Last week, about 100 community members congregated on the sidewalk in front of the school to protest the new mask mandate. Due to the concerning amount of positive cases in not only the school district, but the town in general, the school board decided at the Nov. 9 school board meeting to put our school into a universal mask mandate, with the end date yet to be determined.
This policy was put in place by the school board to coincide with what the NH State Department of Health Safety deemed a substantial spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The reasoning behind this decision was stated in an email Superintendent Scott Laliberte sent to families in the district on Nov. 11:
“The primary statistic that will be used to determine the use of universal masking will be the ‘Substantial Community Spread’ in the town of Londonderry, as indicated on the State Department of Public Health dashboard,” Laliberte said. “At present, that spread is in the ‘substantial’ range, which results in universal masking throughout the district.”
However, some people throughout town are less than pleased with the idea of the district requiring masks in the school buildings, as made clear by comments made during recent school board meetings. While this disruptive behavior is not anything new, we should not begin to normalize it.
These townsfolk say they are protesting masks for their children’s safety and to preserve the human right to choose what they do with their own body. But are they really protecting their children?
Masks have been proven to help diminish the spread of COVID-19. We know that there may be breakthrough cases in certain situations, but wearing a mask helps protect not only those wearing it, but the others around them who are too stubborn to wear one.
Most students, at least at the high school, have been able to abide by the mandate with little to no issue. Again, for the most part. Of course there are students who refuse to have their masks over their noses, and there were students who left class to protest with the others on the sidewalk, but it is apparent that adults are the ones with the most to complain about.
Are these students truly affected by the masks, or are their parents just projecting their own opinions onto their children? Are the children the ones throwing temper tantrums? And even if they are, are they just following in their parents’ footsteps?
This behavior has been humored for too long at this point. And although it provides endless entertainment for those of us watching, this behavior should not be tolerated any more in the school district setting. The school board will be watching the State Department of Public Health’s dashboard to make their decision to lift the mask mandate based on those statistics.
The school board and district administration are just following the recommendations provided to them. These decisions aren’t just being made without being backed up by reasonable evidence.
We are not saying you cannot protest, you absolutely have the right to, but at least do your research and confront the correct organization.
So Londonderry townspeople, go ahead and protest the mask mandate. (Even though it was put in place by a group of people trying to keep your children safe and healthy.)
It’s your right.
But next time, take your protest to the State Department of Health. Not to Mammoth Road.
Nicole
Dec 11, 2021 at 8:21 am
Great job to the editorial team, and beautiful responses here from the student body. Of course you should write about things like this, and yes your voice absolutely matters. Thank you for your bravery. Don’t let this small group of nay sayers get to you!
Proud Lancer mom
Dec 8, 2021 at 7:33 am
Brilliant article! This goes to show that our students are smarter than some of the adults in this town
From Afar
Dec 7, 2021 at 7:32 pm
To the student(s) who wrote this, thank you. Your response to what is happening in your town and in your school was well articulated and backed with verifiable facts. To those “adults”, I use this term loosely, you could take a moment and learn something from this. I often wonder how many of you actually listen to your children. My elementary age children, who attend school in this district, understand the basic concept of community and social responsibility. They have stated that they don’t want to wear masks. Then again, nobody wants to. However, they understand the reason behind it. They understand it is to keep their friends safe. They also understand that our approach will change as the science changes. They know that’s how science works. As a scientific researcher myself, I have gone through many times when I think my hypothesis was right only to test it again to find it was wrong. My entire approach had to change. My opinions are not made from what the media chooses to report on. I have read the research articles with a critical eye as many in my field do. The decisions from state level government are made using similar methods. I urge anyone here who believes them to be misguided to take the time you use ranting here, on the sidewalk outside of the school, or in the school board meetings to instead use your time to disprove the peer reviewed scientific research with peer reviewed research of your own. A simple literature review could suffice. If you do not have the time or understanding to do that then I urge you to listen. Listen to every side. Listen to the state health department. Listen to your children, if they are not too afraid of you to be honest. Instead of throwing out accusations of being misinformed, help your community to make better informed decisions that don’t rely on propaganda sites or YouTube. Maybe then you wouldn’t be met with what you view as decision and aggression. Until then, I wish you the best and I’ll fight you tooth and nail.
