The political posturing over the question of mandating the wearing of masks in the state’s public schools has been simmering for some time. But this week the issue became front and center at the Statehouse, in school districts and college campuses, and even at the state’s highest court.
When the Republican controlled legislature approved this year’s state budget it included a provision that bars the mandating of masks in schools. But as the school year started, the number of COVID cases in the state began to drastically increase including a rising number of children contracting the virus.
Some school districts and counties, and the City of Columbia have defied the state prohibition and ordered mask mandates in schools sparking growing pressure on the General Assembly to meet to repeal the prohibition.