To Mask or Not to Mask? US Divided on How to Reopen Schools
2020-07-19
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1Schools and educators across the United States are in the middle of a debate over how best to reopen schools.
2The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidelines to assist school systems in reopening safely.
3The suggestions include face coverings, or masks, and social distancing rules.
4Some parents object to both ideas.
5They want schools to operate just as they did before COVID-19.
6Others are calling for part-time school and face coverings for everyone.
7Kim Sherman is a mother of three in the city of Clovis, California.
8"Don't tell me my kid has to wear a mask," she said.
9Sherman said she is conservative and supports President Donald Trump.
10Trump, a Republican, has called on schools across the country to fully reopen.
11He threatened to withhold federal money from school systems that do not return to in-person classes in the fall.
12He has accused Democrats of wanting to keep schools closed for political, not health, reasons.
13Some parents have threatened to withdraw their children from school if masks are required.
14Hillary Salway is a mother of three in Orange County, California.
15She is part of a group calling for schools to fully open with "normal social interaction."
16If the school system requires masks for her son's kindergarten class, she said, "I don't know if my son will be...in the public school system this fall."
17Salway started a petition last month urging the area's school system to "keep facial expressions visually available."
18And she helped organize a protest of more than 100 people outside the school system's headquarters.
19Other parents have expressed similar opinions in Orange County Board of Education meetings.
20The five-member, elected group supports a full return to school without masks or social distancing.
21Supporters argue that face coverings are ineffective and give a false sense of security.
22Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, however, has ordered Californians to wear masks in public.
23The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says masks may help prevent infected people from spreading the virus to others.
24It has urged students and teachers to wear them, especially when social distancing is not possible.
25Brooke Aston Harper, a parent in Orange County, attended an especially lively school board meeting recently.
26She described what she heard from some speakers there as "horrifying."
27She said they were forcing what she called "small worldview" on others.
28"I'm not looking for a fight, I just want us to take precautions," said Harper, whose two children are age four and six. She also started a petition.
29It calls on schools to follow state guidelines that include masks for teachers and students, social distancing rules and other measures.
30"For each school board, the question is going to be: What does our community want, and who is the loudest?" she said.
31Some parents, educators and doctors argue that there are social, educational and emotional costs to children who do not go to school.
32They say those costs may be greater than the risk of the virus itself.
33The American Academy of Pediatrics has provided guidelines supporting in-person school to avoid social isolation and depression in students.
34But it said science, not politics, must guide decisions where the coronavirus is spreading.
35Texas is a current "hot spot" for COVID-19 infections.
36Its Republican governor Greg Abbott and Texan education leaders say it is safe to open schools in August.
37Abbott's government has not released COVID-19 safety guidelines for reopening.
38It has said masks are a decision for local officials.
39Stacey Pugh is a fifth-grade teacher near Houston, Texas.
40She hopes her school system will order students to wear masks.
41She said she will wear a mask and a shield - a large, piece of clear hard, plastic that hangs in front of the face.
42"...I'm even considering getting some type of body covering to wear," she added.
43The Texas American Federation of Teachers has demanded guidelines.
44President Zeph Capo said: "We won't sacrifice our members and students for politics."
45New York City and Los Angeles, California operate the two largest school systems in America.
46Both cities are led by Democratic mayors.
47Officials in those cities say their schools cannot fully reopen.
48New York City officials say schools there will likely combine in-person and distance learning.
49In Los Angeles, school officials announced Monday that students will start the term with online classes from home.
50Other California cities, including San Diego and Oakland, also say their schools will stay closed.
51"A 10-year-old student might have a 30-year-old teacher, a 50-year-old bus driver, or live with a 70-year-old grandmother.
52All need to be protected," said Los Angeles schools' chief Austin Beutner.
53He said public health safety demands the schools avoid becoming infection centers.
54Besides masks, the CDC has advised schools to seat students at a safe distance apart in classrooms and eat meals there instead of in larger shared rooms.
55Some people in small, rural communities argue they should not have to follow the same rules as people in big cities, where infection rates are higher.
56Craig Guensler leads the Wheatland School District, a system of four schools in California's Yuba County.
57He said that Wheatland already has spent $25,000 on physical barriers for classrooms.
58Eighty-five percent of parents who answered a Wheatland opinion study said they want their children in school full time.
59Officials will space out desks as much as possible.
60But, they still expect up to 28 students in each classroom, Guensler said.
61I'm Caty Weaver. And I'm Mario Ritter.