Barbara Mee
Dec 7, 2021 at 7:21 pm
I am glad I saw the link to this on a Facebook page…closed group. Because the protesting adults are acting in their own selfish interests. There is a point where minority group “rule” is crossing over the line of the purpose of public school…AND not allowing the School Board and Superintendent, plus administration and staff to do their jobs. I am almost speechless, not typical of me by any means.
Home school if you want “that much control” over your minority of students.
Ask the students. Most of them, as this editorial clearly states, are tired of the grown ups interfering in their education.
Proud LHS parent
Dec 4, 2021 at 6:16 pm
This editorial was well written and I am proud of our students. It is disheartening to see the negative comments on this editorial by the adults. You should be proud that these students can think for themselves and do what is right for them. As parents yes we are here for them to teach and guide and help them grow. But from what I have read on here there is a lack of support. Everyone has the right to their own opinions but that should not stop supporting our children’s own beliefs and opinions. To our LHS Lancer Spirit students keep up the great work and keep writing!
'22 Senior
Dec 3, 2021 at 8:20 pm
If this community of adults is the one I’m leaving when I graduate, I will not miss it one bit. Your children are far more educated than you and this just proves it.
‘22 senior
Dec 3, 2021 at 8:44 pm
agreed :))
Nicole
Dec 3, 2021 at 8:14 pm
I never post on any stories, because I just don’t think it’s worth the argument. We’re all entitled to our own beliefs. My opinion on masks doesn’t matter to anyone but me
That said, this is an editorial, it’s based on the opinion of a group of students. STUDENTS. The people who are actually affected by this on a daily basis. You’re entitled to your right to disagree. But, why do so without your real name if you feel so strongly about it as to comment on a student written article.
This is a controversial subject, you’re 100% right. But, when a controversial protest takes place on school property and those students are encouraged to walk out of class, they have the right to report on that situation. You don’t have to like it or agree, just like they don’t have to agree with the protest.
The reality is, I went from receiving 2-3 emails per week telling my children were exposed to zero. That’s not a matter of opinion. Do they like wearing the masks? Probably not. But, I don’t like having to take time out of my Friday night to defend a bunch of teenagers with more sense than the adults pushing their own agenda, yet here we are.
Jessie
Dec 3, 2021 at 8:59 pm
For the purpose of clarification, the reason that you don’t get the emails anymore is because they stopped sending them out. ? This was done at the same time as the mask mandate went into place again. So, no… that’s definitely not any type of proof of the masking working. Just figured you should know.
Nicole
Dec 5, 2021 at 2:12 pm
Perhaps that’s true, but it doesn’t change the fact that parents are arguing over something that doesn’t bother the majority of students. I wish parents would show this kind of fight against bullying.
Nicole
Dec 7, 2021 at 4:10 pm
Jessie, your information was incorrect, they are still notifying families of exposures. What’s the excuse going to be now?
From Afar
Dec 7, 2021 at 7:15 pm
Funny because a Facebook group dedicated to helping Londonderry citizens stay informed, that sides with science and reason, posts emails regularly, even as early as today, when an exposure or close contact has occurred.
Could it be that you haven’t received an email lately because the mask mandate is working?
Anonymous alum
Dec 3, 2021 at 8:09 pm
What a clearly written, educated Op-Ed. This does service to our community. You should be proud.
Plea for Kindness
Dec 3, 2021 at 8:07 pm
It’s just disheartening that parents are prioritizing an “issue” that their own children do not care about and disregarding the issue of mental health and the lack of resources the school district offers among other things. Adults of the community, do better at addressing real problems that our own community faces such as suicide instead of embarrassing your own children on a topic that they can argue with more respectful dialogue than many of you.
A Plea for Kindness
Dec 3, 2021 at 7:53 pm
What an eloquent and well-articulated article- I am happy to have stumbled upon it! I am quite impressed that a group of children no older than 17 were able to utilize what so little of our nation can today: critical thought. This was a brave decision to write about a topic that has spurred much conjecture to-date, and it certainly paid off (in my view, of course). To my fellow citizens of Londonderry, I urge you all to take a moment to remember that these students have written this piece not out of malice, but out of concern for our community. Even if you disagree with what these children have said, we must all acknowledge that they are trying to start a dialogue and change our town for the better. I must admit, I am a bit disheartened by the negativity in the comments here. I am praying that we can all take a step back and remember that these young people have big hearts, and are still learning. If you believe they are wrong, I absolutely urge you to inform them of this, but do so kindly, with grace and dignity. In these turbulent times, remember that in the end we are all a community working towards the same goal: a happy and healthy town for our children to grow up in and for many of us to grow old in. Let’s all try to do better together.
