Topline
A father of a Florida high-school student was arrested Wednesday for allegedly getting physical and threatening his daughter.
A demonstration against the use of masks outside of Orange County Department of Education, California, in May. MediaNews Group via Getty Images
The Key Facts
According to CBS Miami, Dan Bauman was the father of a Fort Lauderdale High School sophomore who had been turned away for refusing to wear a facial covering. On Wednesday, another student tried to grab Bauman's phone from him as he took a photo. Bauman said that he was tired. Bauman pushed the student, grabbed her arm, and twisted it aggressively in a violent response, according to a police investigation. If convicted, Bauman could spend up to 30 years prison time for aggravated child abuse. Bauman claimed that the mask mandate was illegal shortly before his arrest. He said that face masks can do more harm than good and is a common belief among most experts. Austin's Eanes Independent Schools District also reported that parents yanked off a teacher's mask and shouted at an educator who chose to remain masked while having a conversation. Jennifer Stevens, mother of a local school district, said that she was against the mandate. She claimed that her arrest was made to prove a point, however, that she is not against wearing a mask.
Important Background
Polls show that most Americans support masking mandates in schools, despite the increasing number of violent incidents involving children wearing face masks. A poll by Associated Press/NORC found that six out of 10 respondents supported mask mandates for teachers and students. However, only 52% parents of children in school reported supporting them. Ten states have banned schools from mandating the use of masks, including Texas, Florida, Texas and Oklahoma. Parents groups supporting masks have sued nearly all the states. The Centers for Disease Control issued guidance last month urging all staff and students to wear masks at school.
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Broward Dad Dan Bauman Arrested in Dispute with Ft. Lauderdale High School Student over Mask Mandat (CBS Miami).
A Ripped-Off mask and verbal assault: How tensions over masks were spilled in one Texas school district (KUT).
California teacher hospitalized after being allegedly attacked by his parent over the use of face masks in school on the first day (CNN).
