Is Elmhurst D-205 Seeing Bullying Over Masks?

ELMHURST, IL — In debates over mask mandates in schools, each side often points the finger at the other.

But at Tuesday's Elmhurst School District 205 board meeting, two parents — one against mask mandates, the other for — agreed on one thing in their public comments: Bullying is going both ways.

Liz Thompson, a mask mandate opponent, commended the district for following a downstate judge's order for nearly 150 districts to drop the governor's mask requirement in schools.

"There are some who are fearful. There are some who have received a lot of bullying on both sides of this," said Thompson, who has children at Emerson Elementary and Churchville Middle schools. "I do not want my children to be any part of that. I hope this entire community feels this way too."

Another parent, John Bishof, who suggested the district moved too quickly to a mask optional policy, backed the mandate.

"I hope to God (the latest coronavirus variant) continues to burn through real quick, so we can remove our masks because we want to, not because we're told to, not because other people are shaming us. Lots of bullying is going on both ways with the masks. I hope you guys address that and continue to keep our kids safe."