Disappointing Article
Dec 3, 2021 at 4:32 pm
Wow. This is not only false reporting but very disappointing coming from our high school.
Couple things to address here, since universal masking in the schools, cases have NOT gone down. So it’s not that “simple”. You are aware that the entire community is maskless and wide open with no mandate.
The only disruptive behavior has been caused strictly by the TEMPORARY chair. She has shown and proven time and time again that she does not care about the children or the parents in this town.
As for the issues for students having to be FORCED to wear a cloth over their airways, you are wrong to say there’s been little to no issues. There has been reports of discrimination, threats and bullying going on inside the high school. Have you been aware that a multiracial student was told to leave class for having her mask under her nose while other students did the same? Where is your article on that? I hope you aren’t involved in the bullying that’s going on. Time will tell.
The school board is following recommendations. They are recommendations not laws or requirements. The DHHS also recommends hand washing for 20 seconds, where’s the mandate on that? The DHHS also recommends social distancing, where’s the mandate on that? The DHHS also recommends cleaning surfaces often, where’s the mandate on that? Do you see how masks can not and should not be mandated if other “recommendations” are not? It is not a school boards decision on how to keep children healthy, that’s the PARENTS job.
The reason for protesting in front of the school is because the school district is mandating masks, not DHHS. So why would they protest at DHHS?
I think most students don’t need their parents influence to know none of this makes sense. A lot of students are smart enough to know when things don’t feel right and what they are comfortable doing with their own bodies and health and should not comply with uncomfortable force. You call that temper tantrums? Sad. The people in charge are causing more confusion, which is why parents are so involved.
So next time, respectfully talk to the people in your community before you write negative things about them. This kind of public misinformation is not a good look.
My take aways from this article
-Filled with misinformation
-One sided dialog
-Promotes hate and ignorance
-Promotes labeling/division
I hope this wasn’t a graded assignment. Shame on the teacher who encouraged this article.
Your Mom
Dec 3, 2021 at 7:25 pm
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that since a student wrote this article they’re okay with the mask mandate. Maybe if parents who disagree actually let the students decide they’d be surprised by what the kids actually want.
If you don’t believe that this article has a place on a school website dedicated to journalism, then a protest regarding their safety and health doesn’t belong on school property.
Guess what, they’re all wearing masks and they haven’t suffocated yet! Move on, we have kids killing themselves there are bigger things to worry about.
I'm embarrassed for you.
Dec 3, 2021 at 8:15 pm
I’ve spent my entire teenage life in Londonderry as a minority being called slurs and whatnot, bullied for my background, and NOW is when you start worrying about discrimination in the halls of our school? You’re using discrimination and racism, a real issue in Londonderry High School, as a scapegoat for your invalid argument. Please sit down and place the spotlight on real issues that have to be addressed.
2022 Senior
Dec 3, 2021 at 8:58 pm
Now what is this??? This is really just embarrassing. As someone else commented, why do you suddenly pretend to care about discrimination only to use it to benefit your argument? As a senior at this school who is part of a minority, I have experienced despicable things from the student body; I’ve been discriminated against my entire high school experience, but a girl being told to pull up her mask is discrimination to you. It is literally just enforcing the rules. Nothing more. Many kids daily get told to follow the rules. It has nothing to do with race. Try focusing on actual problems that affect children like me instead of focusing on something that most of us quite literally do not care about. I do not go to this school and get put down constantly, slurs being thrown at me, just for you to use this stupid excuse. It’s enraging. Please reflect on what you actually care about. Do you actually care about the kids and the problems we are dealing with or do you just care about proving your point?
mindful citizen
Dec 3, 2021 at 9:50 pm
Individual thought is perhaps the most American thing in the world. It is the most fundamental value of this nation, yet those of you who shamelessly call yourselves “patriots” attempt to censor our kids. How shameful. Listen and let them speak their own minds. Kids do NOT care about having to wear a mask. Is it annoying, yes, but they don’t lose their minds over it because they understand that there are bigger issues to focus our energy on rather than undermining public health and perpetuating selfishness. The students have a sense of community, which you folks clearly lack. There have been so many larger issues with regards to the school community, yet people like you are focused on a piece of cloth that a majority of students aren’t complaining about? It is with no hesitation that I say that your reaction to this well-written article shows your extreme sense of detachment from reality.
