Virginia students struggle with school, friendships and the midst of a lot of debate

These people don’t wear masks or have one pulled down under their chins, Swan said. My brain immediately thinks, This person doesn’t share my ideals. We wont get along. She said: They may not be bad people. They might be thinking the exact same thoughts as their parents.

Youngkin issued his Mask-optional orderOn his first day in office, he launched the “Vast Choice” initiative, which gives parents in Virginia the right to choose whether they want to wear masks in public or private schools. It was a fierce battle: Seventy-one out of 131 Virginia school district refused to comply with the order and maintained their mask requirements, according Washington Post analysis. Parents and school officials also filed a series of lawsuits against and for the order. This week, the Virginia General Assembly passed on largely partisan lines a law that requires all schools be mask-optional starting March 1. This will mean that all 1.8 million Virginia public and private schoolchildren will face masking and tensions at school in the days ahead.

Virginia students are now faced with real-life challenges as they try to figure out the merits of masking.

The Washington Post asked parents to share their feelings about school policies and received nearly 200 responses from families who live in at least 25 schools districts.

Some Virginia students were delighted to remove their masks, but soon lost their enthusiasm Administrators in districts that still required masking sent the unmasked children to isolated rooms or back at their homes. Students with special health conditions were shocked to be seated next to their maskless peers. They couldn’t do anything but ask for a change of seats. Students said that teachers often deny their request to change seats, citing instructions from higher-ups to not segregate students by mask status.

Swan said that school feels like a war zone. Every student comes to school with evidence of their politics written across their faces. Swan said that she is not able to speak with students who are wearing masks, as they dismiss the idea and are unwilling to hear another opinion.

Swan stated that she can’t wait to graduate and go to college where she plans on majoring in musical theatre.

She said that masks weren’t required before. This made it worse.

Sam Sweetser, 17 and Andrew Kulak (16).

Youngkins’ mask-optional Order was an immediate hit with Sam Sweetser (and Andrew Kulak) at first.

They are best friends who both attend Deep Run High School in Virginia’s Henrico County. They also swim together as a competitive swimming team outside of school. Andrew waited until September to return from masking, and Sam returned to in person schooling as soon last March as he could.

Sam, a senior 17-year-old, claimed that mask-wearing makes interacting in class discussions and socially difficult. Because everyone’s voices and faces are hidden, it makes it difficult for him to be meaningful. Andrew, a 16 year-old junior, stated that his teachers masks make learning difficult while his mask is distracting.

Andrew said that it can make learning difficult. You can feel the weight of everything on your face. It just makes your face feel thick.

Both boys stated that masks cause them severe acne and irritate their skin below their chins.

The two friends arrived at high school in blissful masklessness on Jan. 24, when Youngkins order took effect. They knew that their district, Henrico County Public Schools was going against the governor’s order. With widespread vaccinations and dropping rates of infection, the teens believe the pandemic is over. They believe it is now time for students to feel more comfortable without masks to enter school.

Sam stated that we felt it was necessary to support mask-optional policies.

Sam and Andrew claimed that administrators directed them to an empty auditorium with about 12 other students who had also arrived at school without masks just seconds after they entered. They allegedly learned asynchronously, meaning they completed assignments without any live instruction. Both boys denied that they did not learn anything.

This continued for a week. Sam stated that the boys were eventually moved from the auditorium to a classroom without lights because staffers had never bothered to turn them off. They were determined to win. The boys claimed that officials allowed the teens back into their classrooms after they continued to show up in masks for the second week. However, they placed plexiglass bubbles around their desks to make them feel like social outcasts.

Andrew said that a teacher placed me in a corner with clear plexiglass. It was so bright that the sun was shining off the board, and I couldn’t see any of it. So I wasn’t learning anything.

According to an email shared by The Post, officials informed students without masks that school was ending its previous accommodations in place of mask use. This apparent reference to the Plexiglass meant that they would inform them that students would face disciplinary action for continuing to attend school without covering their faces. Soon after, Andrew and Sam gave in.

