#4: Creating the Affirmative Case

1. Proposition:The California State Board of Education must uphold mask mandates to preventthe spread of Covid-19 among staff and students at California K-12 publicschools.

2. Context:After a long debate between health officials, the board of education, and parents,California has decided to lift its mask mandates in public schools.

3. Harms:a) Unvaccinated exposure- Unvaccinated staff or students could expose

themselves or others to Covidb) Unprotected immunocompromised- Immunocompromised staff and

students would not be protected against others who may carry the virus,resulting in more extreme symptoms.

4. Inherency:a) School Shutdowns- Covid will spread rapidly among staff and students

causing future shutdowns at schoolsb) Risk of Hospitalization and Death- Immunocompromised staff and

students could be at greater risk of hospitalization or death.5. Plan: See proposition6. Solvency:

a) Reduced Transmission Rates- Vaccinated and unvaccinated will continuewearing masks, reducing transmission rates of covid

b) Protection from masks- Immunocompromised staff and students will beprotected by others wearing masks.

7. Advantages:a) Other illnesses spread slowed- cases of other illnesses commonly spread

in school, like the flu, can be preventedb) Teaches good practice- Students can learn how to protect themselves

from getting sick in the future by knowing how to social distance, wear amask, wash hands, etc.

#5: Creating the Negative Response:

1. Opposition to affirmative plan: The California State Board of Education mustuphold mask mandates only for unvaccinated and/or immune-compromisedpersons in schools.

2. Context: Although mask mandates are starting to be lifted and the threat ofCOVID is still present, it is important to make an effort to return K-12 educationback to an optimal learning environment without masks.

3. Harms:a) The continued spread of covid-19- if masks were completely taken out of

schools, covid would continue spreading, including both theunvaccinated/immunocompromised and break through cases of thevaccinated

b) Lack of Social Skills- masks get in the way of kids socializing andrecognising cues from others.

4. Inherency:a) If no plans happen- School shutdowns and risk of hospitalization/death,

especially for those that are unvaccinated and/or immunocompromisedb) If the affirmative plan happens- the learning environment will remain less

than optimal due to the barriers the masks pose to communication andsocial cues.

5. Counterplan: see opposition to affirmative plan6. Solvency:

a) Unvaccinated/Immunocompromised wear masks-Those who areunvaccinated will still have to wear a mask in order to prevent the spreadof COVID to those with an increased chance of hospitalization and death.

b) Better Socialization for kids- Unlike masking everyone in schools, mostkids will be able to go about their school day as normal, and be able tointeract fully with others without masks in the way

7. Advantages:a) Unvaccinated/immunocompromised protected- the unvaccinated and the

immunocompromised will still have protection against COVID through theuse of wearing a mask.

b) Socialization- normal interaction will be prioritized in K-12 education withthe counter plan