Senior
Dec 3, 2021 at 11:15 pm
Honestly there are much worse issues going on in our school. Almost every student is dealing with mental health issues, like others have pointed out the issue of racism and just so much more important things.
Facts are that masks work, science has shown it time and time again. New Hampshire has such high numbers, having the highest seven day rise in the country this week. Most of us just want to enjoy our time in high school and don’t mind the minor inconvenience of wearing a mask. Especially since that all it is, an inconvenience. As a student, the protest was super disruptive to the day of all of us trying to learn.
At the end of the day, no adult can understand what it is like for us going to school in the middle of the pandemic so you shouldn’t be talking on the issue. Truly the only thing I’ve read tonight that was “ filled with misinformation, one sided, promoting ignorance, and promoting labeling,” is your comment. Respectfully, please stop picking apart high schoolers who are simply using their position as editors to share the feelings of many of the student body.
To the editors: thank you for the amazingly written article keep up the great work love you besties
Me
Dec 3, 2021 at 2:44 pm
Sad, this is exactly what they want, create as many of the “just obey the government” kids they can. Teaching kids to not even bat and eye when freedoms aren’t taken away. Anyone want to address the fact cases are going up despite the mask rules? Or the fact SCHOOL masking is predicted in COMMUNITY spread (where masks aren’t mandated). Or the fact I guarantee and have seen the kids seeing each other outside of school with no masks on. So guess COVID only spreads between the same kids during school hours in the school Setting and not football, basketball, Starbucks, the mall, in their cars.
And how about addressing the emotional health of kids being FORCED into masks. All people want is a CHOICE. The fact they’ve brainwashed kids (and sadly “adults”) into blindly obeying the government and not THINKING means they’ve succeeding.
Student
Dec 3, 2021 at 8:06 pm
As a student here, I don’t feel as if I’m being taught to obey the government. I’ve learned this year how to form my own opinions and what’s most important to me. What I’ve concluded is that being selfless and doing what I believe will help those around me is what matters. LHS has been more than good to me and I am confident in the decisions they make to protect their students. Especially when these decisions are made based off of the NH State Department of Health and Safety as referenced in the article. So, if my school asks me to wear a mask, then I will because I trust them and have the health and safety of others in mind.
Stop
Dec 3, 2021 at 11:27 pm
Or maybe we’re kids that actually can read and listen to the experts on issues instead of just assuming we know everything and completely ignoring the facts that don’t support our opinions.
Funny how no one seemed to care about the emotional health of kids before but since you think it helps your opinion you brought it up. How about we talk about actual issues, like the emotional health of students, instead of the whining of middle aged parents harassing students for sharing their opinion. ??♀️
Londonderry resident
Dec 3, 2021 at 2:20 pm
This is a controversial topic and does NOT belong in a school paper. What will be allowed next time to write about? Pro-choice, gun rights, CRT opinions? Controversial topics have no business in a public school. This needs to be removed.
get a life
Dec 3, 2021 at 7:21 pm
When they protest on school property don’t you think that gives it a reason to make an appearance in the school paper? stay home next time and it won’t be a problem ?
Me
Dec 3, 2021 at 8:15 pm
Last I looked sidewalks were public property not school property so you are incorrect on that statement! ?
Olivia ?
