A teacher had her mask ripped off her face by a parent at a “meet the teacher” event for Eanes Innovative School District (ISD) in Austin, Texas, WHSV3 News reported.
The day before Eanes ISD was set to restart in-person learning, a protest took place against the school’s mask policy that resulted in a parent ripping a teacher’s mask off her face, WHSV 3 News reported.
TAMPA, FL – JULY 27: Supporters of a mask mandate and anti-mask mandate speak during public comments at the Hillsborough County Schools Board meeting held at the district office on July 27, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended those who are vaccinated should wear masks indoors including students returning to school. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)
Superintendent Dr. Tom Leonard put out a statement clarifying the rules on mask requirements as well as the enforcement steps the school would be able to take.
The school is not able to force children to comply with mask requirements, but they are allowed to “strongly encourage” them to wear masks, according to Leonard’s statement. “Therefore, in Eanes ISD we will highly encourage masks, desire masks and per the Travis County Order, we will mandate masks; however that same County Order states in essence, that we have no legal methods to enforce the wearing of masks. We will not make our staff the “mask police” with no authority to enforce the rule,” Leonard said.
“Please, I am asking everyone to be kind… do not fight mask wars in our schools,” Leonard said. The statement tells those with mask policy disagreements to “please take it outside, off our campuses and out of our schools.”(RELATED: NIH Director Francis Collins Holds Up A Mask And Calls It ‘A Lifesaving Medical Device’)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends all students K-12 wear masks, even if they are fully vaccinated. Parents continue to express concerns about mask rules to school boards around the country.