Why I Don't Wear a Mask

JILLIAN WILLIAMS | OCT. 17, 2021 | OPINIONS

Starting the 2020-21 school year, students who came to school experienced a noticeably different setting from past years. Plastic dividers lined every desk, stairwells were sectioned off, and masks were required to be worn by everyone on campus. It was the consensus of almost everyone within the school system that the new precautions were a definite hindrance to learning environments.

This school year, however, with coronavirus numbers on the decline in Florida, it was decided students would have an opportunity to opt out of wearing a mask to school this school year. This was in compliance with an executive order issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis on July 30, which stated Florida schools were not to implement mask mandates in schools. Gov. DeSantis’ order cited there was no correlation during the last school year between schools requiring masks, or even being open, and overall cases of COVID-19 in communities. Likewise, a study by Brown University found no correlation between the number of COVID-19 cases within schools and schools with mask mandates.

Specifically, within Duval County, COVID-19 cases have been rising. Since the first day of school, about 2,803 total cases have been reported in our county. According to the DCPS COVID-19 Dashboard, there were 18 cases reported at Stanton College Preparatory School in total between the first day of school and Oct. 6. Six of these cases were staff, who are required to wear masks on campus.

The district hoped to resolve this problem through a meeting held on Aug. 23, tasked with redressing the issue in response to parent complaints that unmasked students were responsible for the growing numbers, ending in the decision that masks would be once again mandated in all Duval County public schools beginning on Sept. 7. However, this rise cannot be attributed to the decision not to require masks. DCPS reported approximately 5% of students completed the mask opt-out form this year, a little less than 5,000 students. While some students chose not to wear a mask without completing the opt-out, some students who opted out of wearing masks still decided to continue wearing one. Therefore, less than 5% of students were not wearing masks to school. At Stanton, there are even fewer. In my opinion, the high number of cases cannot possibly be attributed to this tiny population of students, especially considering all students are now required to wear masks regardless.

Even so, unmasked students have garnered most of the blame. While the option not to wear a mask was voted for by the school board, students who chose not to wear masks were vilified both by their peers and the community. This personal decision became a dividing line, ostracizing a group of students who represent a minority opinion.

Many students, including myself, made the decision to unmask this year based upon legitimate concerns. Studies have shown the negative physiological effects of mask-wearing range from headaches and higher temperatures to increased heart rates, blood pressure, and decreased lung function, according to 11 publications including the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. In the article “Is a Mask That Covers the Mouth and Nose Free from Undesirable Side Effects in Everyday Use and Free of Potential Hazards?”, the journal cites specifically there is “a statistically significant correlation in the quantitative analysis between the negative side effects of blood-oxygen depletion and fatigue in mask wearers.” There can also be negative effects from bacterial-related sickness from the prolonged exposure of contaminated fabric to the nose and mouth.

Long periods of mask-wearing also have severe implications on mental health. According to a study conducted in June 2020 by the Institute of Physics entitled, “Effects of wearing masks on human health and comfort during the COVID-19 pandemic,” masks restrict the cognitive abilities of an individual. The study also uncovered significant decreases in performance capabilities among masked individuals, which certainly poses a problem in an educational setting.

What’s more, masks have been shown to affect the esteem of the individual. According to a survey conducted during a study cited within the article by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, it was discovered that over 50% of mask wearers reported depressive feelings outside of preexisting conditions. This demonstrates what I believe is an arguably more pressing mental health risk, especially for young children in schools.

Students wearing masks this year also did so for a valid reason. It is commonly believed masks prevent the spread of COVID-19; however, masks are not foolproof. There is a disclaimer on most boxes of standard disposable masks that they do not prevent the spread of diseases. Especially considering disagreements among health officials about the effectiveness of mask-wearing on preventing COVID-19 in the first place, the risks, to me, outweigh any benefits. 

Personally, my decision not to wear a mask was largely based on this: masks have become less of an issue of personal health and more of a show of virtue. It is no longer a question of whether they are necessary for our health, it is a political indication of the taking of sides. Covering my face with a mask feels like suppressing my voice. I cannot see sense in physically and metaphorically covering my face and my voice purely because it is expected of me. I have experienced scorn from students around me any time I voice my view, from people refusing to sit next to me in classes to literally screaming at me. This backlash has only made me more sure of my decision. This clearly isn’t about what’s best for my health, or that of those around me, but rather an issue of what is considered to be right and wrong.

To me, the role masks should have had in schools this year is obvious— it should be a personal decision made by the students and their parents. DCPS’s decision to reimplement masks goes against state policy, calling into question whether it is even worth it when the decision will ultimately affect so few students. In the long term, the decision to reimplement masks is causing more restriction and won’t cure the inevitability of coronavirus transmission in schools. The risk of illness is inherent in the education system, masks or not. My hope is that when the school board reevaluates the issue in November, it will once again become a personal decision and Stanton, along with the county, will be able to reacclimate to people being unmasked.