Using the data from the DPHHS weekly school demographic report we compared mandatory masked schools to optional masked schools in Yellowstone County – and the local area. Yellowstone County has 18,340 students in mandatory masked schools compared to *Estimated 7,378 students in optional masked schools. To compare the data, we normalized the data per 10,000 students. We found that:
Make Masking Optional Billings Public Schools runs a FaceBook page where like minded parents, grandparents, stakeholders and guardians can connect with others who support the right of parents and families to make private healthcare decisions for themselves. The Facebook group is where we keep you updated all the latest news and events surrounding this topic.
Find us on FaceBookMMO started as a facebook and is a group of parents, grandparents, community members who believe that mandating masks in public schools is a decision that is best left up to the parents/guardians to make those decisions. We established the website makemaskingoptional.com in order to give another place for community members to be a part of the movement without having to be a part of the facebook group. Medical freedom is the core of our beliefs. We are just tax paying citizens of this community (Yellowstone County, Montana) that believe that parents/guardians are the best risk assessors for their children, not the government run public school system. We believe one size fits all medical advice is dangerous. We believe that Billings Public Schools and Elysian Schools have overstepped their power by forcing mask mandates on their students, staff, and visitors.
We believe that there are many reasons why an individual may not be able to or should not be required to wear a mask. We believe that each individual should be allowed to decide for themselves if they should wear a mask. We believe that masks can cause physical, emotional, psychological and educational issues when worn in school settings.
Dr Graham an infectious disease MD in Billings has spoken about masking in schools, you can hear his thoughts about masking in school on episode 143 of "the paradocs" podcast: The Paradocs Episode 143. Dr Graham on this episode of the Paradocs podcast makes a couple statements.
Just like we don't support one size fits all medical advice we don't support one size fits all educational advice. Here are a few points to consider when making an education decision for your child.
Body autonomy is the right for a person to govern what happens to their body without external influence or coercion. This is an important concept for all children to be taught and to understand. A child who knows that they are in control of their body is less likely to fall victim to sexual abuse, sexual assault and later intimate partner violence. Mandating masks and vaccines undermines Bodily Autonomy. Either we are free to decide what goes on our body and into our body or we don't have bodily autonomy and Government can mandate anything about what goes into or on our body "for health and safety". This matters, This matters to us now and to us in the future. makemaskingoptional.com believes in absolute Bodily Autonomy as a fundamental human right.
We exist as a group to end the mandatory masking for students and staff of Billings Public Schools, located in Billings Montana. This group is for all parents, teachers, staff, grandparents, guardians and stakeholders in education in Billings Montana to attend board meetings and email the school board to encourage them to repeal their mandatory mask policy. This group exists to unite people in school district 2 for the sole purpose of removing the mandatory masking policy in school district 2. The goal is to be firm and persuasive but respectful to reach our goal.