these policies?
Thank you for standing for truth and freedom!
Sincerely,
Some of Ontario’s very concerned educators:
Brittany Burton
Victoria Conde
Jackie Cooper
Kelly Crawford
Wendy Gray
Mike Jackson
Angela Johnston
Michelle Kujawa
Joel Kennedy
Nancy O’Brien
Gord Parks
Katy Peters
Alina Turcas
References:
https://aapsonline.org/mask-facts/
https://www.ottawapublichealth.ca/en/public-health-topics/masks.aspx?fbclid=IwAR15JB4qAS5o1bdgH2f0SQ-WaHulnAEVLkKEZQTY_1U75FtfekYGEgy8ASg See list of exemptions