AIBU to want to wear a mask again in my classroom

Most Scottish schools went back last week, the rest this week. The UK is bigger than England.

Despite thinking teaching with a mask is difficult... As a new mother you will learn pretty quick that you are the prime advocate for your baby and you have absolutely every human right to wear that mask. Don't you dare take it off for anyone but you.

As for the anxious child? I'd be advising that parent to parent and work through it. They've complained, you've said no, they need to head to plan B and work through it.

Good luck!

Isn't it interesting how your thread has become a microcosm of exactly what's happening in your classroom? We all know we do not have to disclose our medical information to anybody unless we want to, and that people demanding to know isn't a reason to disclose anything. Yet here on this thread you have people berating you for drip feeding rather than recognising that it's none of their business. Your question was clear- whether you have to disclose the medical information that you are pregnant- and the answer is equally clear- no you do not have to tell the parent about your pregnancy if you do not wish to. That's it. But people are people and will launch in with their opinions and scoffing rather than just answer a clear question. Good luck with the pregnancy OP and let this thread be a small practice for dealing with all the opinions you'll get given over the next few years regarding your pregnancy and parenting. You can do this mama.

You've had a tough road, and your anxiety is understandable. You're 19 weeks and just try to focus on eating well, resting and being sensible. Take it week by week. If wearing a mask makes you feel better, then do that, although you know it'll make a minimal impact.. Good luck, though, teaching is hard anyway without this.

Of course you should not have to divulge your condition to anyone.

However - you have said yourself you know that the mask probably wont make any difference.

IMO teachers shouldn't be wearing masks.

Yes, some Scottish schools went back last week. Ours return this week.

During covid I wore a mask when moving around the class and in corridors etc, but took it off when standing at the top of the classroom teaching.

I don't really understand why the Japan reference was relevant to start with......

This. The reason we wore masks was to protect others, not ourselves.

Time for the head to tell this parent to fuck off, I think.

or remove her child.

I hope your pregnancy progresses well, OP.

Scottish school term starts mid August.

Another attempt at shut down perchance: 'get a grip'.
How about you just ignore my comments?

Of course nobody can demand medical info.
They can expect effective teaching though - a mask is definitely a potential hindrance to that.

We did in our school.

Honestly get a grip. You're all over this thread quoting everyone with something to say about everything. The post isn't about whether OP should wear a mask, but most of you have made it about that. No point in you responding to this one as I won't be answering you again, it's tiring 💤.

Surely any brave soul going into teaching knows that schools = haven for every horrific bug known to man, though?

I don’t think a mask will protect you - it’s to protect others from you. However, if your doctor recommends that you wear it, I suggest you tell the parent and anyone else concerned that it’s for a medical reason. You don’t have to be more explicit.

Absolutely not. It’s your private medial information. Nobody has the right to demand you disclose it.

Some of these comments 🙄 Have some empathy and respect for the OP!

Some parents are so entitled and have ridiculous expectations of teachers. Your child's feelings do not trump those of their teacher. Masks were worn in schools throughout the pandemic and teaching was adapted and continued.

If my child had an issue with a mask wearing teacher I would explain that there will be a good reason and to respect their choice.

OP has already said that the windows do not open and the ventilation relies on recirculated air.

I don’t think potential impact on a high risk pregnancy is the same as having a health anxiety. Having had a high risk pregnancy, of course you’re anxious and posters implying this is mh and an issue have clearly never been told your baby may not make it to term. I’d be doing all I could to protect the baby even if it means a few weeks of mask wearing. I’d just let the parent know it’s temporary due to health… wait until they find out you’ve gone in mat leave, they’ll lose their mind.

Long term teaching with a mask isn’t fair on the dc but short term I’m sure they’ll adapt, likely better than the parents.

If you're missing out vital info in you're opening post then it's going to affect replies.

Still don’t see how this is pertaining to the child’s (parents’!) anxiety around mask use.

YANBU. I don't think people realise how stressful teaching children while pregnant is at the moment. It's been a constant stream of COVID, flu, whooping cough, strep, slapped cheek and you get told the risks as a pregnant person (and for many, including COVID, it's miscarriage and still birth) but given absolutely nothing to protect you except maybe a mask or taking maternity leave months early. I had a baby in 2022 and was still wearing a mask in class, with the support of my head teacher. I just lost my 4th baby in July at 19 weeks and while it wasn't related to any of the many illnesses going around school, that was my first worry. When a child came in visibly ill, I was offered a mask or to not work with them by the head teacher (this term I worked in pupil support so that was easier to manage, but more than once children developed slapped cheek symptoms after I'd been sat beside them in a small room for half an hour). Your baby comes first. Saying all that, do you have a risk assessment? It might be worth asking for a meeting with your head teacher to see what other measures can be put in place to protect you.

So being immuno-insert-drip-feed-here-compromised can't lead to having health anxiety then? You know, being irrationally afraid you might catch something because you are immunocompromised?