HB361

Hi members of the House Education and Policy and Administration Committee, I support the banning of mandatory mask policies by school boards and public education agencies requiring students and members of the public to wear a mask for the following reasons: the standard surgical or cloth masks used in these cases are ineffective in preventing virus particles from passing through the mask. Virus particles are small enough to pass through. I Prolonged mask-wearing is a health hazzard to the wearer. Studies have been shown that wearing a mask alters the normal flora bacteria in the mouth, increasing the incidence of tooth decay. There is also the issue of the wearer re-breathing a higher percentage of their exhaled air than they normally would without the face covering, and a lower percentage of fresh air when they inhale, which decreases the concentration of oxygen, and increases the concentration of carbon dioxide in their inhaled breath, which is detrimental to their health. Please vote ITL on mandatory mask policies! Thank you for your consideration! Donna Peterson

I support this bill for too many reasons to list.

Masking children is scientifically ineffective and causes anxiety and hinders social interaction and breathing. Allowing masking will continue to be a catalyst of the exit from public schools, if ever used again.

No to mandatory masks.

No mandatory masks anywhere. If you want to mask up, go ahead.

Psychological and Emotional Effects Increased Anxiety: Masks can heighten anxiety in some children, particularly those with sensory sensitivities or pre-existing mental health conditions. A German study (2021) surveying parents reported that 60% of children experienced irritability, mood changes, or anxiety linked to mask mandates. Reduced Emotional Recognition: Masks obscure facial expressions, which are critical for emotional development in young children. Research from developmental psychology suggests that this can impair a child’s ability to interpret social cues, potentially affecting emotional intelligence over time. Feelings of Isolation: The combination of masking and social distancing measures may amplify feelings of disconnection or loneliness, as noted in anecdotal reports from teachers and child psychologists. Social and Developmental Impacts Speech and Language Development: Masks muffle sound and hide lip movements, which are essential for language acquisition, especially in early childhood. A 2022 study from the University of Miami suggested that prolonged masking could delay speech development in preschool-aged children, particularly those with hearing impairments or language delays. Peer Interaction: Social play and bonding, vital for child development, may be hindered by masks. Children rely heavily on non-verbal communication, and masking can disrupt these interactions, potentially stunting social skills. Educational Consequences Learning Challenges: Teachers and students report that masks make communication harder, especially in noisy classrooms. A survey by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (2021) found that many educators struggled to engage students effectively while masked, potentially impacting comprehension and participation. Attention and Fatigue: Discomfort from masks—whether physical or psychological—can reduce focus and increase exhaustion, as highlighted in parent and teacher feedback during school reopenings. Broader Considerations Limited Evidence of Efficacy in Children: Some studies, like those reviewed by the Cochrane Library (2023), suggest that the effectiveness of masks in reducing viral transmission among children may be less pronounced than in adults due to inconsistent usage and fit. Critics argue that this raises questions about the cost-benefit ratio of masking kids. Disproportionate Impact on Vulnerable Groups: Children with disabilities, such as autism or hearing loss, may experience amplified negative effects, as documented in case studies from special education advocates.

I support this bill and urge a vote in favor.

Please never cover our children’s faces again with dirty masks that impact their speech, health, breathing and learning. Freedom to choose.

I support this bill since our children deserve the best. Masks prevent students from breathing, speaking, understanding what other people say. In addition, masks are filthy if worn for prolonged periods of time. Masks do not prevent infection and if anything, contribute to people getting sick. Please vote "yes".

In my view, it does more harm than good to have children forced to wear masks in school. I think it is clear that it can effect their social development as it makes it harder to hear other people, and it especially makes it more difficult to read body language of other people during such a crucial time in a child's development. Studies have shown that masks also lead to excessive carbon dioxide inhalation when worn for long periods. If that is the case, this is terrible for the brain, that is not my opinion. Even through one's own subjective anecdotal observation you can see that breathing becomes more difficult with a mask on. I'd like to remind everyone that the virus itself is too small for most of the commonly used surgical masks to stop. Having so many of these polyester masks getting made and thrown away everyday is also terrible for the environment. We have enough plastic trash floating around for many generations already. It is my opinion that forcing children to wear masks everyday is psychologically damaging to children because you are forcing them under penalty of detention or revoked recess privileges to put something on everyday akin to a muzzle to "maybe" stop what is only going to present as a flu in most children. Children who are already immuno-compromised should probably choose to wear a mask I will agree but it should be them and their parent's decision. I'd also like to also remind everyone that a mandate is not a law. So therefore when you mandate people to do something and it is not constitutional, you are coercing someone through threat of punishment to do something that they did not vote on or had any say in which therein kicks the can down the road until a member of the public eventually spends the money going to court just to prove that the mandate is unconstitutional.

Mask have been proven to be ineffective especially with children. The human immune system needs to be able to do its job