Dec 3, 2021 at 8:31 pm
When the protest carried through windows and interrupted my science class, the technicalities don’t matter. You made the choice to protest at our school. We, as students, made the choice to respond. You standing on the town sidewalk rather than the school parking lot made no difference to me. Check yourself.
get a life
Dec 3, 2021 at 9:23 pm
you are so beyond dense it’s difficult to comprehend. when you get the omicron variant stay out of our hospitals❤️
mindful citizen
Dec 3, 2021 at 9:33 pm
If residents decide to hold their protest outside of school, it should be implied that the school’s news publication will take up the story. This article has no business being “removed”, because it is incumbent on a news organization to report on what’s going on in their community. If there is a protest, it will be reported on. Folks like yourself shame China and other communist countries for censoring the media/ civilian protests, yet here you are, attempting to censor the truth. As a fellow American, I am appalled by the fact that you even suggested that the article be removed. Do you not care for our First Amendment rights granted to use by our founding fathers? If the publication as a whole decides to write on their stance regarding abortion, gun control, CRT, it should be encouraged, as it is their right to do so in the LAND OF THE FREE. Despite all the push back this publication has received, they continue to write what they believe in, which to me is bravery. These students exemplify the Americans referred to in the phrase, “Land of the free and HOME OF THE BRAVE”. I applaud all of these kids who rose up to defend their stance. Good for them.
Andrew Crafts
Dec 6, 2021 at 11:10 am
I am a student at this school, and I would like to say that a mask is a mask and wearing it is like putting something on your face, it can be distracting sometimes but other times I like it.
Anonymous alum
Dec 3, 2021 at 8:38 pm
“Londonderry resident” – did you go to school in the 1950s? Of course controversial topics belong in a school paper. Treating students like adults and giving them the tools to act as if they were professional writers and journalists? YES. Do it, in an educated, smart, accurate and professional way. CENSORSHIP? No. You should be ashamed for saying otherwise and wanting to censor students. If you don’t want an educated opinion to be formed and written about by the future of this town, maybe you don’t belong at LHS.
Caroline
Dec 8, 2021 at 8:38 pm
Controversial topics have no business in a public school? Really? If you can protest outside of a public school and interrupt their learning, they have the right to comment about it. You have the right to protest, they have the right to report on it. If you really don’t want them to talk about controversial topics, don’t perform controversial actions right in front of them. Stupid comment my friend.
Paul
Dec 2, 2021 at 3:09 pm
This article is complete conjecture. Where are the numbers and/or data to support your conclusions ?
Your Mom
Dec 3, 2021 at 7:35 pm
Ummm it’s an editorial.
ed·i·to·ri·al
/ˌedəˈtôrēəl/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
relating to the commissioning or preparing of material for publication.
“the editorial team”
noun
a newspaper article written by or on behalf of an editor that gives an opinion on a topical issue.
“the paper ran an editorial denouncing his hawkish stand”
Good Citizen
Dec 2, 2021 at 1:46 pm
Where is your data? Perhaps you are the one with your parent’s opinion projected on you.
get well soon bozo
Dec 3, 2021 at 7:36 pm
as a student i’m very capable of making my own decision/opinions ?. i hope commenting on a school paper as a fully grown adult brings you the peace and happiness you need this holiday season sweetheart ? best wishes!
Internal Bleach
Dec 7, 2021 at 9:39 pm
Your generation isn’t taking s*** from anyone, and us adults are totally here for it. Give them hell! They think they’re being patriots, all they’re doing is being patronizing.
Educated Citizen
Dec 3, 2021 at 7:38 pm
Hi “Good Citizen”, I understand technology is difficult for some people, but if you look at the blue underlined words they’re linked to facts and scientific data. I hope this helps you out. ❤️
(More) Educated Citizen
Dec 8, 2021 at 10:50 am
The CDC link provided is written, very clearly, devoid of meaningful studies to support their claims of mask-wearing, likely for political reasons. The organization, before masking became a virtue signal for typically left-leaning submissive types, stated the ineffectiveness of cloth masks. There were numerous studies of mask effectiveness circa 2009-10 during the H1N1 pandemic that resulted in no consequence. Furthermore, studies such as the Denmark study, the largest to date and specifically targeted to this pandemic, proved masks make negligible difference in spread of the virus. Most importantly, CV-19 is not lethal by any metric to kids in school. Spread or no spread, you should focus more on your academics than worrying about whether masks are needed. Life will throw you enough bs political wedge issues when you’re older, enjoy being a kid and sit this one out.
From Afar
Dec 7, 2021 at 7:37 pm
If the data was given to you in it’s raw format, not from YouTube or a media outlet, would you be even remotely open to accepting it?