“Follow the Science: Unmask the Kids”
Words that peg the front yards of many across St. Louis and the surrounding counties, words that can also be seen in the form of car magnets, hats and even signs of protest in front of elementary schools throughout the midwest.
Unmask the Kids America, per their website, was started in the past year by a group of parents in Winnetka, Illinois, who were troubled by the mandates requiring their young children to wear masks in school. As the pandemic continues, the organization maintains the belief of the need to advocate for their children, apparently regardless of whether or not the child has genuine complaints, through the form of social media and campaigns.
“Mandates and archaic mitigations requiring children to be masked at school and at play are harmful and have the propensity for long-term consequences,” stated in their mission statement, directed at parents and government officials alike. Here’s where they missed the mark: the long-term consequences of the coronavirus on young children is still being researched, and until we are better aware of the effects, we cannot and should not tell others to unmask their children with as much confidence as when we tell others to brush their teeth twice a day.
They do state that they believe families should have the choice in masking their children, as “Every family presents a health situation in which they should be able to navigate harms and evaluate risk,” however this statement is made moot by the fervor with which they denounce mask-mandates, comparing them to child abuse and a restriction of rights through platforms like Instagram and Twitter.
Masks can only be effective if all parties are wearing them, and due to the lack of vaccine for kids under 12, it is increasingly easy for young children to contract and transmit Covid-19 to parents, grandparents, teachers and classmates, even if the symptoms aren’t apparent in the children themselves.
According to the CDC, “outbreaks among adolescents attending camps, sports events, and schools have demonstrated that adolescents can transmit SARS-CoV-2 to others. Furthermore, transmission studies that have examined secondary infection risk from children and adolescents to household contacts who are rapidly, frequently, and systematically tested demonstrate that transmission does occur.”
No child wishes to put their friends, family and teachers at risk, especially when the solution is as simple as wearing a face covering. Young kids are first and foremost adaptable. They have spent their entire school careers thus far learning how to follow the directions given and respect the adults in their lives.
It is undoubtedly true that children flourish in a school environment that is equal socially and mentally. However, they cannot thrive in a setting that doesn’t prioritize the safety of students and staff above all, regardless of some words posted on a yard sign.
