CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Mask-wearing is not child abuse, and saying so minimizes real problems: Pa. advocates

Patriot-News - 9/17/2021

An army of child welfare advocates are striking back at those who are making claims that requiring children to wear masks in school is a form of child abuse.

A statement issued by three dozen child welfare organizations and advocates said they are “deeply troubled by a growing chorus of Pennsylvanians, including some elected officials, who are equating child abuse with a child wearing a face covering intended to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”

It goes on to say such claims “brazenly diminish the harsh reality of child abuse” and shows “callous disregard” for the lifelong physical, emotional and economic scars such abuse leaves.

“There is nothing in Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law that would, in any way, equate child abuse with a child wearing a face covering during a global pandemic,” states the sharply worded statement released on Friday by the Berks County-based Center for Children’s Justice.

The statement comes in response to criticisms being made in public forums about Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam’s Aug. 31 order requiring, with some limited exceptions, that masks be worn inside school and in child care centers.

Gov. Tom Wolf directed Beam to issue that order after the General Assembly last month declined his request to return to session to vote on a statewide mask mandate. Wolf said he saw it as a way to keep students in school for in-person instruction.

Already this school year, schools have had to close or cancel sporting events due to outbreaks of the virus. That includes Northern York School District which didn’t enforce its mask mandate until Thursday and this week had to switch to remote learning at its high school and middle school due to large numbers of confirmed and pending cases. It also forced the cancellation of last week’s highly anticipated matchup of rivals Bishop McDevitt and Harrisburg High’s football teams.

So far this school year, more than 19,800 COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania involved children between the ages of 5 and 18, according to the state Department of Health’s latest data released on Thursday. That includes 7,215 cases from last week.

Opponents of school mask mandates justify their positions with statistics, studies, and claims that suggest mask-wearing is harmful to children. Statements to that effect are posted on social media and protest signs and presented during public comment sessions during area school board meetings.

At Thursday’s West Shore School Board meeting, a father made the argument that the district’s compliance with the Wolf Administration’s mask order means children likely are wearing moisture-contaminated masks that they are not properly handling. He referred to the masks as “chin diapers.

“If I left my child in a soiled diaper all day, I would hope children and youth services would be called on me to protect my child,” he said, and later asked: “Is children and youth services an option for us if we have concerns over about soiled, contaminated masks being on their faces for too long?”

Rep. Russ Diamond, R-Lebanon County, posted a meme on social media he created showing a picture of a mask with a red diagonal line across it that states, “A Masked Child is an Abused Child.”

Diamond said the meme is intended to start a conversation about the efficacy of masks as well as what he says are potential detrimental consequences they may have on children’s development. He said there are studies out there that argue either way.

“People need to think about these things and sometimes it takes somebody to say something that’s a little over the top in order for people to seriously think about it,” Diamond said. “That’s kinda my job is to make people think.”

Besides, he said Pennsylvania’s definition of child abuse includes situations where a child’s breathing is restricted and “if there is a belief out there this is restricting children’s breathing, well then maybe they should follow that up with a complaint to children and youth.”

Cathleen Palm, founder and executive director of the Center for Children’s Justice, said the child welfare system is already stretched thin and exists to respond to reports of abused children.

“The child welfare system, in no way, should be the place a parent or the public turn to litigate frustrations that are simply and solely related to COVID-19 related masking policies – whether that frustration links back to a child being required to wear a mask or a child being permitted to go without a mask,” Palm said. “Each of us should do our part to speak up for the child being abused and to in no way distract attention or resources away from that child.”

In their statement, the child welfare advocates state that they understand how the COVID-19 mitigation strategies have frayed nerves and patience but adds, “even in these turbulent times, however, we cannot excuse or minimize child abuse. To those who want to minimize children or manipulate the abused child, be assured we are watching.”

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.

©2021 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit pennlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.