Outside two South Philadelphia public schools, officials found messages saying “Let the Kids Breathe,” “No Masks,” and “Kids, Don’t Wear Your Mask” painted on the sidewalk as the city school district is reinstituted a mask mandate, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Philadelphia School Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. announced in December that students and staff will have to wear masks from January 3rd to January 13th to reduce the risk of a post-holiday disease outbreak as the coronavirus, the flu and RSV spread through the country. Last year, post-holiday outbreaks forced more than 100 schools in Philadelphia to go to complete virtual schedules, causing problems for parents and teachers.
School staff were able to remove some of the graffiti that was on school grounds before students arrived at the two K-8 schools, which are located about two blocks apart.