1Schools and educators across the United States are in the middle of a debate over how best to reopen schools. 2The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidelines to assist school systems in reopening safely. The suggestions include face coverings, or masks, and social distancing rules. 3Some parents object to both ideas. They want schools to operate just as they did before COVID-19. Others are calling for part-time school and face coverings for everyone. 4An anti-mask petition 5Kim Sherman is a mother of three in the city of Clovis, California. "Don't tell me my kid has to wear a mask," she said. Sherman said she is conservative and supports President Donald Trump. 6Trump, a Republican, has called on schools across the country to fully reopen. He threatened to withhold federal money from school systems that do not return to in-person classes in the fall. He has accused Democrats of wanting to keep schools closed for political, not health, reasons. 7Some parents have threatened to withdraw their children from school if masks are required. 8Hillary Salway is a mother of three in Orange County, California. She is part of a group calling for schools to fully open with "normal social interaction." If the school system requires masks for her son's kindergarten class, she said, "I don't know if my son will be...in the public school system this fall." 9Salway started a petition last month urging the area's school system to "keep facial expressions visually available." And she helped organize a protest of more than 100 people outside the school system's headquarters. 10Other parents have expressed similar opinions in Orange County Board of Education meetings. The five-member, elected group supports a full return to school without masks or social distancing. Supporters argue that face coverings are ineffective and give a false sense of security. 11'I just want us to take precautions' 12Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, however, has ordered Californians to wear masks in public. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says masks may help prevent infected people from spreading the virus to others. It has urged students and teachers to wear them, especially when social distancing is not possible. 13Brooke Aston Harper, a parent in Orange County, attended an especially lively school board meeting recently. She described what she heard from some speakers there as "horrifying." She said they were forcing what she called "small worldview" on others. 14"I'm not looking for a fight, I just want us to take precautions," said Harper, whose two children are age four and six. She also started a petition. It calls on schools to follow state guidelines that include masks for teachers and students, social distancing rules and other measures. 15"For each school board, the question is going to be: What does our community want, and who is the loudest?" she said. 16Some parents, educators and doctors argue that there are social, educational and emotional costs to children who do not go to school. They say those costs may be greater than the risk of the virus itself. 17The American Academy of Pediatrics has provided guidelines supporting in-person school to avoid social isolation and depression in students. But it said science, not politics, must guide decisions where the coronavirus is spreading. 18Teachers worry 19Texas is a current "hot spot" for COVID-19 infections. Its Republican governor Greg Abbott and Texan education leaders say it is safe to open schools in August. Abbott's government has not released COVID-19 safety guidelines for reopening. It has said masks are a decision for local officials. 20Stacey Pugh is a fifth-grade teacher near Houston, Texas. She hopes her school system will order students to wear masks. She said she will wear a mask and a shield - a large, piece of clear hard, plastic that hangs in front of the face. "...I'm even considering getting some type of body covering to wear," she added. 21The Texas American Federation of Teachers has demanded guidelines. President Zeph Capo said: "We won't sacrifice our members and students for politics." 22New York City and Los Angeles, California operate the two largest school systems in America. Both cities are led by Democratic mayors. Officials in those cities say their schools cannot fully reopen. 23New York City officials say schools there will likely combine in-person and distance learning. In Los Angeles, school officials announced Monday that students will start the term with online classes from home. Other California cities, including San Diego and Oakland, also say their schools will stay closed. 24"A 10-year-old student might have a 30-year-old teacher, a 50-year-old bus driver, or live with a 70-year-old grandmother. All need to be protected," said Los Angeles schools' chief Austin Beutner. He said public health safety demands the schools avoid becoming infection centers. 25Besides masks, the CDC has advised schools to seat students at a safe distance apart in classrooms and eat meals there instead of in larger shared rooms. 26Some people in small, rural communities argue they should not have to follow the same rules as people in big cities, where infection rates are higher. 27Craig Guensler leads the Wheatland School District, a system of four schools in California's Yuba County. He said that Wheatland already has spent $25,000 on physical barriers for classrooms. 28Eighty-five percent of parents who answered a Wheatland opinion study said they want their children in school full time. Officials will space out desks as much as possible. But, they still expect up to 28 students in each classroom, Guensler said. 29I'm Caty Weaver. And I'm Mario Ritter. 30Jocelyn Gecker reported this story for the Associated Press. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 31________________________________________________________________ 32Words in This Story 33petition -n. an official document of request 34kindergarten -n. a school or class for children usually from four to six years old 35visually -adv. of, relating to, or used in vision 36worldview -n. the way someone thinks about the world 37precaution -n. something that is done to prevent possible harm or trouble from happening in the future 38isolation -n. the state of being in a place or situation that is separate from others : the condition of being isolated 39hot spot -n. a place of more than usual interest, activity, or popularity