AIBU in agreeing with the NASUWT that masks should be worn in schools by over 11s?

[DomDoesWotHeWants]

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/28/unions-call-for-teachers-in-england-to-be-able-to-wear-face-masks

Given that they have to be worn almost everywhere else indoors by over 11s it would be the right thing to do. Adults working in schools have as much right to be protected as bus drivers and shop workers.

So AIBU in agreeing with the NASUWT that masks should be worn in schools by over 11s?

@redbushtea yes that's so true. Surgeons die all the time wearing masks for 16 hour operations.

That report is a load of old round spherical objects.

Teachers who couldn’t teach with students wearing masks would need to be offered alternative roles in the meantime eg socially distanced small group interventions. Much like the ecv staff were being redeployed to safer roles.

@TheHoneyBadger having taught in a mask for a while now it's fine. I've done it in visor and mask too - had to raise voice but kids could still hear me.

Masks could come off at outdoor lunch and breaks where sd can be observed. We could also shave 5 minutes off each lesson to create an additional break meaning no one had to wear them for too long.

Come on people. Where’s your can do attitude?

@TheHoneyBadger 😂😂😂

I meant hearing impaired teachers.

If all kids are wearing masks we can when teaching from the front at a safer distance remove masks to explain the work etc meaning hearing impaired students don’t suffer.

Trying to think of solutions

Odds are if you can't afford masks you can't afford to run a dryer. I also don't put the heating on to dry stuff, it's on to keep us warm when needed!!

No textiles lessons in our school, we don't have the facilities.

I'd teach in a visor. I wouldn't expect the kids to wear one.

Sorry but your suggestions are coming from a v MC world.

I have a see through mask now for my hearing impaired students. And we have extra loop mics so we can connect better to hearing aids (including mobile phones !).

Teachers who couldn’t teach with students wearing masks would need to be offered alternative roles in the meantime

Yes my HT has capacity for a maths teacher to teach small groups 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

And the hearing impaired staff do what mumsneed?

@Hercwasonaroll if you don't want your students to wear masks then that's absolutely your choice. I wish I had an answer that included masks but I don't. But I hope someone will come up with one very soon for you. Teams chat ? Worked well remotely.

@Rosewhite12

Both corporal punishment and FORCING a child to wear a covering over their mouth and nose for a significant period of time may cause that child physical discomfort and emotional and psychological damage. Remember that education is compulsory. Going into a shop is not. Travelling on a bus is not.

*@Rosewhite12*

So you are willfully causing your child "physical discomfort and emotional and psychological damage" by forcing them to go to school.

Remember that education is compulsory, school is not.

@mumsneedwine - surgery rooms are oxygen enriched environments. And nobody wears a mask for 16 hours continuously.

@redbushtea they wear a mask for over 13 hours at a time in ICU. Or if on shift on a ward. And it's not an not an oxygen rich environment in a theatre - why would they do that ? Bit dangerous as oxygen rich air is v v flammable.

This is getting ridiculous.

My DD just got home after a 13 hour shift. She changed masks many times but never went more than a few seconds without one.

I’m not middle class if that’s aimed at me.

Single parent, part time teacher with health issues and earning little enough to qualify for universal credit.

I’m well educated but I grew up in a council house and due to ill health have had times of serious poverty by UK standards with a child to look after.

Not sure why we’re assuming the government can’t contribute to the cost of ppe. We can afford bogof meals out from the budget apparently. Now there is a mc scheme.

Masks do not impact on the amount of oxygen you inhale.

@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross

All that is probably just a little bit less invasive than the "discomfort" of being on a ventilator.

We need some kind of Godwin's Law for the laziness of using the ventilator line of argument to shut down discussion.

Its no worse than the 'you've never worn one so you can't have a say' shutdown.

@ButterflyRuns what not wanting to get ill is ridiculous? I am scared. I am expected to teach 150 kids a day with no PPE and no social distancing. 150 different kids each day. Don't know of one other profession being asked to do this. Infant most people are not going back to offices any time soon. Because it's not deemed safe enough. I would just like the same consideration.

Why can't schools just provide masks for pupils? Well I know why, but why can't the government provide money for them?
If there are masks that are appropriate for lip reading, these would need to be supplied to teachers who have hearing impaired pupils, or to the whole class when it is the teacher who lip reads.
I doubt the pupils will hear me well with a mask on but maybe if they try harder to listen we'd all get used to it. Maybe I could WhatsApp them instead.

@BelleSausage plenty of teachers on this thread have said they wouldn't want to wear a mask all day, or make the children wear masks all day

Half the class would have a letter saying they don't have to wear a mask due to 'anxiety' which totally minimises the actual struggles of people with genuine anxiety.

A sensible strategy would be for the gov to pay celebrities to front an advertising campaign about wearing masks aimed at teenagers, get a few famous brands that are trendy to make some nice ones and make them a fashion accessory. Then they might be worn, if nothing else because it is like escaping the usual uniform rules.

@Mistressiggi we are making masks for everyone over the summer. Lots of us have been making scrubs for the NHS do we have loads of scraps. Should have several hundred by Sept. But school had 1,800+ students. Hoping they make it part of KS3 curriculum to make them in class.
I have been teaching for weeks and it's ok with a mask. Kids had no problem hearing me. In fact I think they listened better than usual. But Whattsapp is not as mad as you think - I tried questioning via Teams and it worked really well.

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion then they don't have to. But those of us that would like masks should be given the choice too.