Torquay parents protest against 'harmful' school Covid measures
“I can see the effect and harm it has had on not just my own children but so many others in the past year"
PARENTS campaigning for Covid rules around children in schools to be relaxed have taken to the streets of Torquay.
The Fight For Our Kids Facebook group mobilised the ‘strike’ in the town centre, campaigning against face masks being worn in schools and against mass testing and social distancing.
They say the measures are out of proportion to the risks children face.
The campaign group has been launched by mother of four Tara Porter, who joined around 25 adults and children on the protest.
They gathered outside Torquay Town Hall with home-made placards and balloons before walking down through Union Street, where they stopped to talk to shoppers.
Two police officers walked alongside and asked them to observe social distancing rules during their protest.
Hundreds of parents have joined the movement across different social media platforms.
Ms Porter said: “We want to show we will not take any more of the harmful measures the schools are forcing on our children.
“I can see the effect and harm it has had on not just my own children but so many others in the past year.
“We want children to have normality in the classroom again. The measures taken to prevent transmission of the virus are not in proportion to the risk of harm to children.
“As happy as we are our kids are able to go back to school, we need to remember these things are not normal. Schools are no more at risk than any other public-fronted organisation, but we are being told they must wear face masks.
“People may disagree with us but we are parents who are questioning why, after a year of disruption and sacrifice, we are being asked to sacrifice even more.”
The group says children’s development is being affected by teachers wearing masks. Children, it says, are missing mixing and ‘real-life’ interactions as opposed to those on video.
“After a year of disruption to their education, I don’t think one more day will do any more harm,” said Ms Porter. “Mass disobedience is the only way to show the schools we won’t accept these measures for our kids. They need normal again.”
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