About two dozen demonstrators call for an end to masking requirements in schools on Friday in front of the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education head offices on the Southwest Hill. Protestors also set up in the parking lot of Eagle Butte High School in Dunmore as part of a province-wide call to show up at schools that spread on social media. - NEWS PHOTO
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Protesters objecting to mask requirements in local schools picketed in front of three Medicine Hat school facilities and elsewhere in the region on Friday as part of wider anti-mask action promoted on social media.
They are promising to continue the effort next week until that health measure is dropped.
Two tractors and a small group of people set up in the parking lot of Eagle Butte High School as classes began after they were told to leave the lobby by school RCMP liaison officer.
A release from Prairie Rose School Division said demonstrators or unmasked students were reported at an undisclosed number of its schools, where doors were locked to restrict outside access and uncooperative students were moved to other areas.
While general safety was maintained, read a statement, it caused disruption, and ultimately parents are responsible for their child’s behaviour.
“It is extremely unfortunate that our students and staff have been put into the middle of a political debate in which school divisions do not have the authority to make changes,” read the statement from superintendent Reagan Weeks and board chair Cathy Hogg.
“We strongly encourage all community members who have concerns with the current mandates to take their conversations to their local members of the government and not our teachers and children.”
Protests were also seen in Oyen, Burdett, Foremost and at head office in Dunmore.
A crowd of about two dozen adults and teenagers gathered in front of the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education head office at 1 p.m.
Crystal Marshall has three school aged children in that school system and said she has been against “all mandates from day No. 1” and would continue to protest until mask mandates are lifted.
She said her son entered his school for morning classes without a mask and was escorted out of the building.
“I’ve been fighting for two years to get my kids mask exemptions,” she said, adding that mask-wearing goes against her personal beliefs as a yoga instructor and that “breath” and inter-personal connections are key to her conception of personal health.
She told reporters that early COVID-19 deaths were limited to the very old, though the medical community – and widely available statistics – has been consistent that fatal and long-term effects of acquiring the disease are not limited to the elderly.
Marshall said her children had lost sporting opportunities, had become depressed by health measures, and she would continue protesting at school board offices until mask requirements were lifted.
“I’m asking for doctors to respect a person’s own health-care choices,” she said
“We’re healthy – I want the choice to do what we want.”
Asked if not wearing a mask infringes on others’ right to safety or puts them at risk, she replied, “then the safest place is their own home.”
“They will be inside four walls that they can sanitize and control,” said Marshall. “They can’t control the whole world, as we’re seeing.”
Alberta schools have offered in-person learning since the beginning of the 2020-21 school year, though Christmas breaks were extended each year to help stem the spread of new infections.
A social media post called for parents and students opposed to masking requirements across Alberta to show solidarity with action on Friday.
In Bowden, near Red Deer, the school board transferred to online learning for two days in light of confrontation with a small group of parents.
Local protests were calm, and resulted in some discussion with board officials.
“A health order is non-negotiable for any public institution – it has to be followed,” said Medicine Hat Catholic superintendent Dwayne Zarichny, adding the district shares all feedback with the government. “So, their opinions have been heard at this point and we’ll continue to make sure we continue sharing their stories, just like we do everyone else’s concerns.”
MHPSD superintendent Mark Davidson released a statement Friday asking protesters to avoid schools or disrupting students coming to or from facilities.
“We are prepared for protests this coming week,” he said. “MHPSD is confident that the people of our community will continue to express themselves in a manner that does not result in disruptions to student learning or fear among our children and youth or the staff who serve them.”
