Dear Governor Abbott,
I am a mother of 3 and working mom. This past year we made the tough decision to keep all 3 of our kids home and do virtual learning through our school district. With so much unknown about the Corona virus, we found it in the best interest and safety of our children to keep them home. That was not a decision that we took lightly. This past year has been extremely difficult for all of us trying to balance the countless zoom calls and assignments while trying to manage my husband and I’s work schedules.
I have to say that I am very impressed with how well our school’s managed to safely allow students to return to the classroom this past year with their many safety protocols such as social distancing, temperature checks and most importantly masks. These protocols have helped keep the kids at school as safe as possible and have stopped I’m sure what would have been countless outbreaks of the virus.
Being comfortable and reassured with how well the school has done keeping the spread of the virus under control, we made the decision to send our kids back to in person school this fall. BUT, then YOU decided to recklessly and negligently not allow schools to mandate masks. There is proof that masks help control the spread of this virus. All the dang hand sanitizer in the world isn’t going to stop a virus that is AIRBORN.
I’m just trying to wrap my head around such a reckless decision. Adults can get vaccinated, yes. But children under the age of 12 CANNOT. You are leaving our unvaccinated children open to a known deadly virus when you can implement a simple safety protocol that would help protect them. WHY would you not do everything in your power to protect our kids? I’m so sick and tired of people like yourself being more concerned with politics than people. Our children deserve better than this. They deserve to go to school in a safe environment. Parents deserve to send their children to school without worrying each day while they are there if they are being exposed to a virus that could potentially kill them or disable them for the rest of their lives. You claim to be pro-life, so start acting like it.
I am begging you to take a stand for our kids. Mandate masks for at least the grade levels that are not eligible for the vaccine yet. It is the most responsible thing you can do to protect our children.
Signed,
An Exhausted Mother Who Wants to Protect her Children
