Students split on mask vs. maskless
April 5, 2022
Among the student body, whispers can be heard, of people with masks judging those who don’t have them on. The majority of Morton East students can be seen wearing mask, now we wonder if the majority also agrees with the school mask mandate.
On February 28, 2022, Governor Pritzker signed an Executive Order lifting the mask requirement in most indoor settings. In accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, the executive order also lifts the mask requirement in K-12 schools and daycares. Chicago also ended its proof of vaccination requirement. Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike explained that schools need more time to see less community spread, vaccine eligibility for younger kids, and more parents getting their kids vaccinated. It’s advised for people with certain health conditions, as well as those who are not vaccinated, to continue wearing masks, particularly an N95 or KN95.
In a small survey of 10 students, 5 of them said they agree with the mask lift mandate in school.
“I am neutral cause people already don’t have masks on in the lunchroom, including teachers, so really the spread of covid will be practically the same,” senior Enoc De Jesus said.
Another is neutral too.
“I wear my mask off and on because sometimes I just need to breathe,” senior Angel Soto said.
Though some were neutral, most students did not agree with the mask lift mandate.
“I don’t agree with the mask lift mandate because Covid is still around us and we should take precautions, especially in our packed hallways. However, I do agree with Enoc in how we still end up taking them off in the cafeteria and could possibly end up spreading covid,” senior Karla Gomez said.
Another student goes adds-on.
“I don’t agree with the mask life mandate because people aren’t required to wear masks anymore & they’re also not required to be vaccinated. They should have one or the other,” senior Itzel Barraza said.
Most students wear masks as a health precaution, others wear it for different reasons.
“I prefer wearing my mask because I make too many facial expressions. With the mask, nobody ever knows what [face] I’m doing,” senior Baudelio Martinez said.
Vianny • Apr 14, 2022 at 1:37 pm
This gives good information from different students and the different opinions they have about the masks. I do think they should’ve also asked teachers and staff as there are some who do and don’t wear masks. Ultimately it’s your decision if you want to wear one or not. For me I would rather just be safe and wear a mask.
Melissa M • Apr 6, 2022 at 2:57 pm
This has been giving more information on such a controversial topic at school. Although we only see the students opinion it would have been good to see what the staff of Morton thought about it because some still continue to wear masks while others don’t.
Alexis • Apr 6, 2022 at 9:42 am
I feel that it’s an individuals responsibility to keep themselves and to make their own decisions so if an individual chooses to wear a mask for their safety then they do that but some may feel that masks are overbearing it’s just based off the individual.
Esther • Apr 6, 2022 at 9:41 am
This is super informational, we get to hear the various opinions of students in the school about how they feel towards the mask mandate being lifted in indoor settings. I would have like to see some teachers opinion on this because some teachers have stopped wearing their masked while others haven’t. Bringing in the opinion of teachers would have been interesting.
Aldo Reyes • Apr 6, 2022 at 9:25 am
I feel like students of Morton should wear a mask because what if one day another outbreaks occurs and one student who doesn’t wear a mask spreads the virus?