The image first went viral on Facebook after being shared by local group North Penn Stronger Together (NPST), which supported Republican school board candidates. According to the caption, it was taken at the Pennfield Middle School in Hatfield. The post called on the school board and the Democratic-leaning North Penn Neighbors for Progress (NPNP) to address the issue.
"Pro-mask or anti-mask, I hope we can all agree that taping masks to children's faces crosses the line. This was not a joke for the child or the parents," NPST's post said.
The North Penn School District (NPSD) posted a statement in its website on Jan. 19, saying it was "an isolated incident and didn't involve malicious intent." It nevertheless insisted that "the actions of the teacher were entirely inappropriate and unacceptable, no matter the context" and that the incident "does not represent the universal values that [NPSD] strives to instill in both our students and staff."
"We understand that the act of taping a mask to a student's face is concerning to many, and apologize that it occurred. The matter is serious and it is being addressed with the employee. However, all personnel and student matters are confidential and no further information can be provided." (Related: Horror: Colorado teachers reportedly telling students they must tape masks to their faces so they don't wear them improperly.)
Meanwhile, the two local groups took to social media to exchange barbs at each other. The Democratic NPNP accused its GOP counterpart of "exploitation of a child and family on social media." It said: "The continued exploitation of any piece of negative news to re-instigate the cynical, partisan rhetoric that fueled your failed campaign is exhausting."
"The parents and the child were not okay with that action and were not happy with the administration's handling of the incident. We are parents seeking some kind of leadership that gives us confidence that that faceless child won't be one of ours," the GOP-leaning NPST posted in return.
Mask-taping not an isolated incident
Contrary to what NPSD alleged in its statement, incidences of teachers taping masks to students' faces are not isolated. The same has been reported in different school districts – as many are implementing mask mandates in line with Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) health protocols.
In September 2021, a nine-year-old boy in Nevada was humiliated by a substitute teacher who allegedly taped a face mask on him. The incident happened at the Carolyn S. Reedom Elementary School in Las Vegas, after the fourth-grader forgot to put his face covering back after having a drink. However, the female substitute teacher instead "pulled him up in front of the classroom" and "taped the mask across the top of his face."
The boy's furious mother called for the resignation of the aforementioned teacher. She demanded that the teacher be held accountable for her actions and no longer be permitted to mold young minds ever again. "Corporal punishment in schools should not be happening," she said.
Clark County School District, which has jurisdiction over Reedom Elementary, said in a statement that it is aware of the incident and "is dealing with the employee through the proper channels." It added that "the principal [of Reedom Elementary] proactively notified the family of the investigation."
In October 2021, another student – this time in Colorado – alleged a teacher forced her to tape a face mask. The mother of the female sixth-grader said the student's face mask falling off prompted the teacher to fix it using adhesive tape. The student is from a school located in Colorado Springs, part of Academy School District 20 (ASD 20). (Related: Colorado Springs student forced to have mask TAPED to her face while at school.)
The school district said it started getting reports of similar mask-taping incidents in mid-October. An official for the district called for patience as the investigations over these are rolling. ASD 20 Chief Communications Officer Allison Cortez said: "Because of social media, we now have so many other voices in the mix that may not have been involved – and so now, there's misinformation that's mingled in with actual facts."
Watch the video below of Dr. Eric Nepute and Karen Kingston condemning mask mandates and other COVID-19 measures for children on "Real Talk with Dr. Eric Nepute."
This video is from the BrighteonTV channel on Brighteon.com.
Visit CampusInsanity.com for more about mask-taping incidents in schools.
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