AIBU to want to wear a mask again in my classroom

I’m a bit torn because I don’t think masks are ideal for teaching in but equally I think the parents are ridiculously unreasonable.

And I can understand your reason.

I think the school should be shielding you from the emails so you don’t see them - either letting you block this parent or, if they have been forwarding them, ceasing to do so.

Anyone who thinks it’s reasonable to email after every lesson to bully you into doing what they want shouldn’t be getting their way.

I can't say whether wearing a mask in your case is necessary or helpful, but the parent is being unreasonable to ask you to remove it. Your health concerns are none of her business and you have every right to protect your health and precious baby in any way you see fit. If her child has a phobia of people in masks then they need to seek treatment for it - lots of people use masks for non covid reasons like dentist and builders so it'll be a tough fear to live with if not addressed.

The communications issue can be worked around if there is an problem for a specific child like in any other circumstance. Not every teacher can talk 'perfectly' at 50 decibels RP - there are plenty with throat issues, speech impediments, even different accents can make it more challenging for some kids to listen to and understand. We work around it.

Yes, this! Is your husband wearing a mask at work to protect him in order to protect you??

Masks tend to be more useful if you are the ill one stops you spreading. An N90 provides you with some protection but frankly go and see your GP or phone them and advise you need flu jab as min. if you recently had covid shldnt need a covid jab as immunity will come from having fought it off.

In terms of class - lots of hand sanitiser on entry for all, keep your distance from the kids, wipe down the front area of class each day at start of day, lunch time and home time. Personally in my view wld be doing this anyway as schools full of viruses and cleaners don't clean properly - mostly as they don't have enough time

Some of the other replies on here need to go back to basic science class though.

Your facial expressions are important for children to read, for communication. Children with a hearing loss, rely on reading lips. I do think you're being unreasonable for wearing a mask. You're a teacher and you're there for the children.

I'm so shocked at the number of people saying you're being unreasonable.

Wear your mask! You're not doing anything hugely offensive and you should have every right to do so.

It's only for a few months anyway. You won't still be wearing it when you come back from maternity leave.

It's a high school not a primary school so the pupils should be able to understand and not let it affect them that much. Adapting to other people's needs and conditions is an important lesson to learn. What if a teacher became visually impaired and had to cover their eyes would that be too off putting for the pupils so they'd need to leave teaching?

Sounds like it's the parent's issue rather than the child's anyways.

Also people expecting the world to accommodate any and varied anxieties are doing their children no favours. Yanbu

Mumsnet was taken over by anti-vaxers. Ignore them. You are doing nothing wrong. Good masks are protective for the wearer and the complainant has no right to any medical information. If possible the school should move the child to another class so you dont have continued harassment from an idiot.

As you can have your vaccinations next month I’d carry on wearing your mask until they’ve kicked in.
No student has complained your mask wearing impacts on their learning have they? That’s the only reason not to wear one. Some kids might have problems , flashbacks to Covid lockdowns , but sometimes facing up and accepting the explanation that it’s just to protect you in the short term might help them overcome any fears.
Hope all goes well over the coming months.

If you want to wear a mask, then wear one. You can still teach effectively with one on.
As for the usefulness of masks, that’s another story.

Interesting everyone saying masks do nothing. When teaching at start of covid all of us remarked how nice it was not to catch the dozen or so illnesses before Christmas that we normally caught. Maybe our masks were woven with magical thread.One of the rubbish things about teaching, the many rubbish things, is children being sent in ill and us catching everything.

I’ve only read the first page, but please don’t be bullied into compromising your own safety. Of course decent face masks (FFP2 and FFP3 etc) protect you from Covid and other airborne viruses. Those who shout the loudest about how they’ve been “proven” not to work are the ones who wore baggy blues under their noses then claimed masks don’t work 🙄.

This parent doesn’t care in any way about your health. If they did, they would be coming up with other solutions to help keep you safe (e.g. HEPA filters in the classrooms, insisting windows are kept open, testing their child if there‘s any hint of a symptom). This is 100% about a parent hating the visual reminder that covid’s still very much here, it’s still causing a lot of (long-term) damage and there are still people out there who haven’t given up on protecting themselves, their families and their communities. If they want to do nothing to help the situation, then that’s their choice. But please don’t let them drag you down with them ❤️.

So the parent could have said that her child struggles to understand the teacher in the class and ask for reasonable adjustments. She didn't. She said her child feels anxious (they don't as OP spoke to them already) and repeatedly demanded no mask.

Unless you're wearing a Hazmat suit, it's not going to have any benefit really.

I'm sure you can teach in one.

YANBU. Very surprised at the responses. If you were teaching Reception I'd get it but a secondary aged child can cope with their teacher who they only see for four hours a week wearing a mask! What an overreaction!

I agree. Being unable to hear a teacher speak while wearing a mask may be an issue for some children.

You should wear the mask if you want to. It is no one else's business. I wore one to teach in for a lot longer than everyone else. Was not an issue. It didn't impact my teaching.

You have the right to do whatever you wish to protect yours and your babies health. The parent absolutely cannot dictate what you wear and you do not need to explain yourself if you don't want to.

I hope everything goes well for you.

My advice- try and have maximum ventilation . Easy at the moment as it is summer/early autumn. Open your classroom windows! This makes a huge difference but you would be surprised how many classroom windows are kept shut all through the year. personally regardless of virus's fresh air is just nicer especially when teaching teenagers lol.
Get a CO2 monitor to keep an eye on readings- they are hand held and easy to buy- cheap. This will help you to feel reassured.
Consider buying an air filter for your classroom. Ok so its a personal purchase but worth it for peace of mind. You can keep it when you go on mat leave. These work! My DD had covid over xmas and none of our household caught it despite none of us taking any precautions. I am not in the business of recommending brands so you will have to do that research. About £300 ish.
Look up nasal sprays- some people use these and they can help protect your nose from virus's. As you are pregnant you will have to check very carefully that ingredients are safe.
How do I know all this- lots of people with cancer out there still trying to protect themslves whilst getting on with life. Hope this helps and best wishes

I don’t think any of this is relevant to the OP. She has made her choice. Her school supports it. She is wondering about how to handle a parent.

However, as you have raised it, ordinary disposable surgical masks were created for surgery to prevent splatter on the face / in the mouth. These are sometimes worn in places like Japan by people with mild colds on public transport. This is a cultural tradition. They don’t wear them to protect themselves.

FFP3 were created to reduce airborne particles from being breathed in. They need to be well fitted and they can reduce blood oxygen levels in some people, but they are designed to reduce the wearer’s chances of breathing in anything airborne. That includes respiratory viruses.

I wore masks to teach in. It was fine. I didn't do d it too uncomfortable. Kids could hear me no problem. Non issue.