NEW JERSEY (VINnews) — Orthodox Jewish educators blasted a new mask mandate imposed last week on school children in Paterson, New Jersey, calling it “insanity” and “disgusting”.
They noted the irony of Paterson’s mayor publicly affirming the necessity to force innocent adorable kids who have effectively zero risk of death to sit uncomfortably all day, while he himself was unmasked.
Ah, the optics.
At the press conference announcing the mandate, Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh was asked by a reporter why those announcing the mandate had taken their own masks off. He replied, “Well I took it off to speak.”
So apparently the virus cannot be transmitted while speaking? Hey, at least he didn’t say he took it off because he is a grown-up.
*I took my mask off to speak* must mean that he believes that it's better to communicate your words when you are maskless.
Now you know how all of these students feel.
Repeating our masking mistakes is insanity. We've learned absolutely nothing, and kids will suffer for it. https://t.co/NETBItsK9h
— Joel M. Petlin (@Joelmpetlin) January 5, 2023
Joel Petlin, superintendent of the Kiryas Joel school district, replied to the video clip of the mayor, saying: “*I took my mask off to speak* must mean that he believes that it’s better to communicate your words when you are maskless.Now you know how all of these students feel. Repeating our masking mistakes is insanity. We’ve learned absolutely nothing, and kids will suffer for it.”
-“Paterson children must mask in class and speech therapy. No exceptions.”
-“So why did you take off your mask?”
-“Well I took it off to speak, and I’m boosted!”
Disgusting elitism and cruelty.pic.twitter.com/DPm6rA7s3t
— Justin Spiro, LCSW (@Jusrangers) January 6, 2023
Orthodox social worker Justin Spero blasted the mayor as well, tweeting: “Paterson children must mask in class and speech therapy. No exceptions. “So why did you take off your mask? “Well I took it off to speak, and I’m boosted!” Disgusting elitism and cruelty.”
Ann Arbor Superintendent Jeanice Kerr Swift just mandated masks on all students.
Here she is three days ago accepting an award, smiling ear-to-ear with no mask in sight.
Living a normal adult life while forcing masks on speech-delayed 4-year-olds is the definition of cruelty. pic.twitter.com/xYizSlRD3O
— Justin Spiro, LCSW (@Jusrangers) January 8, 2023
Several districts in New Jersey recently imposed the mandates. Effective last Tuesday, students and staff in Paterson must wear masks indoors, following in the footsteps of the Passaic School District, which reinstated the policy before winter vacation. The Camden City School District also announced a mask mandate for two weeks at 18 of its schools.