Should kids wear facemasks in school to reduce second wave and more school closures?

[947EliseChalotte]

Should kids wear masks in school in September when there are 30 in a class to reduce chances of second wave and avoid school shut down again?

Absolutely not. My son wears glasses. Glasses get steamed up a lot, are yes insurmountable best just not bother if it’s steamy.

I'd like it to happen if only for teachers and children's parents, but realistic to know it would be almost unenforceable and all sorts of reasons would be dreamed up by parents who think their child is exempt from any rules.

Judging by this thread, there are lots of parents that would be up in arms if their child was made to wear a mask, so I guess we have lots and lots of school closures coming in the autumn term!

There have been no outbreaks in key worker hubs over the outbreak

Lots of schools have closed when staff and/or children or people in their families have been diagnosed. It has happened in at least 4 schools in my town that I am aware of. 3 of those were primaries.

udging by this thread, there are lots of parents that would be up in arms if their child was made to wear a mask, so I guess we have lots and lots of school closures coming in the autumn term!

not to mention the sick school staff and then the inevitable deaths that will follow that. But we don't matter and nor do our families.

@Lostmyshityear9

udging by this thread, there are lots of parents that would be up in arms if their child was made to wear a mask, so I guess we have lots and lots of school closures coming in the autumn term!

not to mention the sick school staff and then the inevitable deaths that will follow that. But we don't matter and nor do our families.

I know it is morbid to think it but I am dreading teacher deaths. Any teacher death is very hard for all the children in the school, think it will be a shock to them.

Teachers and their families do matter to me and I am very concerned about this. for all worried teachers.

Good teachers won't resign

Some excellent teachers have already resigned. Why do you think you have a right to label any teacher who, for reasons you have no clue about, might decide that the personal risk to themselves and/or their family is simply not worth taking? Or what about those teachers who can afford to say 'fuck it' and wait a while for this to blow over? I am afraid the situation in some schools was dire before this happened. I am not alone in being concerned about what will happen next year when people start getting ill.

There were more cases in educational establishments than care homes last week, it’s just not being reported in the press!

Good teachers won't resign

It is extremely naive to believe that.

I would suggest good teachers will indeed resign. They will be able to get work after a year or so when things calm down.

My child had four English teachers in three years. I don't want any teachers to have to resign!

Guess that we are lucky that nurses are a bit tougher than teachers then.

Frankly teacher friends are appalled by the attitude of some who are not going to return but if they are mentally fragile then perhaps it is for the best. They must have wealthy husbands my teacher friends never found a rich man unfortunately

No. Because they need to eat. Drink. Smile at eachother. Also if they are making medical professionals hot and uncomfortable then it would make a child hot and uncomfortable. My mum's in hospital and the nurses chin is covered in boils and sores from wearing one. It hurts people's ears and stuff too.

Also kids have been through a trauma. It will massively very through the child and their experiences in lock down. Some have been living with anxious parents. Some have been living with working parents who have had limited time to help them. Some have been at school this whole time. Some have got anxiety themselves and will be nervous about going back. So it's best they can actually see smiley faces.

If it's that dangerous then the kids should not be going back. They've got to either go back to a happy environment or it will never work.

Guess that we are lucky that nurses are a bit tougher than teachers then

Huge difference between nurses and teachers. Nurses know there job can be dangerous when they sign up plus they are given PPE. Teachers sign up to educate children in a safe workplace. They have no PPE and the guidance doesn’t even seem to guarantee they will have social distancing at all times. What other workplace currently has that many people, little distance and no PPE?

Guess that we are lucky that nurses are a bit tougher than teachers then

This is a silly remark, as nurses sign up to work in health care

@justasking111

Guess that we are lucky that nurses are a bit tougher than teachers then.

Frankly teacher friends are appalled by the attitude of some who are not going to return but if they are mentally fragile then perhaps it is for the best. They must have wealthy husbands my teacher friends never found a rich man unfortunately

Appalling post.

Is the UK planning to have kids in school without masks??? How would that work?

@Chochito

Is the UK planning to have kids in school without masks??? How would that work?

Where are you based? Yes, no masks is the plan. The government is basically negligent!

Yes, I'm abroad. It would be illegal here (under current law) for school children or anyone in a school (teacher, admin, maintenance, cleaning staff or visiting parent, etc.) not to wear a mask.

Presumably no parents or staff will agree to it so Boris will have to implement a proper plan for masks and other PPE as necessary.

I'm shocked.

This is a silly remark, as nurses sign up to work in health care

And teachers sign up to teach! That is an equally silly remark. Not all nurses sign up to work with infectious diseases you know!

