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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU: If They Make Children Wear Masks, I'm Homeschooling

184 replies

DamnYankee · 06/05/2020 00:51

Social distancing at our schools is not possible.
I would love to get back to work in the fall as a public school teacher. However, we are being asked/encouraged (over the age of 3) to wear masks in public places.
My DD (11) panics when she has to wear a mask for more than 20 minutes. I get it. I get a headache after 30 minutes.
I understand this is projecting, but just keeps going through my mind...
Ugh.

OP posts:
RHTawneyonabus · 06/05/2020 08:40

It would be ridiculous to expect primary school children to use masks effectively. Some adults struggle with it. All it would do would be to provide a false sense of security.

PurpleDaisies · 06/05/2020 08:40

Carrying around a gas mask for use in an emergency is not the same as wearing a mask all day at school.

PutThemInTheIronMaiden · 06/05/2020 08:43

They won’t.

NeonK · 06/05/2020 08:45

@PurpleDaisies I completely agree. Compulsory mask wearing will mean hearing impaired people being unable to access services and increasing their social isolation (already a huge problem).

Teachers wearing them would be catastrophic for the education of deaf/hearing impaired children or anyone with communication difficulties.

SoupDragon · 06/05/2020 08:51

Not as catastrophic as potentially dying from Coronavirus.

PurpleDaisies · 06/05/2020 08:53

Not as catastrophic as potentially dying from Coronavirus

Masks worn the way they would be in schools would not stop that.

FrippEnos · 06/05/2020 08:59

NeonK

Teachers wearing them would be catastrophic for the education of deaf/hearing impaired children or anyone with communication difficulties.

Lets use the reverse the usual spin on this.

It doesn't stop the NHS from from doing their job.

randomsabreuse · 06/05/2020 09:02

Gas masks were carried, very few were worn other than for drills...

So much communication is non-verbal, there will be some very interesting times when we lose the most expressive parts of our faces in our interaction with strangers! That's ignoring the impact on people who are hearing impaired to some degree or another.

Even video conferencing is limited and much more tiring because the empathy cues are not as strong. Masks would probably be even worse.

Slightly bizarre that we have flipped from face covering bad to face covering compulsory forever in the course of 3 months!

PurpleDaisies · 06/05/2020 09:03

It doesn't stop the NHS from from doing their job.

That’s a totally different job to teaching. Did you even bother to read the part where it was specifically talking about deaf/hearing impaired people. There’s masses of evidence out there that poor communication means worse health outcomes for them.

Kokeshi123 · 06/05/2020 09:04

You can get masks with a clear section allowing lip reading, but manufacturing and supplying them in large numbers quickly would be a challenge.

PurpleDaisies · 06/05/2020 09:06

The government can’t even supply the nhs with the PPE it needs now. Those masks with windows are a nice idea but not a viable option for mass use.

FrippEnos · 06/05/2020 09:07

PurpleDaisies

That’s a totally different job to teaching.

I know that it is.
I am hoping that putting the reverse spin on it will make other posters realise that its not the same and the 'well the NHS staff do it' is an equally bullshit response.

JemimaPuddleCat · 06/05/2020 09:07

@MilkTrayLimeBarrel

Here come the people who want exceptions made for their little darling.

You do realise that some of these "little darlings" have disabilities that are protected under law? I think pointing out that a deaf person would not be able to communicate to their full ability with the use of face masks is pretty damn exceptional.

PurpleDaisies · 06/05/2020 09:09

I am hoping that putting the reverse spin on it will make other posters realise that it’s not the same and the 'well the NHS staff do it' is an equally bullshit response.

I really don’t think people will get that from your post but good to know we’re of the same opinion.

TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince · 06/05/2020 09:10

I saw a guy smoking a cigarette and wearing a mask. He kept pulling down his mask to have a drag, then pulling it back up again,..,

Gwynfluff · 06/05/2020 09:10

Population measures work if the greater population follow them so that the more vulnerable don’t have to but still get protection. That’s why it’s been important to keep MMR vaccine rates high to ensure vulnerable people who can’t have the vaccine get protected.

If most of us wear masks to the specified places, I’m thinking shops, transport, where possible at work - then it will be fine for kids with hearing impairments and sensory issues not to wear them. Rather like disabled children are allowed more daily activity outside if necessary.

GrannyBags · 06/05/2020 09:14

I’m claustrophobic and can’t even use a snorkel as it sets off a panic. I would struggle wearing a mask for any length of time. And we are struggling enough in school with social distancing - that’s with only the key worker children in. They have to be constantly reminded. Masks would not work with younger pupils.

stressbucket1 · 06/05/2020 09:15

I'm really not sure the benefit school children wearing masks constantly out weighs the negative effects. Primary age children need social development, mask wearing all day is a huge barrier to this.
Wearing masks in shops or on public transport is fine, all day everyday is totally different and a very big ask.
What about when they need a drink or eating lunch? Also I would imagine they will be taking them on and off by the minutes and getting them lost or trying each others on. Massive cross contamination risk there.

stressbucket1 · 06/05/2020 09:17

Also even nhs staff dont wear masks all day everyday it's only for close patient contact unless working in Covid or theatre areas.

twosoups1972 · 06/05/2020 09:18

For the hearing impaired - I saw on FB a student has invented a mask with a clear plastic panel over the lips to enable lip reading.

nether · 06/05/2020 09:19

I’m not sure what the reasonable accommodation is for someone who can’t tolerate a mask

It'll be like the 'reasonable adjustment' for everyone with medical issues, including the exceptionally vulnerable - 'stay at home'

Until we have an effective vaccine, those who are at exceptional risk, and those who are medically (or for any other reason) unable to comply with public disease control measures will have tomstat at home.

It's a bit shit when you realise that the group of 'oh those other people who will just have to stay home for months' actually includes you

Drivingdownthe101 · 06/05/2020 09:22

Yeah I won’t send DD2 back. She has slight hearing issues, not enough to affect her generally but she relies on looking at someone’s lips to hear properly. It wouldn’t be in her best interests to go back with masks.

Drivingdownthe101 · 06/05/2020 09:23

It's a bit shit when you realise that the group of 'oh those other people who will just have to stay home for months' actually includes you

No, happy for it to include me (well not happy, but accepting). We all need to do what’s right for our circumstances.

diddl · 06/05/2020 09:25

We now have to wear one on public transport & in shops.

Wore one for the first time yesterday just to do the shopping.

How people wear them for a full day's work is beyond me!

Hercwasonaroll · 06/05/2020 09:26

I'm a teacher with hearing issues and I'm not looking forward to this being policy. I don't think it will be.

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