Should we wear masks in school?

I think the answer is clear: yes, because it will slow the spread of the coronavirus. Right now, 3.36% of students at the high school are absent due to a positive test. This is only the reported cases, too. It doesn’t seem like a big number, but it is only going to get bigger if we don’t wear masks.

I don’t like wearing masks but I will sacrifice comfort to slow the spread of COVID-19. According to research done by Stanford University, “wearing a surgical face mask over the mouth and nose is an effective way to reduce the occurrence of COVID-19 in community settings.” Those who participated in the study, while wearing masks, were about 11% less likely to develop COVID-19 than those who didn’t wear a mask. Because people who contract COVID can transmit it to others, the use of masks can also limit the spread of the virus. We don’t only need to wear masks to protect ourselves, but to protect the vulnerable ones. How would you feel if you brought the virus home to a loved one who was vulnerable and they got sick?

If the percentage of absences related to COVID reaches 20%, CGHS will need to do eLearning. School is a place where students and teachers can socialize as well as learn. If that is taken away because we didn’t wear masks then the mental health of students and teachers will go down hill. The mental health of teachers and students is important. If the mental health of teachers goes down due to a lack of socialization and outside support, then teachers might not be able to teach. If they can’t teach then students can’t learn.

Additionally, eLearning makes it difficult for students to focus. I don’t want to return to eLearning because I learn better at school. Even if we have to wear masks, learning at school is better than learning at home.

I am hoping the mask will slow down the virus so I can stay in school, talk to friends and have fun while learning. While masks can be uncomfortable, they are the best way to ensure safety in the classroom.