GHAPS BOE: Because We Say So.
Review of Feb. 7th, Sourceless Meeting on Universal Masking
Many of us listened to the recent SCOTUS hearings and were somewhat horrified by justices Sotomayor and Breyer making false claims regarding Covid and reading them into the court record. Regardless of the outcome of the arguments made at the hearing, one hopes that however the law is interpreted, it would most certainly be decided on facts. There are not “100,000 children in the ICU nationally,” as Sotomayor claimed, the real number at the time of the hearing was 797, given the 7-day average. Also untrue, are the “750 million positive cases in the US,” as Breyer espoused. [That last one is simple to prove incorrect, a link therefore unnecessary, given the common knowledge that there are only a total of 330 million American citizens. But, I digress.]
Most agree, that it was unsettling to hear our very wise and esteemed justices come ill-prepared for their hearing, with inaccurate data. We expect more than this from our leadership at any level. *At last Monday’s meeting of the Ghaps’ BOE [Monday, February 7, 2022/Central high school], we were unfortunately confronted with the same lack of preparation from our [elected] leaders, as they continue to vocalize their belief in the Universal Masking of our school children.
For many months, we’ve provided the BOE with data. This data proves the lack of effectiveness in the practice of masking, cited mostly by specialized doctors/scientists, that have been widely reported in The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and prestigious medical journals. All of these sources agree that masks don’t work, and, even if they did give a minuscule bit of protection at one point, the science now determines that the risks far outweigh the reward.
Some of the many risks of masking are, speech problems in phonetic development, social development and a mental health crisis in kids of all age groups. I could go on and on with citing studies on cystic acne from dermatologists, poor dental health from Dental experts, yet suffice it to say, there are an abundance of health and educational risks. Some periodicals and journalists even go as far as referring to masking children as a moral crime.
Yet, Board members seemed unimpressed at Monday’s meeting, by the research articles we’d sent them, and that is why I’m also including links here as well, on the topic of morality. If the SCIENCE heretofore doesn’t work for the Ghaps BOE, then it seems reasonable to expect them to be, at the very least, convicted by the immorality of this policy. Unfortunately, they remain UNMOVED by these truths.
Too many medical and scientific professionals with intense credentials agree now, that masks cause harm. This report from an array of doctors [Johns Hopkins, Tufts University, and the University of California] finds earlier “studies” of mask efficacy lacking in research integrity, and goes as far to accuse the CDC of misleading the public. They find little-to-no efficacy for masking children, nor does the Lancet1. Doctors/Scientists from The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, (Dr. Marjorie Smelkinson, Infectious Disease Specialist), and Yale, (Dr. Harvey Risch, epidemiologist) agree. John Hopkins, (Dr. Marty Makary, Surgeon and Researcher) rightfully calls masking children “abuse,” and Harvard’s, Dr. Joseph Allen, (Harvard Professor and Environmental Scientist), agrees as well, against masking schoolchildren.
This level of source material used to mean something.
Instead, at Monday night’s meeting, parents and families were told by Seth Holt that the constituents he runs into at Home Depot prefer to keep the universal masks in place and that this has formed his opinion. He professes he doesn’t pay attention to news [I interpret this as, he is fine to remain uninformed about the changing science via not reading/listening to/reviewing data.] When he shops at Home Depot, he gets ideas from community members that inform his decisions for Ghaps’ children.
Mark Eickholt claims he has received many private emails supporting masks.
But for all of these promises, neither of these board members could show one person in their claimed contingencies (from Home Depot or private emails) who were in attendance Monday night to express that point of view. I mean, just how important is masking kids in school to these constituents? Does it just “sound like” a good idea? Or do they believe the policy is imperative to their health and safety? I would argue that anyone who feels masking children in schools is imperative to their own health and safety, or their child’s for that matter, should not go shopping to the Home Depot.
