Image circulating online falsely claim GTA school teachers are making children earn a COVID “mask break”
Posted February 26, 2021 4:22 pm.
Last Updated February 26, 2021 5:47 pm.
An image of a chart with the heading “I am earning my mask break” is making the rounds online leading to a GTA school board defending itself after being named in the caption.
A Google search shows that the image shared by the user on Instagram, as well as other variations of the same picture, has been circulating on the internet since last year on social media sites like Reddit, Twitter, and Facebook by users from the U.S. and Canada.
This particular post includes the image of a chart with the heading “I am earning my mask break,” and comment above that reads, “Wanna get real mad. They’re doing this to children. Making them earn air.”
The Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB) is named in the caption.
DPCDSB spokesperson Nancy Marshall says the board does not support such an approach and it does not have any indication that the pictured “mask break” chart has been used in a DPCDSB school.
An image of an "I am earning my mask break" chart is circulating online. It has popped up before, but this time the DPCDSB is named in the caption. The board says it does not support such an approach and there is no indication the chart is used in any of its schools. @680NEWS
— Fil Martino (@fil_martino) February 26, 2021
Marshall says the board became aware of the Instagram post this week.
“DPCDSB schools follow COVID-19 guidelines and mask requirements put in place by local health authorities, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Education,” Marshall said in an email to 680 NEWS.
“Reasonable mask exemptions continue to apply (e.g., students who have trouble breathing or are unable to wear a mask for medical reasons).”
