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?

We're in Austria and our kids (6 & 10) had to wear them. They didn't mind and understood that it was important.

However, even with 50% classes when the legal limit is 25 to start with, we still closed again after 6 weeks in our region because the T rate had gone from 1 to 2.7

I just found this article: theconversation.com/kids-need-to-wear-masks-when-they-go-to-school-in-person-and-parents-can-help-them-get-the-hang-of-that-143389

I still think it's going to be very difficult to wear masks 5 days a week for 6 hours a day without a break but if other countries make it work then of course there's no reason why we can't in the UK. Certainly there needs to be a very cheap supply, and different shapes, so kids (and staff) can find masks that suit the shape of their face.

Disgusting - teaching kids to treat every other human being as a biohazard. Insane.

God knows how they are expected to enter into healthy relationships with other people, after we teach them that human contact, BREATHING ffs, is a potential risk of someone somewhere dying. Engage the brain fgs. Look at the figures.

Lafaraona - you are my new bestie! These are exactly me thoughts. I am walking around in disbelief

@lafaraona

Disgusting - teaching kids to treat every other human being as a biohazard. Insane.

I don't get your point.

I'm treating every person as though they may have covid, yes. Because they may have covid. And I don't want covid.

I'm not going to pretend they couldn't possibly have it, or pretend I'm happy to have it, am I.

I'm not treating any human like a biohazard, I'm treating every human as a possible unknowing host of a transmissible virus. Which is sadly a current reality.

All human beings are at all times potential transmissors of a virus. This is not new. This virus is not the bubonic plague. There is a high survival rate. Please look at the data. Nothing is safe in the world. It is a question of balancing risk vs benefit. We do it all the time - when we commute to work on a busy road, when we fly to a holiday destination, when we swim in the sea, when we EAT OUT food that we do not prepare, when we have casual sex. We are constantly putting our hands in someone else's trust. But somehow a coronavirus has reminded us that we are mortal? I mean, really?

@Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow I am fed up of this shit, I guess it shows :-)

@lafaraona

All human beings are at all times potential transmissors of a virus. This is not new. This virus is not the bubonic plague. There is a high survival rate. Please look at the data. Nothing is safe in the world. It is a question of balancing risk vs benefit. We do it all the time - when we commute to work on a busy road, when we fly to a holiday destination, when we swim in the sea, when we EAT OUT food that we do not prepare, when we have casual sex. We are constantly putting our hands in someone else's trust. But somehow a coronavirus has reminded us that we are mortal? I mean, really?

I think the novel virus is new.

You are welcome to try to catch if you want. I'm at liberty to try to not catch it.

I have looked at the data. Don't forget you know nothing about me at all,so don't imply I'm not looking at it correctly.

It is just as likely you're not looking at it correctly.

Some kids would be exempt. Just like they would in shops

Part of this issue with that (and I'm not saying therefore none should wear them, just that it needs to be considered) is that a child not wearing one due to a medical need would then stand out. There have been reports of disabled people bullied on public transport so a child stuck in school, unable to wear a mask, may face bullying, and social isolation, as well as lots of intrusive questions about their health from the little so and sos who'll use anything to single another child out and pick on them.

@Frazzled13

Some kids would be exempt. Just like they would in shops

Part of this issue with that (and I'm not saying therefore none should wear them, just that it needs to be considered) is that a child not wearing one due to a medical need would then stand out. There have been reports of disabled people bullied on public transport so a child stuck in school, unable to wear a mask, may face bullying, and social isolation, as well as lots of intrusive questions about their health from the little so and sos who'll use anything to single another child out and pick on them.

This is indeed a concern, but it must be addressed through behaviour management. I could say the same about any visible difference, but we have to do what is right and deal with any dickheads.

Precisely because novel viruses are not new - it is cyclical. Now and then we get something that humans need to build resistance to. Only this time we have decided to wait it out :-D, putting everything on hold, locking ourselves in until it goes away, out of boredom, perhaps? Unforgivable stupidity for which we will pay with more lost lives and long-term suffering, probably our children's in later life. But hey, YOU will be safe, that's all that matters to humanity.

@lafaraona

Precisely because novel viruses are not new - it is cyclical. Now and then we get something that humans need to build resistance to. Only this time we have decided to wait it out :-D, putting everything on hold, locking ourselves in until it goes away, out of boredom, perhaps? Unforgivable stupidity for which we will pay with more lost lives and long-term suffering, probably our children's in later life. But hey, YOU will be safe, that's all that matters to humanity.

Why are you so angry?

I don't think me being safe is what matters to humanity. I think me not catching covid whilst we don't know much about it is less be eficial than me not catching it.

I am well aware I don't matter to humanity. But I'm still allowed to avoid the virus. I'm no less economically active than I was, if that is your concern.

"Trying to learn hundreds of pupils when you only see the top half of their face... it's not easy on a time table where you only see them for one or two hours per week when you can see a whole face."

Trying to learn them...said by a teacher!!!!

@Orchidsindoors

"Trying to learn hundreds of pupils when you only see the top half of their face... it's not easy on a time table where you only see them for one or two hours per week when you can see a whole face."

Trying to learn them...said by a teacher!!!!

They could just put their name on a bit of paper on the desk.

They could just put their name on a bit of paper on the desk

They would never swap them around, would they?!

@labyrinthloafer I think we all have good reasons to be angry - loss of life, not just covid, long-term consequences of measures taken in haste, that will affect millions - amongst them my children, who have been out of education for 5 months, and scared into wearing masks based on quakery, not science. Of course I am angry. Only an idiot would not be.

You think wearing masks is "quackery" !

[quote lafaraona]@labyrinthloafer I think we all have good reasons to be angry - loss of life, not just covid, long-term consequences of measures taken in haste, that will affect millions - amongst them my children, who have been out of education for 5 months, and scared into wearing masks based on quakery, not science. Of course I am angry. Only an idiot would not be.[/quote]
I guess we really just don't see things the same way. Good luck anyway.

@lafaraona

Open schools, no masks. If you are a teacher and scared of catching it talk to your head, and make necessary arrangements for a cover. If your child is vulnerable, arrange online sessions with the school. Can we, everyone else, please be allowed to give our children a normal education? The virus will be endemic, we need to live with it. Can we please start understanding this basic fact? I am not asking the whole planet to stay at home so that precious me (over 50 and with pleuresy history) is "safe" from a coronavirus with a survival rate of over 99%. It would be selfish and utterly ridiculous. Everyone get a grip ffs.

How though? I'd love parents to have a choice but we can't teach kids in class and online. My boss is on about this - FE and our IT facilities wouldn't cope with it never mind the logistics of engaging children in different settings