Angry parent rips mask off teacher’s face, superintendent says

A teacher in a Texas school district was physically assaulted Monday when a parent ripped off her face mask, news outlets reported.

“A parent physically assaulted a teacher by ripping a mask off her face, others yelling at a teacher to take off her mask because they could not understand what the teacher was saying while her face was covered,” Eanes Independent School District Superintendent Tom Leonard wrote in a statement Tuesday.

“This type of behavior will not be tolerated in Eanes ISD. Our staff are on the front lines of this pandemic; let’s give them some space and grace. Please, I am asking everyone to be kind...do not fight mask wars in our schools,” the statement continued.

No charges were filed, USA Today reported, and the condition of the attacked teacher was not disclosed in the statement.

Travis County, where the school district is located, issued an order last week that requires masks be worn in schools, USA Today reported. That order contradicts Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s order that prevents school districts from mandating masks in schools.

“Eanes ISD is following the current Travis County Order, which is in effect and will remain so unless a higher court overturns the recent decision,” Leonard went on to explain. “The trustees and I take an oath to abide by the laws of Texas. We will follow the law.”

Leonard continued that Eanes “will not require masks of staff or students if developmentally inappropriate, when eating meals or snacks indoors, when participating in extracurricular activities (including P.E.), and during any outdoor activities.”

He added that Eanes “will follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which ‘recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.’”

“Please understand, we want our schools to be safe. All staff should treat students, parents and each other with respect,” the superintendent said. “We are all in this pandemic together.”