Eileen Cox, a spokeswoman for Henrico Schools, replied in an email to questions about the account for boys. She stated that the district continues communication with families regarding expectations for masks and that it is open to working with families to address concerns.

Both teens stated that they noticed a difference in the way some people treated them at school. Other students who support masking have stopped speaking with the boys: They treat us like an embarrassment.

They said that even though both boys started going to school again, the social ostracizing continued.

Sam stated that he feels stressed about school since Youngkins’ mask-optional order came into effect. Although he appreciated Youngkins’ efforts, he said that he wished the governor had made the rules clearer. He wants the adults not to fight and to come up with solutions.

Sam has been forced twice to stay home from school because of the consequences of the masking fracas.

Sam said, “It’s not something I can deal with today, Sam.” You can’t do it.

Andrew described school as a very toxic environment. It’s just day after daily that I don’t look forward to going back to school.

Angela Rivera knew what it meant to speak at Loudoun County Schools Board meetings. She was well aware that the county, which is very wealthy and divided politically, has been in the national spotlight almost two years ago for its ongoing, raucous educational culture wars. She was aware that a board meeting that was charged last year ended in an arrest. Masking is a topic that upsets a contingent of predominantly White, conservative parents who voice their discontent at nearly every board meeting.

I wanted to ensure students’ voices were heard.

Angela Rivera (18), Park View High School

Angela, who is Hispanic, serves as student board representative. She felt she had no choice but to support school mask-wearing in light of the governor’s challenge. She planned to thank Loudoun for their continued mask mandate and take the pandemic seriously during a meeting in January.

Angela, 18, said that she wanted to speak as a student because it is rare to see this on the news. Angela wants to pursue a career working with social workers. Parents are fighting for it. Adults are fighting for it. I wanted to ensure students’ voices were heard.

Hers was almost not on that cold Tuesday night.

She was just halfway through her first sentence, thanking the schoolboard, when a group predominantly White parents started shouting. She couldn’t make out the words but she could tell they were disagreeing. She heard laughter and stuttering. She saw her parents raising signs in the air and pointing them at her. She suddenly found it difficult to read their slogans.

She was then unable to speak. She cried and left the room, leaving her speech unfinished.

Angela stood in a bathroom to calm down and remind herself why she was there. Angela reflected on the reasons masking is important and pictured the small classrooms at Park View High, which she stated is in dire need of renovations. Angela stated that social distancing at Park View is impossible and that teens aren’t always the best in hygiene. She also thought about her elderly family members, who would be at high risk of contracting the coronavirus if they were to get it.

She said that the pandemic was bigger than any one person, and more than any political beliefs, desire to be a hero or set of bruised emotions. She had a realization.

Angela said, “I tried to say in my mind that Im not speaking for them.” I’m speaking to the school board because the school board is supposed be there for students.

She returned to the meeting and read her speech aloud.

Angela said that students must be masked to protect themselves and their families.

Nearly three weeks later Loudouns superintendent announced that all students and staff would be exempt from wearing masks, effective immediately. This was in response to a Virginia school-masking law and a court order.

Elizabeth Eads, 13 and John King, 10, respectively

John King’s glasses fog up every time he puts on his mask.

The 10-year-old child, who attends elementary school in Virginia Beach City Public Schools’, finds it difficult to see what is happening in front of him. Johns school system recently made masks non-required. However, his mother is waiting until infection rates drop to opt him out.

John is now unable to remove his mask at school and has given up his glasses. He keeps them in his backpack, but they are useless during class. The fourth-grader is mad because he can’t learn well.

John stated that masks should not be worn anywhere. He pointed out that more than 70% of Virginia’s population is vaccinated against coronavirus. per state data). Why must I wear a mask?

Elizabeth Eads, thirteen years old, is situated in Rockingham County Virginia, approximately four hours away.

Elizabeth believes masking should always be done for many reasons. But her grandfather, whom Elizabeth calls Papaw, is the most important. He is Elizabeth’s favorite person, but he’s not always well. He has a chronic illness that causes his airways to collapse and congestive heart failure.

