We the Parents of Smithtown Central School District are demanding parent choice when it comes to mask wearing during the 2021-22 school year.

This petition is in favor of mask choice for school aged children grades K-12 in Smithtown Central School District (SCSD). We are calling on our school board and district administrators not to mandate masks for the 2021-22 school year. Parents should have the choice of having their child wear a mask in school.

Camps and other events have taken place all summer on SCSD property with masks being optional. Social media accounts controlled by SCSD have shown numerous times children attending these camps and events had the option of wearing a mask.

With teachers, staff and other adults all having had the opportunity to be fully vaccinated, the perceived risk of children spreading the virus to adults has been removed. Additionally, children have little to no chance of contracting COVID-19 and spreading it.

There is no public health justification for forcing children to wear masks in school. When balanced against the physical, mental and emotional harm that is now becoming evident, it is clear that masks do more harm than good including anxiety and depressive feelings. Further, it has been proven time and time again that masks cannot not stop the spread of a virus due to the size of a virus. A virus is so small that it can still pass through microscopic holes in a mask.

Enough is enough and the only answer to mask wearing during the 2021-22 school is

IT'S UP TO THE PARENTS!