We represent over a thousand families all across the Diocese and a growing number of teachers seeking greater transparency regarding the current mask mandate. The detrimental impact on the health of our kids needs to be immediately considered – here are just a few testimonials:
My son randomly developed a breathing/hyperventilation issue this past summer and we received a mask exemption form signed by his pediatrician given the serious nature of this medical issue. We followed protocol and submitted the form to our son’s school and had it rejected immediately as no medical exemptions are currently allowed. We have been left to decide between our son’s health and his Catholic education.
- Parent at CKS
I have withdrawn my daughter (kindergarten) out of <school name> due to the diocese over reach of power as it pertains to both masks and vaccines. I did email back and forth with the superintendent a bit and he could provide no science or even valid explanation. He was rude and dismissive.
I’ve been in this diocese my entire life. Was married at the cathedral downtown. Graduate of <diocese elementary school> and <diocese high school>.
Happy to help in any way I can and I want to fight this because catholic education is important to me and my family.
- Parent at Diocese School
So glad I found this group. My family was ready to give up on Catholic school for our youngest son due to the mask mandates. He comes home sad every day and asks to go to another school due to the mask policy.
- Parent at Diocese School
I am a mother of three children in the Dallas diocese schools. I have one child in Highschool and two in elementary school.
When school was going to start this year, my kids were very happy the masks were going to be optional. The masks are a distraction and I believe they interfere with my children’s learning. I was relieved the masks were to be a personal choice.
Once school began, the policy changed to mandatory masks. This upset my husband and me but worse, it upset our children very much. My little two both wear glasses. One of my children who wears glasses also has asthma. Because of these things alone, wearing the mask is a struggle, not to mention the fact that they are hot, itchy, cause skin problems and are just plain annoying. Also, the fact that children are touching their masks and taking them on and off contaminates the masks so they are unsanitary as well.
One has stopped wearing her glasses. I cannot get her to wear them to school at all. She needs her glasses to see properly. I worry about her inability to see and therefore learn without them on.
The other had a bad asthma flare 2 weeks ago. He would get very upset on the way to school knowing he had to put the mask on. He would say to me through tears, “I am already having trouble breathing and wearing a mask makes it even harder for me to breathe.” Forcing my children to wear masks when I know it is harming them academically, mentally and physically is not something I believe is right. As their mother, I should be able to decide what is best for my children.
My son had a birthday last week. I got to go to the school and have lunch with him. Lunch time was very sad. It is silent. They are not allowed to talk because their masks are off so they can eat. When they do talk, they get into trouble. I cannot believe this is happening. What a depressing time for our children in school. It felt like a prison.
I am prayerful that your mask mandate will end. I have many friends with children in private schools like TCA, Prestonwood and Legacy Christian. Their children have the option of wearing masks. None of those schools have had any surges in Covid cases nor have they had to shut down. It is important for me to keep my children in Catholic schools as I am a product of Catholic school education. Mask mandates are divisive.
I truly hope you will make the masks optional very soon. We will resume donating to the schools and church at that time.
- Parent at Diocese School
Last year my son started kindergarten. He handled the masking ok. We got fun masks with all his favorite characters to make it as enjoyable as possible.
He was handling it great. Or so I thought.
About a month into school he became irritable in the car on the way to school. Fighting with his younger sister, whining, etc.
Then he became irritable at home. When we (my husband, daughter, or I) would play or tease him, he would burst into tears and leave the room. He would cry this wailing cry and scream for us to leave him alone. Even me, his Momma. I finally would have to hold him in my lap and hug him through his anger before he would calm down.
This happened once a week or so until Christmas break. He was happy, excited to visit family, but what kid isn’t excited around Christmas?
Then we started back to school. The moodiness started again. He had perfect behavior in school, but in the car ride home he would fall apart.
One night after reading and saying our prayers, he told me that he forgot what one of his friend’s faces looked like because of the mask. I talked him through a therapy session as best I could and all of this was because of the masks.
From that night on, my 6 year old who loves school, loves learning, can read everything, cried every night not wanting to go to school. In his words, “I can’t breathe in the masks.” “The masks make me so hot and I can’t breathe.” “When can I hug my friends again?” “I miss my friend’s faces.”
My 4 year old daughter began telling us we couldn’t share toys, stuffed animals, etc. or touch because we had germs. My husband and I looked at each other with a knowing look that we are a society raising a generation of OCD germaphobes. We’ve labeled people as germs or dangerous instead of honoring every person’s human dignity.
Mandates of any kind do not follow Catholic teaching. Our kids are having to carry a burden that is not theirs to carry.
- Parent of children at a Dallas Diocese school
Parents of DDS
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