As a public school teacher in Virginia’s largest school district I implore you to make mask-wearing mandatory for all students, as well as teachers, except those with breathing tubes or developmental disabilities that would affect their ability to breath. Currently mask-wearing is not mandatory for children under 10 and my district is saying that those over the age of 10 who refuse will not have to suffer any consequences. Science shows that the main risk of contracting COVID is through sustained breathing of the same air, which is exactly what being in a classroom for 6 hours a day would entail. Mask-wearing must be mandatory. Additionally, temperature checks before entering the school building and contact tracing must be done to ensure a safe working environment for the thousands of teachers who work in Virginia. These common sense and affordable measures should be required for attendance and entry into all school buildings.