Commentary: Lake Local student pushes for mandate because 'masks work'

Editor's note: Lake Local Schools, along with other schools across Ohio, has seen a big divide over mandating masks for students. The Canton Repository invited Lake Local students Cooper Bertschi and Audrey Kirk to write opposing essays on the issue.

As a senior at Lake Local Schools, three of my four years at the high school have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first of these years contained the initial struggle against COVID-19, a time when our communities rallied together against our common enemy — the coronavirus.

The second year took place during the constant receding and resurging of waves of infection. We were able to stay in person largely due to masks, and our school never entered remote learning during those months.

The third year impacted by COVID-19 is the current one, and as the pandemic rages on, our school could not be more divided on the issue of a mask mandate.

As a student, I believe that we need a mask mandate for one simple reason: masks work.

We need this not out of fear, intrusion, or selfishness — we need this because masks are proven to be effective. When viewed from a factual standpoint, masks are quite simple.

They are not a symbol of weakness, worry, or political ideology, and as a student I have never seen them in any of these ways. Though I know the general reasoning for why masks work, I will not profess to be a medical expert.

When one consults the research of true experts, be it from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization or Mayo Clinic, the facts are clear:  “Masks are a simple barrier to help prevent your respiratory droplets from reaching others. Studies show that masks reduce the spray of droplets when worn over the nose and mouth” (taken from the CDC web page “Guidance for Wearing Masks”).

There is no lack of evidence to prove why and how masks are effective, and doctors and organizations worldwide have agreed upon this research and its outcomes.

Despite the science behind masks, critics of mask mandates often argue based on apparent symbolism or reasoning. As student government president at Lake High School, I have the unique perspective of being able to see not only my own view of masks, but also the views of many of my peers.

When we consider the use of a mask, we know that it is not a sign of weakness. I know that by wearing a mere piece of fabric, I can help to stop the spread of a virus which has plagued our community for almost two years.

Likewise, as a student, I can explicitly refute the argument that masks are a form of government overreach or a decision made at the whim of some malignant administrator.

For the former, masks can be compared to seat belts. No one naturally adores seat belts; they are restrictive and can be a nuisance. Despite this, seat belts are required by law because we know that they save lives.

Deciding to mandate masks is a public health decision not unlike George Washington’s decision to inoculate his troops against smallpox — a measured, carefully planned choice which will protect lives.

Similarly, I know that my administrators want the best for me and my education, and the decision to implement a mask mandate was made in an effort to protect not only students, but also the entire community.

While rates of hospitalization and death are traditionally lower among children, they are not lower in parents and grandparents. As the experts from the CDC point out, masks are more effective when everyone uses them, and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in schools could be the difference between higher and lower deaths in our community.

We may not love masks, but I wear one because I know that I am contributing to ending this pandemic.

Though our school has already seen intense divisions over the mask issue, be it at board meetings or protests at the school entrance, I am confident that we are moving in the right direction.

I argued in favor of a mask mandate before its implementation and I will continue to argue in favor of maintaining it because the science shows that masks work. As a student, I know that implementing masks is not about abrogating parents’ rights or being weak — it is the decision to stand strong, give our school a chance to protect lives in the community, and recover from a worldwide pandemic.

Cooper Bertschi is a senior at Lake Local Schools.