The following is my email to the school board please make edits(I know that this is not my strength, that is why i need y'all to edit this), i attached the pdf of this website[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7680614/pdf/main.pdf], and that is what is being referenced in this email
other context: I reside in Blount county TN
"ABSTRACT
Many countries across the globe utilized medical and non-medical facemasks as non-pharmaceutical intervention for reducing the transmission and infectivity of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Although, scientific evi- dence supporting facemasks’ efficacy is lacking, adverse physiological, psychological and health effects are established. Is has been hypothesized that facemasks have compromised safety and efficacy profile and should be avoided from use. The current article comprehensively summarizes scientific evidences with respect to wearing facemasks in the COVID-19 era, providing prosper information for public health and decisions making."
"Although several countries mandated wearing facemask in health care settings and public areas, scientific evidences are lacking supporting their efficacy for reducing morbidity or mortality associated with infectious or viral diseases"
"The physical properties of medical and non-medical facemasks sug- gest that facemasks are ineffective to block viral particles due to their difference in scales. According to the current knowledge, the virus SARS-CoV-2 has a diameter of 60 nm to 140 nm [nanometers (billionth of a meter)], while medical and non-medical face- masks’ thread diameter ranges from 55 μm to 440 μm [micrometers (one millionth of a meter), which is more than 1000 times larger"
"SARS-CoV-2 can easily pass through any facemask"
"In addition, the efficiency filtration rate of facemasks is poor, ranging from 0.7% in non-surgical, cotton- gauze woven mask to 26% in cotton sweeter material"
"The results of this study showed that among symptomatic in- dividuals (those with fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose ect...) there was no difference between wearing and not wearing facemask for coronavirus droplets transmission of particles of >5 μm. Among asymptomatic individuals, there was no droplets or aerosols coronavirus detected from any participant with or without the mask, suggesting that asymptomatic individuals do not transmit or infect other people"
"Based on four COVID-19 studies, the meta-analysis failed to demonstrate risk reduction of facemasks for COVID-19 transmission"
The following is an excerpt discussing WHO acknowledging potential harms and risks or wearing facemarks "These including self-contamination due to hand practice or non-replaced when the mask is wet, soiled or damaged, development of facial skin lesions, irritant dermatitis or worsening acne and psy- chological discomfort. Vulnerable populations such as people with mental health disorders, developmental disabilities, hearing problems, those living in hot and humid environments, children and patients with respiratory conditions are at significant health risk for complications and harm"
"Wearing facemask mechanically restricts breathing by increasing the resistance of air movement during both inhalation and exhalation process"
"A trapped air remaining between the mouth, nose and the facemask is rebreathed repeatedly in and out of the body, con- taining low O2 and high CO2 concentrations, causing hypoxemia and hypercapnia”
"In addition to hypoxia and hypercapnia, breathing through facemask residues bacterial and germs components on the inner and outside layer of the facemask. These toxic components are repeatedly rebreathed back into the body, causing self-contamination. Breathing through facemasks also increases temperature and humidity in the space between the mouth and the mask, resulting a release of toxic particles from the mask’s materials. A systematic literature review estimated that aerosol contamination levels of facemasks including 13 to 202,549 different viruses. Rebreathing contaminated air with high bacterial and toxic particle concentrations along with low O2 and high CO2 levels continuously challenge the body homeostasis, causing self- toxicity and immunosuppression”
"Conclusion
The existing scientific evidences challenge the safety and efficacy of wearing facemask as preventive intervention for COVID-19. The data suggest that both medical and non-medical facemasks are ineffective to block human-to-human transmission of viral and infectious disease such SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, supporting against the usage of facemasks. Wearing facemasks has been demonstrated to have substantial adverse physiological and psychological effects. These include hypoxia, hyper- capnia, shortness of breath, increased acidity and toxicity, activation of fear and stress response, rise in stress hormones, immunosuppression, fatigue, headaches, decline in cognitive performance, predisposition for viral and infectious illnesses, chronic stress, anxiety and depression. Long-term consequences of wearing facemask can cause health deteri- oration, developing and progression of chronic diseases and premature death. Governments, policy makers and health organizations should utilize prosper and scientific evidence-based approach with respect to wearing facemasks, when the latter is considered as preventive inter- vention for public health."
All the quotes from this email are sourced from the attached PDF, of which I highly recommend that you read.
I am a parent concerned for the health of my children, and while I acknowledge the existence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 (referred to as Covid 19), the science has now had a year of study to test the effectiveness of masks, and the risk of spread in schools. Science has shown that the Covid 19 disease does not spread from asymptomatic persons, studies have shown there to be no transmission of virus from children to children or children to adults, the fatality rate of this virus is less than or equal to .1% and this is mainly contributed to "older or chronically ill patients supporting the possibility that the virus may exacerbate existing conditions but rarely causes death by itself”
I refuse to let my children be put into a position that would risk their health for political or “virtue signaling” purposes. In the county of Blount there is no medical mandate from any Governor, Mayor, health board, or other elected official outside of the school board, there has also been to legislative action to require facemasks at any point.
