Lakota Mask Mandate Continues
October 19, 2021
After Lakota Superintendent Matt Miller announced the mask mandate for the start of the 2021-22 school year, there have been many mixed reactions regarding it. Some believe there is still a strong necessity to pursue a mask mandate while others think the opposite. It was decided last week by the Lakota Board of Education to continue with the mandate after examining the benefits of wearing masks, along with the higher number of positive cases in comparison to the 2020-21 school year.
According to the statistics sent out by Mr. Miller via email, there were only 20 positive cases among students during this time last year. Currently, there are just over 300 positive cases among the student body, showing the reason for the continued mandate. Additionally, Mr. Miller stated that a total of 1,748 students have avoided being quarantined just by simply wearing a mask.
Although some are opposed to the idea of wearing a mask, it seems like the easiest way to avoid the disruption of one’s education. As many students experienced last year, being quarantined made it difficult for many students to keep up with school work and learning. By continuing to wear a mask, for the time being, kids will be able to remain in school and learn more efficiently.
Mr. Miller concluded with a hopeful statement, suggesting that when cases go down, the mask policy may shift. But for now, the masks remain.
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Myra O’Aku aka (Lil MyMy) • Oct 25, 2021 at 4:37 pm
I personally don’t like masks and I think it should be optional for vaccinated kids and mandatory for Unvaccinated kids because vaccinated kids have more protection to this virus than unvaccinated kids and doing this will help more people to get vaccinated because the majority of the unvaccinated people refuse to wear masks
Kevin Z. • Oct 22, 2021 at 12:12 pm
I personally like masks. I cannot comprehend how people can even take off their masks. I feel like half of my respiratory organs are destroyed whenever I take off my mask to eat. Wearing masks makes me feel more secure but not necessarily protected. If they lift the mask mandate, I hope they allow us to continue wearing our masks if we want to.
Amya Winbush • Oct 22, 2021 at 11:56 am
I think that the mandate is very necessary because there are some people that can’t get the vaccine or have little siblings at home like me and they don’t have a vaccine for them yet so I feel that wearing a mask is very important and you never know the circumstances for others so just be mindful of others when you don’t think that masks necessary.
lauren • Oct 22, 2021 at 11:47 am
It’s great that 1,748 students avoided being quarantined by wearing masks!
Everett Kokotajlo • Oct 22, 2021 at 8:45 am
I feel like masks should be optional for any students who have been vaccinated. I feel that they should still be required for un-vaccinated students, as they are less protected and more vulnerable to being hospitalized by COVID-19
KK • Oct 21, 2021 at 12:21 pm
Great article Elise
madelyn power • Oct 21, 2021 at 11:36 am
love this article!!!!‼️‼️‼️‼️ when i get my booster vaccine shot though, i don’t want to have to wear it anymore