MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In Tuesday’s Ransom Note: after frontline workers, a big thank you to our principals and teachers. think about it. They've had to follow policies that seem to be influenced more by politics than what's best for our kids’ health.
In late July and early August, one by one each school district announced whether it will have a mask mandate. But then on August 6, the Friday before most schools start class, the Shelby County Health Department issued a mask mandate for all schools, public and private.
On August 16, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed his executive order saying, no more mandates, parents can choose to opt their children in or out. Then the next day, the Shelby County Health Department said, no, the school mask mandate will stay in place, and at the same time, state lawmakers threatened to call a special session to ban all mask mandates.
Throw in a few quarantines, some parents who I'm sure have been very difficult, plus all the other COVID chaos, and somehow schools are supposed to teach our children? Educators are taught to provide the best education they can in a safe environment. These days, that has to be an almost impossible challenge.