16 States Where Kids Breathe Freely!

No masks, masks optional - you get to choose. Video, pics and more from these strange outliers from a time gone by.

Our friend @mandylorianM composed an excellent thread which we wanted to reproduce in these pages. If you’re like me - you’re stuck in a blue state or metro area where the kids are masked and the dystopia is palpable. Believe it or not there are PLENTY of states and schools who are just going about life like it’s 2019! Some school districts are clear and free and some are mask optional. Imagine that! They give the students and parents a choice!

Mandy starts out her tweet:

“I’ve heard from two adults this week that kids will need to be masked for years. I think it’s important to know what Illinois has far more restrictions than the majority of states and that many, many kids have been unmasked all year (if not longer)”

#1 Georgia:

Buford City Schools @BufordSchoolsGA

BES students used their imaginations by designing Christmas tree ice cream cones and decorating gingerbread houses this week! #family #BES

#2 Tennessee:

Roger Jones, III @rj3cville

You CHS Choir under the direction of Mr. Matthew Morrison is set to put on a masterful winter concert! Tidings of Joy!

#3 Alabama:

Homewood Schools @HomewoodSchools

HWD’s first graders & kindergartners traveled to a winter wonderland today as @HomewoodMiddle's choir, dance team, & jazz band performed a Holiday Showcase for the students. HMS loved having our younger students come & celebrate the end of the semester with them today! #WeAreHWD

#4 Arizona:

Peoria Unified @PeoriaUnified11

Come check out our AWESOME MET Professional Academy! 👇👇👇

#PeoriaMET @PeoriaMET

Final preparations for MET Fall Showcase are underway. Join us tonight from 5:30-7:00 pm in Old Main at Peoria High School. #PeoriaUnified11 #PeoriaMET https://t.co/JBNbF7Jwrr

#5 Arkansas:

Cabot Public Schools @cabotsd

.@EastsideCabot More BENTLEY BUDDIES 🐾❤️🏠 ift.tt/3rMZTMM

#6 Colorado:

Michael Thomas @D11Supt

Great learning happening at Rudy Elementary today. I had a chance to observe students learning measurements on a ruler and sat with students for a pancake lunch😅 Very impressed with two students showing me how to check out books. @CSSD11

#7 Florida:

Martin County School District @MCSDFlorida

🎅HOLIDAY MAGIC🎅 Jensen Beach Elementary School's kindergarten artists enjoyed drawing their elves on the shelf this week! #ElfOnTheShelf #CreativityHappenHere🎨 #ALLINMartin👊

#8 Idaho:

Wood River Eagles @wreagles

Wood River Junior High wrestlers finished their season tonight with a great quad at Westridge. Six wrestlers finished the year with a winning record, and every wrestler won multiple matches throughout the year! Bright future for Eagle Wrestling!

PleasantValleyCSD @pleasvalcsd

National School Lunch continues and we have so much #PVPride for the 42 Food Service employees at Pleasant Valley. Check out the video below to learn why Junior High students love them so much! #WeArePV #SpartanNation #PVStrong

#9 Indiana:

SCM Schools @SCMSchools

The following information was shared with SCM families regarding a potential mask mandate change as well as an upcoming COVID vaccine clinic. This voluntary event is to receive the FREE COVID Vaccine for ages 5 and above or booster for those who are already vaccinated.

#10 Kansas:

Adam Orduna @AdamKCTV5

Such a fun two weeks of high school football on the KC metro with many programs kicking off their seasons. Top 5 showdown between @BVNW_Football & Blue Valley with the Huskies getting a strong win 35-21. BVNW HC @CoachClintRider had Northwest fired up for the game.

#11 Kentucky:

Murray Independent Schools @MurraySchools

Sending huge Tiger Roars out to our MISD volunteers! We appreciate you each and every day---you continue our tradition, pride, and excellence since 1872! #murrayschools

#12 Louisiana:

St. Bernard Parish Public Schools @SBPschools

Third graders from across the district returned to the Maumus Center recently for an exploration and immersion into science. Read the full release to learn more: sbpsb.org/site/default.a…

#13 Mississippi:

#14 Montana:

Lolo School District #7 @loloschools

More photos from our kindergarten shopping outing! It was a great day to give back to our community!

#15 North Dakota:

Tioga Public Schools @TiogaPirates

Miss Molenda's class learns about Jamaican culture!

#16 South Carolina:

Tonya McCullough @McCulloughTeach

Fifth graders at @cannons_elem learned about immigration in the 1900s and how immigrants helped with the idea to start the @Macys #Thanksgiving Parade. Each group then made a balloon based on different countries' culture brought over by the immigrants. Fun #STEM! @SpartanburgD3