New York Mandate Podcast, Ep. 29: NYC Public School Parent

“If the point of these activities is for family involvement and kids to interact with their parents and to see some of the things that have been going on in the classroom, I have been excluded from that. If there's anything good about it, I'm not getting any of that benefit. . . . If the well-being of the kids is really what we're after here, then I should not be excluded from these events.”

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For this episode, I talked with a mother whose children attend New York City public schools. Because she hasn’t taken a COVID-19 vaccine, the Department of Education’s school visitor policy bars her from entering school buildings. The policy has been in effect since the beginning of the 2021-22 school year.

This NYC parent decided to remain anonymous, so I’ve published our conversation in written form here:

https://tinyurl.com/NYMPepisode29

If you prefer audio, you can download the Substack app for iOS or Android and use Substack’s automated text-to-speech player. Just go to the written interview, and click the headphone icon at the top of the screen.

If you think it’s important for people to hear this parent’s story, please share it!

About the New York Mandate Podcast

The New York Mandate Podcast is an ongoing series of conversations exploring the costs and consequences of vaccine mandates in New York City. I talk with workers and parents who have been directly affected by the mandates, as well as legal and policy experts.

In late 2021, the City introduced a series of requirements for workers to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. These requirements were put in place through executive orders issued by the administration of former mayor Bill de Blasio. They covered nearly all workers in New York City, in both the public and private sectors. They also barred unvaccinated adults, including parents, from schools.

Current mayor Eric Adams continues to support vaccine mandates, which currently cover all City employees. The Adams administration made the private-sector vaccine mandate optional on November 1, 2022, and is now encouraging employers to put their own vaccine requirements in place.

The views expressed in the New York Mandate podcast are the personal opinions of the people speaking, and are not intended to provide medical or legal advice.

Join the Conversation

Have you lost your job, been put on leave, or lost opportunities to work as an independent contractor as a result of your decision not to comply with a New York vaccine mandate? Did you take a vaccine against your wishes in order to keep your job? Please get in touch with me at [email protected].