The constituents of Halifax Area School District would like to petition the district to make masks optional for students in the 2021-2022 school year. Now that vaccinations are available to anyone over 12 who wants one, masks should be a personal choice at the discretion of each educator, parent, and student.

There are numerous studies and research that not only have highlighted that requiring masks in school has little to no effect on the transmission of COVID-19, but in fact has drawn alarm over the harm they are doing to children both to brain development, social development, and mental health. These studies should not be disregarded in favor of a one-size-fits-all policy led only by one narrative or study of research, but all studies should be taken into consideration for families to make their own health decisions for their children.