Parents, Zeldin Demand Cuomo 'Unmask Our Kids' In Schools

LONG ISLAND, NY — Parents are organizing across Long Island this week to demand Gov. Andrew Cuomo "unmask our kids."

On Wednesday at 11 a.m. outside the Dennison Building in Hauppauge, Rep. Lee Zeldin joined local parents and advocacy groups who want the mask mandate lifted for children in school.

"If Governor Cuomo would trust the science and use basic commonsense, he would lift the mask mandate on New York's schoolchildren today. Our kids have suffered too much already throughout this pandemic in so many destructive ways, developmentally, mentally, emotionally and physically,” said Zeldin. “No one is more desperate for and deserving of a return to normalcy than our youngest generation. Thank you to all who came out to Hauppauge today to call on the State of New York to knock off the nonsense and unmask our kids!"

Another rally for Eastport-South Manor students has been organized for Thursday at Eastport Elementary School, located at 390 Montauk Highway, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Organizer of the Eastport rally David Samartino spoke to Patch: "Every one of us asks our kids, 'How was school today?' We hear the sadness. We are the ones they cry to," he said. "We see the mask markings around their faces after they take the masks off. We deal with the frustration from our children because of how they fell behind."

He added: "While understanding the district has obligation to follow from the state and the county public health, would at least expect them to ease up the mask when they can. Defiance isn’t a pathway to fixing this problem. We are just asking you to do what you're allowed for the betterment of our children. The school should work with the parents. It’s non-productive in all aspects to have an us-versus-them environment. The district superintendent and other administrators should be outside fighting for the mask off with us."

Parents are unhappy, they say, with the Eastport-South Manor School District administration; they want the barriers on the desks dismantled but that hasn't yet happened.

"We hear them complaining of headaches because they are looking through the plastic barriers at a smartboard with a glare and some having to do it with eyeglasses on," he said. "My district is still reluctant to pull down the barriers with a children’s desk. That is just ridiculous science even shows that it actually has more of a negative effect in regards to the spreading of Covid. They want better airflow and the barriers totally prevent that. There are no requirements from the CDC or any level of government to keep them up," Samartino said, adding that he is worried about the psychological and sociological impacts of masks and plastic barriers.

Eastport-South Manor Superintendent of Schools Joseph Steimel could not immediately be reached for comment.

One Center Moriches resident who supports unmasking children spoke to Patch, but asked not to be identified: "There is a less than 10 percent chance of children being infected and spreading the virus, even less when the child is under 10. More and more people are vaccinated and now we are being notified that the kids will be spending more time outside, and required to wear masks outside," she said. "Even on extremely hot days. As parents we are capable of researching and deciding what is best for our kids. If you want to send your child to school with a mask go ahead. If the teacher feels a need to wear a mask good for him/her. If the masks and the vaccines work they should protect those that use them."

The Commack School District thought it had found a way to unmask its children in the classroom, but no sooner had they announced masks could come off than the state said, "Not so fast."

Masks are required to be worn by everyone in all classroom and non-classroom settings, including hallways, school offices, restrooms, gyms, auditoriums, and more, the state said. The CDC said, in a May 15 update, that children and adults should wear masks in schools until the end of the school year.

With reporting by Patch's Michael DeSantis and Michael Woyton.