We, the undersigned, urgently request that Octorara Area School District immediately and fully revoke its policy that students must wear masks (also called face coverings) in order to attend and/or while attending school and while participating in any school events (including but not limited to concerts, sporting events, and clubs).

We assert that:

Parents, adoptive parents, and legal guardians have primary responsibility for the health and welfare of their children. Governments and school districts may not usurp this natural right. Requiring that students wear masks is a violation of civil liberties.

Masks do little to nothing to protect children’s health. Studies and medical literature support this statement. Moreover, very few children have contracted covid-19 and nearly zero have died from it.

Masks harm children’s health. Studies show that masks lower oxygen intake, which can lead to acute or chronic injury and can worsen underlying health conditions. Alarmingly, “interfering with the breathing of a child” is one indicator of child abuse.

Children are in danger of social and emotional harm due to masking. Masks are a tool for “social distancing,” which medical literature clearly equates to social isolation—a human rights violation. Mask wearing is especially cruel to special education students and those with mental health challenges.

Students’ learning is curbed due to masks. Data is emerging to show learning loss, especially in speech and reading. For special education children or English language learners, masks can be a direct violation of “least restrictive environment” under the special education law.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has thrown out the state wide order requiring masks to be worn inside K-12 buildings. Our administration is now using the recommendation (there is no order or mandate) and unattainable numbers of the Chester County Health Department. They are intent on enslaving our children in masks until a vaccine, for which long term side effects are unknown.

We, the citizens, urge this district to stop the policy of “mandated masking.” We look forward to seeing the smiling faces of our healthy children returning­­­ to school without masks.

* Please note: when signing please put your municipality or township in comments.