[UPDATED WITH SCHOOL RESPONSE] Mother of Guilford County High School Student Blasts School Leaders in Letter for Making Kids Wear Masks During Practice, Exercise

HIGH POINT – “When a kid dies under your watch for blindly following insane mandates, you will be responsible for that death.”

Those are the words from a mother of a Southwest Guilford High School student to school administrators after learning that students are being forced to wear face masks during intense exercise and sports practices.

The letter (names and identifiers have been redacted by request):

 

Pandemic Panic is surging all over again, but this time it doesn’t enjoy the cloud of uncertainty around the virus. The pathogen affects the older and infirm most severely, it has an over 99 percent survival rate, and it barely, if ever, touches children.

Moreover, in the last several months of lockdowns, restrictions, and shaming from public officials and sanctimonious neighbors, curious individuals have been able to dig up all the ‘science and data’ on masks that some just don’t want you to see.

There is more than enough ‘science and data’ to cast doubt on mask mandates.

Far from not ‘getting behind the mask’ in general, however, this mother is incensed specifically because kids (who are already at minimal risk) are being forced to cover their faces while also doing heavy aerobic activity.

If you’ve ever played a sport, and endured a long practice or tough game, you know what being winded feels like. Now, imagine doing all that, and trying to catch your breath…while wearing a mask over your mouth and nose.

In the name of fear, we’ve embraced feel-good practices that are far more dangerous than they are effective. This Guilford County Mama Bear has had enough of the terrible farce that is Pandemic Panic, especially when it means schools are putting her kids in known danger in order to pretend they are keeping them safe from something we know doesn’t present a serious risk to children.

[UPDATE — School Principal Responds]

The principal of the Guilford County High School has responded to the concerned mother. (Emphasis added)

“Good afternoon Mrs. [REDACTED],

I appreciate your concern and want to provide you with accurate information.

Here are the mask expectations for Swimming and W. Lax:

               Swimming: No masks during pool time activity. Masks must be worn when swimming is not occurring (inside, outside, poolside, etc).

1. 1. Lax: Masks must be worn inside and out except during running and high intensity activities. If the athlete has a lung or heart issue with a doctor’s note, the mask can be taken off.

At this current moment, the only sports that masks are mandatory for practice are Volleyball and Cross Country.  Swimming is two days a week conditioning only and the masks would not be worn during high intensity training.

Please let me know if I can clarify any concerns in the future.

Thank you,

Mike Hettenbach

Principal

We Stand Together 

Equality and Equity Matters”

The principal seems to want to clear things up: no masks are required while swimming.

Now that is funny.

Fortunately, he also mentioned that students aren’t required to wear masks for lacrosse while engaging in high intensity activities and running. That’s good.

However, he then mentions that masks are mandatory for volleyball practice and cross-country practice. We could be wrong, here, but practicing for cross-country running would be…running.

The best thing to takeaway is that kids aren’t being forced wear the masks while huffing and puffing through a practice. Except when they are.

The kicker, though, is the principal’s woke sign off: Equality and Equity Matter.

But not the real science and data concerning kids, coronavirus, and face masks, apparently. At least parents know where the priorities are.