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?

@P999 why? My students have managed it fine.

Sorry that was to @labyrinthloafer

Anyway, I'm trying not to worry too much about it - there is literally nothing I can do, I'm not even an employee so I am told nothing beyond what DH happens to mention. I kind of want to just break every rule on the basis that I haven't been told anything but I already cause problems for poor DH with my ways (I kept my maiden name and it still causes no end of trouble )

No we don't keep 2m apart. I WFH half / Office Half so a mixture.

I don't like wearing a mask so I don't wear one when I don't have to.

I have avoided shopping and won't be shopping for joy anytime in the future.

I wear one in the post office as I don't want the confrontation from the "Public Covid Police"

Although, I did pick up some documents today from a "shop setting" and put on my mask. When inside I noticed that two fellow shoppers were not wearing masks so I asked the chap "are we not supposed to be wearing masks”
He said yes however it’s not our job to police it or report it so it’s up to you”

@runbummyrun well that sounds risky but each to their own. Fingers crossed no one carries it.

@LadyofTheManners They have been no recorded cases anywhere of pupil to teacher transmission.

Most cases don't have evidence of where they originated, so that's not really significant.

But schools have been closed to most students, and many staff have been following government guidelines to work at home the majority of thr time, so transmission has been hugely lowered inside school buildings.

When they're full again, with no distancing, the numbers will clearly change. Transmission hasn't been absent anywhere populated with people.

@mumsneedwine can large schools cover even that small cost though? Plus are they thrown away after use incurring multiple costs or are the pupils to take home and wash? I’m not saying I totally disagree with face covering but there are children who turn up to school unfed because their parents have no money so they can’t avoid their own masks and pupils who turn up unwashed and cared for; will their parents wash their masks?

They have been no recorded cases anywhere of pupil to teacher transmission.

I'm getting rather bored with keep reading this.

@DonnaDonna01 yes because most schools will be able to source fabric cheaply, or even for free. Noah fabric might be made available.
And if parents don't wash it there's nothing we can do about that. But the mask will still offer some protection to those around. This is about being considerate of others not just looking out for ourselves.

Everything in life comes with a risk @mumsneedwine

I have done my research. Family member is a doctor, we have discussed the risks etc and I'm happy with my risk assessment.

I think you sound very anxious and cautious, again I understand this as the media has made sure everyone is living in fear.

I'm getting on with my life, it can be done.

@CallmeAngelina it's such a stupid statement. Shows a real lack of understanding. Sad.

I think teachers should have the vote on it. I’ll go with whatever they prefer.

But worried about my very short sighted DD though. Her glasses steam up when she wears a masks. She can’t see without her glasses. So basically a mask would mean she cannot see in school.

@runbummyrun I've lost 2 colleagues and one parent. So my risk assessment tells me that this kills people. And 16 year old student now needs a lung transplant after 10 days in an induced coma. Glad your Dr friend feels it's all ok. My DD who has been working on COVID wards does not feel the same way. She had seen the devastation it causes, not only to the patients, but the medical staff looking after them.

@CountessFrog shaving cream. Wipe on glasses. Or demister spray. I use both and they are very effective.

@P999

Ridiculous idea. Teachers can opt to wear one, sure. But it would need to be one of those plastic visor type ones so as not to hinder communication. Expect kids to wear one all day? Fucking mental.

A plastic visor is not a mask I love the "I know a doctor" comments - I know several, and accept their views on mask wearing, which is (partly) why I want to.

Ooh I have not tried these. How long does the demister spray last ?

runbummyrun: "I'm getting on with my life, it can be done."

Yes, but your "life" as you've just described it does not involve working in a school with hundreds of people, stuck in an airless classroom with successive large groups of teenagers/small children who have been mixing with goodness knows who outside school.

So fuck right off with your patronising, "you sound very anxious and cautious" nonsense until you're faced with a little something of what most teachers (and other workers) will be facing, come September.

(I’m married to a doctor. He’s been in full PPE since March. He thinks the only real benefit to them in public places is as a reminder to be careful and not touch your face).

I'm looking forward to filling in the next risk assessment I have to do for a school trip - instead of a page of careful risks + mitigations, I will just write "everything in life is a risk" across the page. Probably in crayon.

@mumsneedwine the risk of pupils wearing the same mask constantly day in day out is quite significant not just from Covid. I’m not saying looking at safety for pupils and teachers isn’t needed but just saying all pupils wearing masks at all times is not an easy thing to do or police. Something has to be worth doing and done correctly to be effective.

20p a mask in a secondary school of just 2000 is £400 for just one to each pupil, how often do you hand them out and how many schools have that money spare, I know for a fact mine does not.

@Mistressiggi 😂

"Just" 2000 - is that a small size for a secondary in England? There aren't many in Scotland that are anything like that.

@CallmeAngelina harsh but fair .....

good luck for September ..... have you thought about a change of career?!

Why aren't the teaching unions doing more to fight this? They really should be, most other unions would be going mad over this type of thing.

@CountessFrog a couple of hours. I respray mine quite often though but I'm talking all the time when teaching. The shaving foam one comes from the nurses DD works with. As does the mask tying trick of knotting the ear pieces as it pulls the mask away from glasses.

Why, are you stepping up Runbummy?