The state of Texas continues to be inundated with cases of the virus that's killed over 600 thousand Americans, but its Republican governor Greg Abbott—who recently tested positive for the virus himself—has been a constant bulwark against even the most basic of safety precautions.
Not only has Abbott threatened to revoke the liquor license of any restaurant or bar that tries to implement vaccine passports in its private establishment, but Abbott has also banned schools from instituting mask mandates, despite the proven effectiveness of masks in slowing the spread of the virus.
The ban comes as the Delta variant wreaks havoc across the nation, prompting an uptick in cases among children, especially those under 12, who remain ineligible for vaccination.
Abbott's executive order said that no government institution, including Texas public schools, could implement mask mandates, but one county is getting creative.
Paris, Texas has a population of only around 25 thousand, but it currently has around 3 thousand confirmed cases of the virus. As a result, the board of trustees for the Paris Independent School District (PISD) is requiring masks as part of the district's dress code, citing Chapter 11 of the Texas Education Code, which endows districts with ultimate jurisdiction over their schools.
A note on the district's website read:
"The Board [of Trustees] believes the dress code can be used to mitigate communicable health issues, and therefore has amended the PISD dress code to protect our students and employees."
Social media users praised the creative workaround of the reckless policy.
GOOD FOR THEMhttps://twitter.com/NoLieWithBTC/status/1427812904863154181\u00a0\u2026— Eric Targaryen-The Pfizer Papi (@Eric Targaryen-The Pfizer Papi) 1629297403
i love this creative thinking!! https://twitter.com/noliewithbtc/status/1427812904863154181\u00a0\u2026— EricaJoy (@EricaJoy) 1629256070
Somewhere in the bureaucracy of Paris ISD there is a Leslie Knope smiling proudly.https://twitter.com/noliewithbtc/status/1427812904863154181\u00a0\u2026— Jonathan Weldon (@Jonathan Weldon) 1629255456
I freaking LOVE it!https://twitter.com/noliewithbtc/status/1427812904863154181\u00a0\u2026— MrsNonToxic (@MrsNonToxic) 1629263108
Out of the box thinking finds a loophole. Love it!https://twitter.com/NoLieWithBTC/status/1427812904863154181\u00a0\u2026— Gina G (@Gina G) 1629254568
Hooray for Paris ISD --and whatever school attorney helped them!https://twitter.com/NoLieWithBTC/status/1427812904863154181\u00a0\u2026— edcoble (@edcoble) 1629257740
Others found it pathetic the district had to go to such lengths in the first place.
That\u2019s brilliant. Sad that it\u2019s come to this, but bravo to the Paris ISD for finding that brilliant loophole.https://twitter.com/NoLieWithBTC/status/1427812904863154181\u00a0\u2026— morganabigail (@morganabigail) 1629256613
Why do we have to find loopholes to protect children? #MaskUphttps://twitter.com/noliewithbtc/status/1427812904863154181\u00a0\u2026— \ud835\udc00\ud835\udc12\ud835\udc07\ud835\udc04\ud835\udc0b\ud835\udc18 \ud835\udc00\ud835\udc0b\ud835\udc0a\ud835\udc04\ud835\udc11 \ud835\udc0c\ud835\udc03 (@\ud835\udc00\ud835\udc12\ud835\udc07\ud835\udc04\ud835\udc0b\ud835\udc18 \ud835\udc00\ud835\udc0b\ud835\udc0a\ud835\udc04\ud835\udc11 \ud835\udc0c\ud835\udc03) 1629321471
I can't believe schools boards and districts are having to go to THESE lengths to protect their kids. This is INSANEhttps://twitter.com/NoLieWithBTC/status/1427812904863154181\u00a0\u2026— Naima Cochrane\u2019s Burner Acct (@Naima Cochrane\u2019s Burner Acct) 1629314563
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