New York Schools Lift Mask Mandate for the First Time

By Alex Newcomb

March 2, 2022

The in-school mask mandate will be lifted as of Wednesday, March 2nd. Students and staff will then have the choice to not wear a mask in classrooms for the first time since the pandemic began.

Outside of schools, masks have been a back- and- forth requirement, but due to a recent drop in COVID cases, things have been returning to normal and improving for New York.

Some of those who attend Colonie High School view this as a positive step towards normalcy. Those in favor of the mandate being lifted think it is good to be given the option of wearing one, instead of being forced to.

Isabelle Lewis, a South Colonie student, thinks masks should have been removed earlier.

Mr. LaPoint, a South Colonie physical education teacher, thinks based on research and data now is a good time for them to be removed.

Many students and staff plan on returning to school mask-free. With too many people going without masks, it raises the question whether COVID cases will begin to rise again.

“I feel like everyone here has had it before. I mean it might rise a little because that's what happens,” said Lewis.

“I'm not sure I dont think it’ll change that much but I believe that it is something that we're gonna kind of have to learn to live, kind of like when the flu became a thing,” said LaPoint.

In the past, masks have brought up conflicts in the school between those who are anti mask and those who are pro mask. Teachers and staff have struggled to enforce the mandate as some students refused to wear them correctly. It remains a controversial topic and has the possibility of bringing up conflict once again.

Isabelle Lewis thinks there will be arguments involving teachers and students, due to the ones that have taken place in the past.

Mr. LaPoint thinks the same conflicts will remain that have been the case all along.

“People have strong beliefs one way or another, science vs basic rights. I think that overall as long as you give somebody the option and not make the decision for them,” said LaPoint.

Other restrictions have come and gone so frequently this year, and if it were to follow the trend, there's the possibility of masks being brought back later this school year as well. Some students and teachers think the possibility will always remain.