(WWJ) Voices are equally loud on both sides of an emotional issue concerning the health and safety of children in our state.
While lawmakers in Lansing debate banning mask requirements in schools, a group of Michigan parents is speaking out in favor of a universal mandate.
The Michigan Parent Alliance for Safe Schools, a coalition of parent groups, have launched a statewide petition drive asking the Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to implement an order requiring masks to be worn indoors in all K-12 schools.
Those in favor of mask and vaccine mandates in schools say they are aimed at defend children from COVID-19, and preventing a return to virtual learning, and slowing the the spread of the highly contagious delta variant to the community at large.
"No parents should be threatened for protecting their child," said Emily Mellits, a parent in Macomb County, at a Zoom conference on Wednesday. "We want parents across the state to know you are not alone. We have your backs because parents are united in looking out for our kids.
"Parents concerned about safety will not back down, and we will not be bullied by science deniers in our call for everyone to wear a mask indoors in schools," Mellits said.
Currently, although indoor masking in schools is strongly recommended by MDHHS, there is no statewide edict; with health officials leaving that decision in the hands of individual districts, and local health departments.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says about 60% of Michigan schoolchildren are now covered by mask mandates. In the metro Detroit area, the Detroit Public Schools and Warren Consolidated Schools are two of larger districts requiring masks. Health departments in Oakland, Wayne, Washtenaw, Ingham, Kalamazoo, Allegan, Kent and Ottawa counties have all issued their own school mask mandates.
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Mary Hall-Rayford, who serves on the Eastpointe Community Board of Education, said these vital public health decisions should not be left to school leaders to decide.
"Families shouldn't have to count on school boards for pandemic guidance, because we have no expertise in epidemiology, infectious diseases and mass casualties," she said.
The launch of this petition comes a day after a state Senate committee advanced a package of bills that would ban face mask mandates, as well as COVID-19 testing and vaccine requirements in all K-12 schools in Michigan.
Sen. Tom Barrett, a Republican representing Charlotte, spoke out for the ban, saying parents, not the government, know what's best for their kids. Barrett said each parent should be allowed to decide if their children wear masks or get vaccinated or not, without those choice impacting a students' eligibility to attend public school.
Parents speaking against masks in schools maintain that children are not at high risk of death or serious illness from COVID-19, and forcing kids to mask up can cause psychological harm.
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