We are members of the Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork (WSRF) community who are concerned about the renewed push to require children to wear face masks for another year.
For the last one and a half years, children’s lives and their education have been disrupted to an unprecedented extent. We believe this has gone far enough, and at this point masks should be optional.
On July 1, the State of Colorado lifted the mask mandate in schools, and on July 8 the Governor rescinded all statewide health emergency orders. Each school in Colorado may now set its own mask policy. Some local school districts and a number of other schools across the State and the Nation are moving to optional masks.
WSRF has not required masks on campus during the summer, and most students, parents, teachers, and staff have been living their lives normally in recent months.
The scientific evidence shows that children are at extremely low risk to the coronavirus. Vaccines are freely available for adults.
With an optional policy, every member of the community can take steps they feel are necessary to protect themselves, and find their own comfort level, in a way that respect’s everyone’s sincerely held beliefs on this sensitive issue. Forcing a one-size-fits all policy on everyone violates the values of freedom, democracy, a holistic approach to education, and diversity.
We understand that the CDC still recommends masks in schools, and that other members of our community may have different feelings on this issue. There are some older and immunocompromised individuals in our community who may be at higher risk, and we fully support all reasonable efforts to keep them safe.
At the same time, we believe that we cannot put this burden on our children’s shoulders any longer. They have sacrificed enough of their education, their normal development, and the simple joys of childhood. We cannot continue to ask—or force—them to sacrifice more. Covering children’s faces for another year would be detrimental to their mental health, their social and emotional development, their language skills, and many of the other values that Waldorf education holds dear.
It's time to move on and let kids be kids.
We ask respectfully but firmly that masks be made optional for the 2021-22 school year starting August 25.
UPDATE: IF YOU SUPPORT THIS PETITION PLEASE CHOOSE OPTION B.
Updates
July 29, 2021
I have spent my mornings reading through your comments and it is clear that many of you are deeply frustrated by the lack of direct communication from the administration. While things appear quiet on the surface I am continuing to reach out to the board to demand a clear explanation for this policy. Please keep reading these stories because they remind us why we cannot let this become the new normal for our children.
July 29, 2021
Seeing this grow so quickly reminds me how many families at the Waldorf School are feeling the exact same exhaustion I am. I used to worry that my child was the only one struggling with these restrictions, but this response proves that we are united in wanting a more natural classroom environment.
22 Comments
For the physical and mental health of the children, please do not require masks for this coming school year.
It IS science that masks are more detrimental to children than helpful! As grandparents of children in the Waldorf school And in keeping with your established culture of nurture, we pray you will set the children free to be kids and not experiments! Thanks for your care for our grandkids!
I would like my child to go to school without a mask next year. And to see his classmates and peers without a mask as well. I also would like parents to continue to be careful to only send healthy children to school.
How about kids get to be mask free in their home class and wear masks in hallways and In specialty classes. Good compromise!
Of course wearing a mask is not ideal, but my concern still remains: I'm pretty certain that our vaccination rate at Waldorf is well below the 70% needed in order to reach herd immunity. So masks do protect those vulnerable. I was hesitant to sign because I think we’re putting ourselves in a position where we’ll have an increase of positive cases - which will then close school. I think masks should be optional IF parents and siblings can demonstrate vaccination! Please trust science.
I support this petition but I already chose Option A on the survey bc I also don’t want the school to limit family participation and Renault activities. So I don’t know what to do.
UPDATE: IF YOU SUPPORT THIS PETITION PLEASE CHOOSE OPTION B ON THE SURVEY. OTHER RULES MENTIONED IN THE SURVEY (PARENTS ON CAMPUS, PLAYS INSIDE OR OUTSIDE ETC.) MAY HOPEFULLY BE ADJUSTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR BASED ON CONDITIONS AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
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We are members of the Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork (WSRF) community who are concerned about the renewed push to require children to wear face masks for another year.
For the last one and a half years, children’s lives and their education have been disrupted to an unprecedented extent. We believe this has gone far enough, and at this point masks should be optional.
On July 1, the State of Colorado lifted the mask mandate in schools, and on July 8 the Governor rescinded all statewide health emergency orders. Each school in Colorado may now set its own mask policy. Some local school districts and a number of other schools across the State and the Nation are moving to optional masks.
WSRF has not required masks on campus during the summer, and most students, parents, teachers, and staff have been living their lives normally in recent months.
The scientific evidence shows that children are at extremely low risk to the coronavirus. Vaccines are freely available for adults.
With an optional policy, every member of the community can take steps they feel are necessary to protect themselves, and find their own comfort level, in a way that respect’s everyone’s sincerely held beliefs on this sensitive issue. Forcing a one-size-fits all policy on everyone violates the values of freedom, democracy, a holistic approach to education, and diversity.
We understand that the CDC still recommends masks in schools, and that other members of our community may have different feelings on this issue. There are some older and immunocompromised individuals in our community who may be at higher risk, and we fully support all reasonable efforts to keep them safe.
At the same time, we believe that we cannot put this burden on our children’s shoulders any longer. They have sacrificed enough of their education, their normal development, and the simple joys of childhood. We cannot continue to ask—or force—them to sacrifice more. Covering children’s faces for another year would be detrimental to their mental health, their social and emotional development, their language skills, and many of the other values that Waldorf education holds dear.
It's time to move on and let kids be kids.
We ask respectfully but firmly that masks be made optional for the 2021-22 school year starting August 25.
UPDATE: IF YOU SUPPORT THIS PETITION PLEASE CHOOSE OPTION B.
Updates
July 29, 2021
I have spent my mornings reading through your comments and it is clear that many of you are deeply frustrated by the lack of direct communication from the administration. While things appear quiet on the surface I am continuing to reach out to the board to demand a clear explanation for this policy. Please keep reading these stories because they remind us why we cannot let this become the new normal for our children.
July 29, 2021
Seeing this grow so quickly reminds me how many families at the Waldorf School are feeling the exact same exhaustion I am. I used to worry that my child was the only one struggling with these restrictions, but this response proves that we are united in wanting a more natural classroom environment.
22 Comments
I support health freedom and the right to choose how best to care for my body and the body’s of my children.
For the physical and mental health of the children, please do not require masks for this coming school year.
It IS science that masks are more detrimental to children than helpful! As grandparents of children in the Waldorf school And in keeping with your established culture of nurture, we pray you will set the children free to be kids and not experiments! Thanks for your care for our grandkids!
I would like my child to go to school without a mask next year. And to see his classmates and peers without a mask as well. I also would like parents to continue to be careful to only send healthy children to school.
How about kids get to be mask free in their home class and wear masks in hallways and In specialty classes. Good compromise!
Of course wearing a mask is not ideal, but my concern still remains: I'm pretty certain that our vaccination rate at Waldorf is well below the 70% needed in order to reach herd immunity. So masks do protect those vulnerable. I was hesitant to sign because I think we’re putting ourselves in a position where we’ll have an increase of positive cases - which will then close school. I think masks should be optional IF parents and siblings can demonstrate vaccination! Please trust science.
I support this petition but I already chose Option A on the survey bc I also don’t want the school to limit family participation and Renault activities. So I don’t know what to do.
UPDATE: IF YOU SUPPORT THIS PETITION PLEASE CHOOSE OPTION B ON THE SURVEY. OTHER RULES MENTIONED IN THE SURVEY (PARENTS ON CAMPUS, PLAYS INSIDE OR OUTSIDE ETC.) MAY HOPEFULLY BE ADJUSTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR BASED ON CONDITIONS AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
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I support health freedom and the right to choose how best to care for my body and the body’s of my children.