A mask mandate for children in school is necessary to slow the spread of this Covid virus. Parents should not have the ability or freedom to choose whether their child wears a mask in the classroom. That decision should not be up to the parents. Universal masking is effective only when EVERYONE (all the children and teachers) wears a mask in the classroom. Masks should be worn PROPERLY by covering the NOSE and MOUTH at all times. One reason why masking has not worked for us is that compliance of wearing masks properly is practically non existent.
This is what the CDC says about the effectiveness of Universal masking as source control.....
Science Brief: Community Use of Cloth Masks to Control the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 | CDC