Nonetheless, if it were that important to the constituency2 of Seth Holt and Mark Eickholt, to the degree that this influences their vote, (which they’ve claimed it does), perhaps these constituents would have the courage, as have we, to come publicly support their point of view [I mean, since they’re not afraid enough of the virus to publicly shop and all…].
*The point is, their constituents of claim were not there and Mr. Holt’s/Eickholt’s “word for it” is the source material on which they claim to rely, when considering a decision on universal masking.
Furthermore, Board President, Carl Treutler read data from the Ottawa County Department of Public Health’s website espousing hospitalizations and percentages of children therein dated January 26, as argument for continued masking. Yet, his source did not cite whether these children were in the hospital “with” Covid or “for” Covid, a ready distinction Dr. Fauci himself has made, explaining the differentiation. Mr. Treutler read the following sentence with a tone of emotional dismay: “In January 2022, MIS-C cases in Ottawa County children reached the HIGHEST3 monthly count of the pandemic!” Shaking his stapled packet of papers at the audience, he expressed frustration over his burden for having to read such devastating materials, declaring, “That’s the summary! THAT’s the information THIS board deals with!”
What Treutler failed to read out loud after he scared everybody with his emotive reading and subsequent soliloquy, was that the “highest” number he made reference to is…..wait for it….
three.
There are three hospitalized children in Ottawa County who have tested positive for Covid according to the January report. These children may have diabetes or any number of contributing factors, yet this additional info of course can not be shared. Don’t get me wrong: these three kids are precious and important. Yet, this number, whether they are in “with” Covid or “for” Covid, doesn’t justify continuing to mask 6000 children in Ghaps, especially when eight of the nine Districts in Ottawa County are not forcing masks. It seems intellectually dishonest to equate the complicated medical situations of three children with the healthiness of 6000 others. Also, it is inept to withhold the number of “three” children, as this is an important caveat to a dramatic reading, since without the caveat, the reading breeds fear.
Furthermore and what is the most troubling, is that most board members expressed their opinions about masks. None of them cited facts/data on mask efficacy. None of them were willing to communicate any scientific data to support why it continues to be necessary to mask children. We’ve been asking them to bring science for over a year, and especially so since January 1st, when the OCDPH dropped their public order and most [now all] districts in our County adopted a mask-optional/recommended policy.
In the meantime, all of the science/data that we, the parents/families have researched and absorb, says the opposite of what the BOE’s opinions claim. The science linked to this article, by scientists, medical specialists and pulitzer prize winning journalists, demonstrates that masks harm children. And yet? The BOE continues to publicly proclaim their opinions, using old talking points [It’s OUR job have to look out for the greater community. The school is an institution obligated to protect all. We need to leave time for more kids to get vaccinated.]
They cited zero science/data regarding mask efficacy vs. harm.
For the time being, the Ghaps BOE have delegated their authority to the Superintendent to decide after February 28, 2022, IF cases drop between now and then, whether or not to continue with masking. They were clear however, that many of them would discuss bringing universal masking back, “if and when necessary.” So, what exactly defines, “necessary?” No one knows. If three hospitalized children in the entirety of Ottawa County is the current metric? Then perhaps, in neglect of readily available science/source material that have already determined that masks cause harm, the Ghaps BOE4 will continue this as long as they prefer.
The Lancet is in the top three most prestigious medical journals in the world, published weekly, with only peer-reviewed studies.
Board members SHOULD listen to constituents. Additionally, in the matter of placing a covering over a child’s face and expecting them to sit in it for 8 hours a day, this becomes a MEDICAL decision. When Board members listen to the constituents regarding a medical decision, they must also and equally remember they have an obligation to devour accurate science from accredited journals/sources if they want the power to decide what is medically best for 6000 children. Otherwise, it enables another constituent to decide a medical decision for someone else’s child.
Emphasis mine, based on Mr. Treutler’s dramatic public emphasis.
It is noteworthy that Barbara Pietrangelo has consistently voted against masks.