Open Forum

Honestly, I find the response of hoping people feel comfortable without masks so frustrating. 

I really want to get rid of my mask too but, and I can't emphasize this enough, WE ARE STILL LIVING IN A COVID PANDEMIC. Everyone being tired of masks and safety restrictions doesn't change that. All of our public health organizations just keep lowering their standards.  And frankly, with our current strategy of doing nothing, may be facing a second one in the form of monkeypox.

For many immunocompromised and disabled students, masks is not a matter of comfort but of literal survival. Beyond that even for the non-disabled, covid still has about a 20% rate of causing long covid. It could make you disabled. 

I wear my mask for my own safety. I also wear it to signal to my students like the ones I mentioned above, that it is both acceptable and encouraged for them to wear a mask in a world where there is increasing social pressure to not wear a mask. Even as a decently confident and self assured adult, I find it so hard at times going into a space where I am part of a small minority wearing a mask. Right now I am in a full staff meeting of nearly 200 people where I am one of maybe 5 masked people. If I can make it slightly easier for a student in my productions or in my classes to not feel like a crazy person for still wearing a mask, I am going to do that. 

I actually consider it a blessing that our mask mandate ran through all of my productions last year so we never had to have a debate about whether to have them or not. I am really hoping to try and advocate for requiring masked audiences for my shows to keep my students safe. Most theaters in my area are still doing it to keep their performers safe and I feel like it is common sense to ask for the same. 

The amazon clear masks from the previous post are not in fact protective at all. There is no seal on them and no filtering. It even says on the listing it does not protect the wearer. 

We used these a bit last year. https://bendshapemask.com/products/mask They have a big beautiful window. They have N95 levels of filtering. They have some nose visible (the clear masks that hide the nose freak me out) They don't fog up and are washable up to 10 times.  If you are using these though, These students need to ENUNCIATE and project. 

If they previous masks have  back order issues at all, I havent tried them but these ones https://buy.theclearmask.com/collections/clearmask-plus/products/clearmask-plus-box also provide filtering with a big window. I just haven't used them to say how they perform. On that site be careful cause there is also another variant that is not sealed and filtering. 

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk

------------------------------
Joseph Gels
Theatre Teacher
Boston Latin School

Original Message:
Sent: 09-06-2022 10:20
From: Jillian Lietzau
Subject: Masks

Hi Chad,

I'm sorry to hear you are still having to deal with the whole mask issue. How incredibly frustrating! We've been completely mask free since our state mask mandate lifted in May of 2021. Thankfully our students and community couldn't wait to get rid of the masks and we've been completely back to pre-covid normal since then, so we haven't had the same issues you are facing. However, when we did have to wear masks, I found these great clear masks on amazon for our cast. Perhaps you've already looked into those. These masks still provide protection for those looking for it and you can see their faces, which is huge when it comes to performing on the stage. My suggestion would be to perhaps make masks optional. This way you can begin moving towards mask free performances even if it is little by little. Those that are comfortable performing without a mask can do so and those that still prefer to wear them can use the clear masks for the performances. The clear masks aren't super noticeable so they wont be a distraction to the audience. And the best part is every actor's face can be seen.

Here's a link to the masks we used for our performances:
https://www.amazon.com/Ultralight-Mask-Transparent-Foodservice-Hospitality/dp/B08P7WSSTJ/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2IL5W2U7DHJM3&keywords=clear+masks&qid=1662473172&sprefix=clear+masks%2Caps%2C309&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

Good luck! I hope your community begins to feel more comfortable without masks sooner rather than later for you.

------------------------------
Jillian Lietzau
Lutheran High School
CO

Original Message:
Sent: 08-30-2022 01:00
From: Chad Fisk
Subject: Masks

Honestly, I find the response of hoping people feel comfortable without masks so frustrating. 

I really want to get rid of my mask too but, and I can't emphasize this enough, WE ARE STILL LIVING IN A COVID PANDEMIC. Everyone being tired of masks and safety restrictions doesn't change that. All of our public health organizations just keep lowering their standards.  And frankly, with our current strategy of doing nothing, may be facing a second one in the form of monkeypox.

For many immunocompromised and disabled students, masks is not a matter of comfort but of literal survival. Beyond that even for the non-disabled, covid still has about a 20% rate of causing long covid. It could make you disabled. 

I wear my mask for my own safety. I also wear it to signal to my students like the ones I mentioned above, that it is both acceptable and encouraged for them to wear a mask in a world where there is increasing social pressure to not wear a mask. Even as a decently confident and self assured adult, I find it so hard at times going into a space where I am part of a small minority wearing a mask. Right now I am in a full staff meeting of nearly 200 people where I am one of maybe 5 masked people. If I can make it slightly easier for a student in my productions or in my classes to not feel like a crazy person for still wearing a mask, I am going to do that. 

I actually consider it a blessing that our mask mandate ran through all of my productions last year so we never had to have a debate about whether to have them or not. I am really hoping to try and advocate for requiring masked audiences for my shows to keep my students safe. Most theaters in my area are still doing it to keep their performers safe and I feel like it is common sense to ask for the same. 

The amazon clear masks from the previous post are not in fact protective at all. There is no seal on them and no filtering. It even says on the listing it does not protect the wearer. 

We used these a bit last year. https://bendshapemask.com/products/mask They have a big beautiful window. They have N95 levels of filtering. They have some nose visible (the clear masks that hide the nose freak me out) They don't fog up and are washable up to 10 times.  If you are using these though, These students need to ENUNCIATE and project. 

If they previous masks have  back order issues at all, I havent tried them but these ones https://buy.theclearmask.com/collections/clearmask-plus/products/clearmask-plus-box also provide filtering with a big window. I just haven't used them to say how they perform. On that site be careful cause there is also another variant that is not sealed and filtering. 

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk

------------------------------
Joseph Gels
Theatre Teacher
Boston Latin School

Original Message:
Sent: 09-06-2022 10:20
From: Jillian Lietzau
Subject: Masks

Hi Chad,

I'm sorry to hear you are still having to deal with the whole mask issue. How incredibly frustrating! We've been completely mask free since our state mask mandate lifted in May of 2021. Thankfully our students and community couldn't wait to get rid of the masks and we've been completely back to pre-covid normal since then, so we haven't had the same issues you are facing. However, when we did have to wear masks, I found these great clear masks on amazon for our cast. Perhaps you've already looked into those. These masks still provide protection for those looking for it and you can see their faces, which is huge when it comes to performing on the stage. My suggestion would be to perhaps make masks optional. This way you can begin moving towards mask free performances even if it is little by little. Those that are comfortable performing without a mask can do so and those that still prefer to wear them can use the clear masks for the performances. The clear masks aren't super noticeable so they wont be a distraction to the audience. And the best part is every actor's face can be seen.

Here's a link to the masks we used for our performances:
https://www.amazon.com/Ultralight-Mask-Transparent-Foodservice-Hospitality/dp/B08P7WSSTJ/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2IL5W2U7DHJM3&keywords=clear+masks&qid=1662473172&sprefix=clear+masks%2Caps%2C309&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

Good luck! I hope your community begins to feel more comfortable without masks sooner rather than later for you.

------------------------------
Jillian Lietzau
Lutheran High School
CO

Original Message:
Sent: 08-30-2022 01:00
From: Chad Fisk
Subject: Masks