Why conflict with children wearing masks?

September 7, 15:40

Should schools require children to wear masks?

In the United States, where the number of people infected with the new coronavirus is the highest in the world, parents' opinions are divided.

What is in the background?

Going to America, which has reached the new semester.

(Los Angeles Bureau Chief Jun Oikawa)

The country “wears a mask is essential”

In the United States, August-September is the beginning of a new school year.

In line with this, at the CDC = Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is a countermeasure against the new corona, all children, students and faculty members wear masks indoors as a countermeasure against school infections as the mutant virus "Delta strain" spreads in late July. Recommended to do.

Los Angeles, Western California.

During the summer vacation, pamphlets explaining infection control at school were distributed to each household.

The first item in the list of measures is wearing a mask at school.

In Los Angeles, a new semester of elementary and junior high school and high school began on the 16th of last month.

At the elementary school I visited, all the children wore masks and went to school.

Second grade children

"If you wear a mask, you won't get infected and you won't spread it, so you can rest assured."

Parents

"Children play and interact with friends. Wearing a mask is very important."

In Los Angeles, many people are in favor of wearing a mask.

Before the start of the new semester, I attended an online parent-teacher association at an elementary school in Los Angeles where my children attend.

The principal explained about infection control measures such as wearing a mask, but no guardian opposed wearing a mask.

There was no objection.

"Wearing a mask is child abuse !?"

But looking across the United States, not all people agree.

In states where opposition and Republican parties are strong, there are movements in various parts of the country that oppose the obligation.

Southern Florida is the forerunner of these movements.

Due to the spread of "Delta strains", the worsening of the infection situation is the most serious in the United States.

Still, in the heart of Miami, Florida's leading city, there are many people walking around without masks.

Last month, in Fort Lauderdale, about 40 minutes' drive from Miami, parents protested against the county's decision to require masks.

About 50 people participated.

The placards even said, "Take off our children's masks," "schools don't have the same rights as parents," and even "wearing masks is child abuse."

Why is Mask in dispute?

Why do parents strongly oppose the mandatory wearing of masks?

In fact, in the United States, wearing a mask has become a symbol of the division between liberalism and maintenance.

In the United States, for example, it has been argued that wearing a mask when entering a store should be obligatory, but each time the conservatives say that it goes against the founding idea of ​​the United States of respect for freedom and wears it. There was dissenting opinion that he should be left to the freedom of the individual.

That is the form that erupted again in the new semester.

Earon Garberg, who hosted the demonstration, emphasized.

Mr. Garberg

"We live in a society where masks are not compulsory."

And Mr. Garberg complained to President Biden of the ruling and democratic parties that he could not see the end of the infection with the new corona.

Mr. Gabagu

"but Biden President had said that to overcome the new corona, it has not improved the situation even after one and a half years the start of the pandemic."

However, it seems that not all parents in the area are against it.

At the protests, some people were in favor of the obligation, and they argued loudly with Mr. Garberg, saying, "We should think about how many people have died in the new Corona."

Governor of parent Trump boosts protest movement

The confrontation with Florida's Governor Desantis's Biden administration has fueled the movement of parents against the mandatory wearing of masks.

Opposition and Republican Governor DeSantis is known for his close relationship with former President Trump.

Governor DeSantis signed an executive order saying that "parents, not schools, have the right to decide on their child's health."

The unusual content is that financial support can be withheld for school districts that do not follow the governor's policy of opposition to mandatory obligations.

In response to this, the top of the education administration sent a warning letter, saying, "We will suspend the salary payment of the school district executives who decided to make it mandatory," and executed it.

A Florida court ruled on 27th last month that the order would not be granted, but Governor Desantis will appeal, raising concerns about confusion at school.

Governor DeSantis is one of the nationally known politicians.

When considering the step-up of political activities in the future, it seems that the aim is to strengthen the support of conservatives in Florida.

Mask controversy is party confrontation

The controversy over wearing masks has now become a confrontation between political parties, resulting in state-by-state responses.

Many states that require the wearing of masks at schools are California, New York, and Washington, where the ruling and Democratic parties are said to be strong.

On the other hand, the states that the governor opposes the obligation include many states such as Texas, which are said to have strong opposition and Republican parties, in addition to Florida.

Republican governors in these states are opposed to the CDC's policy of keeping pace and recommending that masks be worn.

In response, President Biden strongly criticized in the middle of last month, "We are trying to argue for our political interests. Don't let us get in the way of fighting the new Corona."

The controversy is showing signs of further escalation, with the state's move to block the mandate to take legal action.

In an opinion poll conducted by the Associated Press and others last month on about 1,700 people in the United States, more than 80% of the ruling and Democratic Party supporters answered that they were in favor of wearing masks at school.

On the other hand, more than 30% of opposition and Republican supporters.

Disagreements are highlighted, and filling the gap may not be easy.

The background of the intensifying controversy

Why does the compulsory wearing of masks lead to fierce controversy?

Journalist Abner Howgie, who is familiar with American conservative politics, analyzes the people at the core of the movement against mandatory wear.

Mr. Howgie

"The

protesters

are those who are dissatisfied with lockdowns and wearing masks, and they support their claims at the expense of the safety of others. We are supporting politicians. "

Conservatives who develop opposition have a strong dislike of liberal values ​​and also believe in so-called "conspiracy theories" such as "vaccines contain microchips". Because there are people, there is no room for dialogue with those who insist on compulsoryness.

Public health experts are concerned

But does this situation benefit American children who go to school?

Professor George Rutherford of the University of California, San Francisco, who specializes in public health, said that in the United States, even if the CDC recommends wearing masks nationwide, specific measures such as legislative measures are left to each state. Point out that being a bottleneck is a bottleneck.

On top of that, he expressed great concern that differences in parents' political positions could affect the health of their children.

Professor Rutherford

"It is unacceptable that there are large regional differences in mandatory masks and vaccination. Masks are the only way to protect children under the age of 12 who are not vaccinated from infection, and more people are against wearing them. Please understand that the infection will spread and the pandemic will be prolonged. "

It can be said that the controversy over wearing masks at school has once again revealed the depth of division in American society.

I also felt that the current situation of social dissatisfaction that the pandemic did not converge even after a year and a half was serious.

Los Angeles Bureau Chief

Jun Oikawa

Joined in 1994

After working for the

Political Department and the General Bureau of the United States (New York)

, he has

been in his current position since 2019.