And very few health professionals are given full PPE. I’ve had full contact with patients throughout with just a mask, gloves and tiny pinny. I am in physical contact with patients and see about 15 a day. I hate that argument.

@Didyousaynutella

This is a silly remark, as nurses sign up to work in health care

And teachers sign up to teach! That is an equally silly remark. Not all nurses sign up to work with infectious diseases you know!

And very few health professionals are given full PPE. I’ve had full contact with patients throughout with just a mask, gloves and tiny pinny. I am in physical contact with patients and see about 15 a day. I hate that argument.

But the covid risk is entirely new. You can not compare health settings and schools and the fact it is being discussed this way shows how far from 'covid secure' schools will be in September.

Also if they are making medical professionals hot and uncomfortable then it would make a child hot and uncomfortable. My mum's in hospital and the nurses chin is covered in boils and sores from wearing one

No one is suggesting that children (or teachers or retail workers or waiters) should wear full medical PPE. That is just ridiculous.

We are talking about the kind of light mask that you have to wear atm to work e.g. at KFC. My son works there and has been wearing a mask since they went back a few months ago. His skin is perfectly fine and his breathing is not impeded- which is just as well as he works 10 hour shifts in a room where they are frying chicken.

As for the argument that nobody can be made to wear a mask because some children with SN can't wear one- since when did schools run their policies for the whole cohort on the assumption that nobody must do anything that might not be possible for every single one of them? (Most forms of PE would have had to be cancelled for a start, since there are physically disabled children who can't run or jump).

Since the virus spreads by exhaled breath, every child who wears a mask is one risk lessened. Just like every child who is vaccinated benefits the whole group, including the ones who can't be.

Frankly teacher friends are appalled by the attitude of some who are not going to return but if they are mentally fragile then perhaps it is for the best

ODFOD. I resigned. I live with an 80 year old with dementia and kidney disease, a young person with type 1diabetes and I myself am over 50 and overweight. My school was less than supportive of my difficult home situation during lockdown (including threatening disciplinary action for my mum’s violent and distressing outbursts my children had to try and manage whilst I was online teaching and which were heard by students. A parent actually complained). They also refused to reduce my timetable next year to help me manage my mum’s situation. I have an inheritance I was saving for an emergency and it seems to me this is it. No reliance on a rich husband. I don’t have one.

Rather me demonstrating ‘mental fragility’, I believe I have done what is best for me and my family and have put us first. That’s decisive, positive and clearly demonstrates to my children that they above everything are what matters. I have spent too many years making other people’s children a priority. People who think my wanting some kind of balance makes me ‘mentally fragile’. You know fuck all about me. You know exactly where you can stick your ill informed judgements. Thank god I no longer have to deal with parents like you.

Oh, and I might be one of your children’s teachers - they haven’t been able to replace me and as of yesterday, hadn’t secured a specialist supply teacher either. So no specialist for exam classes come September. And that’s a private school - imagine the situation in state schools right now.

@Chochito

Yes, I'm abroad. It would be illegal here (under current law) for school children or anyone in a school (teacher, admin, maintenance, cleaning staff or visiting parent, etc.) not to wear a mask.

Presumably no parents or staff will agree to it so Boris will have to implement a proper plan for masks and other PPE as necessary.

I'm shocked.

Well, judging by this thread, lots of parents would be furious if their children were forced to wear a mask!

Teachers are not allowed to wear masks. We have no choice, even if we want to, we can’t.

@Howaboutanewname I'm really sorry things have been so hard for you. It really was an insensitive and callous post and I'm not surprised it upset you.

@justasking111

Guess that we are lucky that nurses are a bit tougher than teachers then.

Frankly teacher friends are appalled by the attitude of some who are not going to return but if they are mentally fragile then perhaps it is for the best. They must have wealthy husbands my teacher friends never found a rich man unfortunately

Dreadful! How can you make assertions like that? Women have fought hard to break free of these sorts of comments. Maybe we should all go back to being ‘chained to the kitchen sink’.

Masks in primary schools would be an absolute nightmare and in my opinion may actually further the spread.
Any teachers reading will know how things get when new accessories start trending. The JoJo Bow trend of a few years back, all that fabric and kids swapping and trying to outdo each other with the sparkliest brightest and biggest. Those things were like currency! Garish, germ-ridden currency.
Now let’s move on to masks. They’ll all come in with the cutest or rhinestoned or latest-superhero-inspired... and not take the same masks home. I can see it amongst my year three’s now! “I love those cats!” “I love those flamingoes!” “Can we swap until tomorrow?” “YES LETS DO IIIIT!”

Nope. No masks.