Before the pandemic, she loved spending time with Papaw, who is now 91, and they enjoyed eating together almost every day. Since her school made masking mandatory, she rarely sees Papaw except to drop off groceries.

Elizabeth arrived at her small, Christian private school today and found that almost the entire student body was unmasked. This makes her anxious for Papaw.

Let’s say I got covid from school…. Papaw would need to go to hospital. Elizabeth said that Mom would be in quarantine because she would not be able to take him. Dad would also be in quarantine.

Because Elizabeth’s grandmother is unable to handle highways, Elizabeth would not be able to drive Papaw there. Elizabeth said that it would be difficult to get him to the doctor.

One of Elizabeths closest friends prefers to go unmaskless, she said. It has been difficult. Elizabeth was able to approach her friend and explain her concern about Papaw. Elizabeth seemed to understand her grandfather’s desire to protect him. She wears a mask to school, but it sometimes slips under her nose.

Elizabeth is now reluctant to discuss pandemic safety with the majority of her grade’s maskless students. When their conversations veer towards politics, Elizabeth diverts the conversational and sometimes asks about the other students’ dogs. If she doesn’t have a dog, she will bring up dogs and how wonderful they can be.

Elizabeth used to debate politics with one boy in particular. She said that something had changed. At this point, it is clear to me that he won’t change his mind. He’s simply consuming right-wing media, she said. It’s all I can do.

If Elizabeth is unable to find a way to get the discussion off of masks, especially with that boy, she simply leaves.

She said that if I get involved, it would lead to me getting too involved. She said that thoughts of Papaw would intrude and I would start screaming, yelling or crying.

She doesn’t want her fellow classmates to see her crying.

Caleb Joines likes school. Because he loves graphic novels, English is his favorite subject.

The 12-year-old’s mind has been far away from academics in recent years. He is putting his life in danger every time he enters Elizabeth Davis Middle School in Chester.

Youngkins’ mask-optional order, which Youngkins declared was a scary change for school, has made it even more frightening. Because I have severe pulmonary issues.

Caleb was born with esophageal and tracheoesophageal Fistula. These are two long words that indicate that the pipes Caleb uses to breathe don’t fit together correctly. Caleb can’t recall a time when he didn’t sometimes wheeze, which often led him to have an asthma attack. His mother said that he spent most of his childhood in hospitals, which led to more lung problems.

Caleb was temporarily unable do most physical activities for a while. Caleb started allergy shots and began using them. It was an inhaler, but the pandemic ravaged it.

Calebs parents and doctors warned him that he had a greater chance of dying than his friends. He can still recall the moment his mother broke the news to Caleb, during the pandemic.

Caleb said that it was a disease, or something, and she just said that it was. It could also cause me severe pain.

Caleb found himself sitting next to a non-maskless classmate four times since Youngkin made masks mandatory. Caleb has quietly asked to be moved every time he approached the teacher.

Caleb stated that he would never raise his concerns to his classmates, who are not maskless. He doesn’t think they would be able to understand his lungs. He doesn’t think they will listen. He doesn’t believe they would listen even if they did.

They would most likely be rude to him and say that it is their decision if they wear masks.

Caleb first asked his teacher to move him. A different teacher stated that she was not familiar with the rules and had the principal check. Caleb was taken aside by the principal and he gave a lengthy speech about how it was wrong and against district policy to separate mask-wearers from maskless people. Caleb and his mother agreed to move him, but it was an awkward, painful ordeal.

Teachers moved him three and four times without any difficulty.

Caleb said that school is now scary twice: First, he fears being seated next a student who is not wearing a mask. He is also afraid of what might happen to him if he asks for a different seat.

He said that the former fear would always outweigh any later. He will continue to ask to sit somewhere else, regardless of adult disapproval from his teacher, his principal, or the governor of Virginia.

Caleb said that I don’t want to end up in the same hospital again. I don’t want to be connected to machines and hear people talk about how long they think it has been since I left.

Story editing by Janel Davies and Adam Kushner. Mark Miller did the photo editing. Audio by Ariel Plotnick. Melissa Ngo did the copy editing. Design by J.C. Reed.