Henry County Schools on Tuesday followed a trend of Tennessee schools that will require students and staff to wear a mask during the upcoming school year.
Metro Nashville Public Schools, Shelby County Schools, Hancock County, and Williamson County Schools have implemented similar measures.
Due to the new measures, more than 100,000 students throughout the state will now be subject to mask requirements.
Hundreds attended the Williamson County School Board meeting on Tuesday night to urge the district to push back against new regulations.
“Masks don’t work. There isn’t a single scientific data that has ever proven that masks work. Also, let’s talk about risk analysis. I feel bad for all of these people walking around in masks and engaging in cosmetic theater thinking that they are making a difference against COVID. They aren’t,” said Clay Travis of Outkick the Coverage and also The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show.
Dr. Adrienne Battle, director of Metro Nashville Public Schools, seemingly blamed unvaccinated individuals for the new mask mandate.
“I wish that more Americans had taken advantage of the life-saving vaccine that has been available to them, so that the pandemic would be less of a factor in the lives of our students and a universal mask mandate would not be necessary. I’m hopeful that more community members will get the vaccine so that we can mitigate the spread of the virus and return to a normal school setting,” she said.
The swarm of mandates that have been placed on students throughout the state appears to ignore a direct threat from House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville).
“I sure hope that school systems do not require a mask mandate for those students. If they do, then I will ask the governor for a special session. If they close the schools, then I will ask the governor for a special session,” Sexton said.
However, since the legislative action threat, neither Sexton nor Governor Bill Lee has taken any direct steps.
— — —
Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Cameron Sexton” by Speaker Cameron Sexton.