Before spring break, our GUSD superintendent Dr. Vivian Ekchian, and the Glendale Unified School District Board of Education, announced that masks are no longer required on school campuses starting on March 12, 2022. However, the wearing of masks is still highly recommended. 

Mask usage throughout the outdoor and indoor facilities of our school has been an issue since the beginning of the year. GHS administrators even had to implement a rule that students would be sent home if they didn’t wear their masks properly.

Now, with the available vaccines, and the rate of covid-19 deaths going down, students and staff have the choice to wear a mask or not. Despite people still choosing to wear a mask, regardless of the mandate being lifted or their vaccination status, it doesn’t give others the right to judge a person for their decision to wear a mask or not. Similarly, no one should force another person to wear or to remove the mask if it’s their personal choice.

Here are the opinions of our GHS teachers and students about the mask mandate being dropped:

Justo Vicent, Senior

I will not be wearing a mask back to school, or anywhere for that matter, because I think it’s time that we seek a sense of normalcy, as the pandemic starts to shift towards an endemic, like the flu. I’m vaccinated, I’m safe, and I’m not gonna stay living in fear.

Angelica Gamboa, Freshmen

I’ll still continue to wear a mask inside and outside at all times, unless I’m eating, to be safe, of course.

Kate Ice, Junior

It honestly makes me uncomfortable not wearing a mask, and when others don’t wear one around me, it makes me feel iffy. Regardless, people can still catch covid and covid is still around. Who knows if cases will spike again.

Ms. Talin Arakelian, Teacher

I would still consider wearing one. I don’t mind one way or the other. It’s really just up to ourselves whether we want to wear one or not.

Mr. Jon Livingston, Teacher

Obviously, I’m not wearing a mask, but that’s because I’m fully vaccinated and boosted and I feel safe, and I feel like I am not putting myself or my family in danger. But even if I did get COVID-19, I will be okay. I wouldn’t have to go to the hospital, I wouldn’t die. I feel confident with that. As far as the mask mandate, if they want me to wear a mask, I will be happy to wear one again. 

The other reason I’m not wearing a mask is that a lot of teaching happens with facial expressions, and I think the connection I have with my students has been limited because of the mask. If you are not seeing my facial expressions, it’s not as easy to teach, so that’s why.

Ms. Kristina Carbajal, Teacher

I’m able to see all my students’ faces, and as a language class, I like to understand my students and for them to understand me when learning a new vocab. I still wear mine. I don’t wear it when I am teaching at the front. But when I walk up and down the aisle to check student work or to monitor students, I do put my mask on to respect those who have health problems or those who wear theirs. I felt iffy about it, but I respect other people’s decisions.

Since the mask mandate has been dropped, the news media has been telling viewers that covid-19 cases are increasing due to the second strain of the omicron and some cities in California are considering mandating masks in some indoor areas. 

Will this whole cycle of getting out of the pandemic stop? Will this be our new normal? Whether or not the mask mandate returns, please be considerate of others and always be safe out there. Also, please continue to get vaccinated, Nitros!