EHS and COVID

How Exeter High School is Handling Covid-19

by Brooke Fowler

The school board made the decision to continue the 2021-2022 school year fully in person without any online options. Proceeding with most of the COVID regulations from the previous school year. Some of these regulations include wearing masks at all times and continuing social distancing as much as possible.  The continued prevalence of covid and with the Delta variant as a new concern, it is guaranteed that there are going to be some parents feeling uneasy about sending their children to school. During the school board meeting in early August, some of those parents were able to voice their opinions around the topic of requiring masks. A point brought up a lot was that students should have an option. Some suggested that it's unfair to require masks, and that it's a personal choice not a universal one. Some people stated that COVID isn't serious enough to be putting so many rules in place.  Conversely, some parents argued that it's far too dangerous to have that many children at school exposed to each other without face coverings. What are students’ thoughts?

Student opinions on this matter (and other matters relating to COVID safety in school) are important. In order to look at both sides of the debate from Exeter High School students’ perspectives, I talked to two of my peers on opposite sides of the argument. First I spoke with Brianna Bybee. When asked if she thinks the requirement of masks at our school is necessary, she responded saying, “No, because a majority of students are vaccinated; there should be a choice. We got the vaccine for a reason, and it shouldn't be forced.” I also asked my friend Charlotte Powley her view on this topic.  Despite always wearing a mask she still contracted COVID. She explained, “From someone who has had COVID, and still always wore my mask, I never thought I would get it; yet, it happened. So please wear your mask correctly, not just for your safety but for others.” 

When asked, “Do you think the school is taking COVID  seriously enough?” Brianna responded saying, “I think they are taking it too seriously. We're required to wear masks at all times, even those of us who are vaccinated. They need to start letting loose.” Charlotte's response to this was, “I think it's stern, but not too serious. We are wearing our masks and distancing ourselves, then we walk into the crowded hallways. So that kind of defeats the purpose.” Both Brianna and Charlotte noticed the teachers were strict about wearing masks. Though their opinions regarding the need for masks differed, they both came to a mutual agreement that Exeter High School has done a good job with contact tracing.  

As illustrated by Brianna and Charlotte, there are mixed opinions in this conversation, and it's often hard for people to see others' perspectives.  But everyone can come to mutual agreement that we all just want things back to normal. Each of us has different ideas about how to accomplish that.