I would like to see the evidence that was considered when the county’s school board made the decision to require children to wear facemasks for the entirety of the school day (excluding time to eat and outdoor recess)
My Thoughts> It's a great letter. But they won't read it. It's information they already know but choose to ignore. It needs to be read out loud as many times as you can get it out. City council meetings, school board meetings, any meeting where people are listening. Anytime. Everywhere. Make copies. Pass them out and get whoever you can to read it out loud whenever they can. Power in numbers. Repetition of the same information proves you are all on the same page. Good luck. You got this.
Ok, I need a site to find local pedes. I don’t know any people that feel as strong as me. They all just want to just keep their head down and not raise confrontations
Power in numbers. Maybe they are waiting for a leader. That would be you. Sometimes all they need is a hand to hold. Be that strength for them. What have you got to lose?
My 2 cents:
It is too long.
It will be ignored completely.
Put in a pile of 'nutter' parent.
Re-read it. You are saying same thing over and over just in a different way.
This can be parsed down to 3 paragraphs at MOST. Edit Edit Edit.
To be honest your paragraph starting with "I am a parent" is good. This should be the beginning and body of your letter.
Consider changing that to, "As a parent within XYZ school district I as other parents are concerned about the well being of my children. Not just their physical health, but their mental health, and emotional development. The science has not been proven to be effective in regards to masks. I refer you to the NIH report, I will link it below. (Link it at end of your letter)
This pandemic, as serious as it is to many immuno-compromised individuals should not be politicized into mandatory masks, which very well cause lung issues in previously very healthy and young respiratory systems. It is showing to be an issue world wide.
Etc Etc My suggestions.
Thank you, I was trying to condense the pdf expecting them to not read the document, so I wanted to bring the main points to their attention, but I will work on fleshing another version based on your input, along with the input of others here.
I have recently emailed our states department of education and governor regarding masks. Their response was that they follow the CDC guidelines and our governor has given the district the choice of whatever restrictions they see fit as long as it is approved by the school board. So I was instructed to go to the board meetings and speak up, but I don't see how that helps to change anything. I feel like a lawsuit, people vs the state, would be much more effective because we need to challenge their science. But as law can take forever I feel like I will just be spinning the wheels and wasting money. Just frustrated, not going to give up though.
I fear the same
And regarding assistance with the letter: be direct on your questions and statements. You do not need to build a case, you just need to get your point across firmly. Less is more. Here is my reply if it helps you at all:
Thank you for the update, but my first question was not answered. To be more clear, what is the science behind forcing our children to wear masks in school? In the beginning of the school year we were still learning about the virus so it was acceptable to have these requirements. We are now many months into the school year where we have enough data to show that masks on children is unnecessary, and on most teachers and staff as well. There is an abundance of resources supporting this claim.
I am extremely concerned because my child is very upset and does not want to go to school because of masks. She hates having to wear it and can't breathe, especially in PE! Also the extensive cleaning of workstations and hand sanitizing has left her hands chapped and cracked. This is unacceptable. I will be private or homeschooling this upcoming school year if masks are still mandated, as many other parents I have spoken with feel the same. Our children's health and happiness comes first. I have no problem collecting and providing signatures to show you how many parents will be withdrawing their children from the public school system.
How do we get people to stop treating CDC like God
That is why I think a suit against the department of education, where the science of the cdc can be discredited, is the only way. I am going to start a petition threatening to withdraw our children from the public school system if masks are still mandated in the fall. Not sure if that will make any waves either though.
"there has also been to legislative action to require facemasks at any point."
Change the word "to" to the word "no".
So you are sending a letter to the school board. Does your letter begin with, "I am a parent concerned..." or does it begin with all the scientific stuff at the top of your post?
What are you asking of the board? To see the evidence or to remove the mask mandate? My suggestion is that you need to be more straight forward in your ask (demand).
Something like: As a concerned parent of children in _____ school district, I am writing to let you know that my children will not be wearing masks during the school day for the following reasons: then list your reasons. 1. no state or county mask mandate, 2. the science does not support it, 3. the psychological impact on child development is not yet known...etc.
Then, in your letter ask that someone from the board follow up with you within 5 business days to further discuss the matter. Right now, as your letter reads, you are not making a request for change but rather, simply asking them to explain the science. Explaining the science will not accomplish a change. Furthermore, if you really want to get a movement going, I recommend you rally up several parents of classmates in the school to begin a movement. Otherwise, your letter will sadly end up in file 86.
From: Retired School Principal who believes in your cause. Good luck.
Well said.
Too long. Nobody will read it.
Cut it down to "I've come to the conclusion that the cons of continued mask use outweighs the pros. When do we return to normal?"
When you say studies have shown, I would point out to the studies maybe, either by referring to it, or by attaching the docs. Not sure. See what others say.
Thank you, I am trying to refind those studies. I read them earlier this week but can’t find them again.