We are petitioning Governor Holcomb and the Indiana Department of Education to remove the mandate of masks(Executive Order 21-02) based on numerous concerns, some of which include the following: Health risks associated with wearing masks, the spirit of fear within the student body that it can foster, the fact that the parents right and duty to make a choice for their child's best interest has been removed, the increased anxiety level generated that negatively impacts a learning environment, the decrease in development of social skills due to loss of facial expression, furthermore the state mandates are an overreach by the state under our constitutional form of government.

What psychological harms does it potentially cause – especially for our youngest learners and those with special needs? Masks create a physical distraction to students and prevent students and teachers from effectively communicating. How can therapists effectively treat children with special needs who need to see mouth movement and facial expressions?

For all students, masking and social distancing create fear of germs around us (i.e., the world is a scary place to be feared) and teach children that isolation and lack of contact are acceptable, rather than teaching the concepts of working together, making friends, playing together, and sharing. These laudable societal goals are forbidden or severely restricted by social distancing and masking. Children are taught that their friends and teachers are to be feared. Is that how we want our children to grow up?