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?

Be careful with the demister, shaving foam and fairy liquid if you have coatings on your lenses. They can all destroy the coating.

Where can schools get all this cheap/ free fabric from? We can't get scraps for the art dept (no textiles dept).

@mumsneedwine Have you had a class of 30 challenging students wearing masks? Or small classes of older students? There's a lot of difference from a behaviour management pov.

@noblegiraffe yes but I don't wear shin pads or a helmet in the fear of falling over or something dropping on my head ...

Perspective .....

@Hungrypuffin

“There have been no recorded cases anywhere of pupil to teacher transmission.” Dear Lord. So everyone who has tested positive knows the individual they got it from, do they? The WHO keeps a log, does it? FGS. Unless you have been in total isolation and then in contact with only one other person, it is simply impossible to know who you got it from. People in schools - both teachers and children - have tested positive.

Do you really believe that the virus is spread by adults, but not fourteen or fifteen year olds? That those three or four years are some kind of magic barrier which stops transmission?

No I don't think that, and the no pupil transmission was widespread in the press last week. What I do think though is shield those teachers who fall into the increased risk group. Most of us who have it will barely know it or be fine within a few weeks after a period of isolation. I've had it and a confirmed case too. It's also so low transmission wise that the vaccine is difficult to check due to the lack of cases now and the excess death rate is below average now, with more cases of flu than CV19 And when we finally get proper figures, as let's remember PHE admitted their original ones were incorrect and someone testing positive in March who later died of a car accident or something else was written down as a covid death, I think we've been sold a dud and now we know more we need to get on with it. Yes possibly living alongside it, but we do with flu, pneumonia, bronchitis, we don't lockdown or wear PPE due to those.

Stop whinging about it then @CallmeAngelina**
I wasn't whingeing about it. I was pointing out that you're hardly in a position to accuse others of being overly cautious/anxious (and for the record I'm not, particularly, and adopted a rather fatalistic attitude when I was back on school premises since June 1st, teaching the maximum number of children allowed by the government), when you barely seem to be going out at all.

@Splinkyplonk I have done, for the last 4 weeks teaching. Was fine. Bit hot at times but, you know, there's this pandemic thing going on. So a bit of discomfort is ok. My mum wore a gas mask for hours when she was at school.

No. But I think teachers should have plastic screened areas like shop counters and reception desks are getting and all windows throughout should open.
I know teaching from behind a plastic screen isn’t ideal but it’s better than online lessons.
If necessary masks maybe for corridors but that would still be a massive pita and drain on resources to police.

Or the teachers could wear clear visors, out school already has some for them to wear.

@Hercwasonaroll I have had year 7 in for several lessons and some wore masks. And some came to speak to me after and said they wanted to wear one but people would take the piss and could I make them compulsory. When I asked why they'd get grief they said some parents called people who wear masks names.
It's going to be a horrible September. With or without masks. Anyone expecting normal is deluded.

But I think teachers should have plastic screened areas like shop counters and reception desks are

I literally don't have the space for this.

@Hercwasonaroll nor me. I'd have to be pinned to the wall

I honestly am not worried about behavioural issues related to mask wearing in class or corridors - if students can not conform to a Covid-related behaviour policy they cannot be in my class. Whether that means management dealing with them or parents taking them home, I'm not really bothered.
(Referring of course to pupils who could follow it and choose not to)

The only reason masks have been introduced in shops at this late stage is to kickstart the economy and encourage anxious shoppers back.

Children do not need encouragement to go back to school so masks won't be mandatory.

@Oblomov20

No. I don't think it's right. And it hasn't spread that much, in schools/classes that have been back, since the beginning, or since June 1st.

Exactly. Not one case in our school Year 10 and 12 went in, along with quite a few EHCP and Keyworker kids, and they did tours for each year group in groups of 20 to see the new one way layout. 0 cases. Before lockdown. After relaxing of lockdown. Lots of washing of surfaces, and a reminder to alcohol rub hands on entering and leaving classrooms.

@Mistressiggi

I honestly am not worried about behavioural issues related to mask wearing in class or corridors - if students can not conform to a Covid-related behaviour policy they cannot be in my class. Whether that means management dealing with them or parents taking them home, I'm not really bothered. (Referring of course to pupils who could follow it and choose not to)

So because they find it confusing you would deny them an education? Well I hope you're not a teacher at my kids school.

@LadyofTheManners how do you know there were no cases before lockdown ? We didn't announce to parents that staff or student were ill. But we had several with it. And as testing wasn't being done unless you were in hospital people didn't know. So how are you so certain it's 0 cases ??

How is wearing a mask 'confusing' ?

@Mistressiggi See I am incredibly concerned. SLT will bat it back as being teachers fault if kids aren't wearing masks when the kids know we can't actually force them.

I'm thinking of a group of 30 y9 students I taught last year. They were tough in every single way. Introducing masks as a very visible way to be different is going to be tricky. Disposable ones school cannot afford. Students providing their own means some will inevitably be "cool". Then exemptions will make those students stand out more. Then you get the "so and so touched my mask etc". In a small socially distant group pre holidays I bet mask wearing students was OK. In a full room of 30 characters it just becomes another thing to behaviour manage.

I'll say it again. 184 outbreaks in educational settings in last 4 weeks. PHE figures.

Ladyofthemanners what do you mean, confusing? Since when has "confusion" been a behavioural issue? I am clearly referring to issues with students either not complying or messing about with masks. Very straightforward imo.

@Hercwasonaroll yes but those are the kids who will also deliberately cough on their neighbour. Because it's funny. It's going to be tough.

@CallmeAngelina actually you make a very good point, I don't go out much. Only to friends and family. Work and necessary work trips. I've stopped going to shops, cafes and restaurants etc

But my DC do go to multiple settings and have done since 1 June (slightly before as well) so they are mixing with loads of different children. One particular setting has different children everyday.

Do you know what though Herc, next term I'm hoping just to survive and help kids feel ok again and catch up a bit. I will teach the willing and do what I can with the unwilling. But I'm not getting stressed about it as I'm going to be very limited in what I can do compared to normal. If we were in masks I could walk down to stand beside a pupil which would help with behaviour. Without them I will be in my 2m rectangle at the front all lesson every lesson. SLT can come in and show me how it's done if they think they can do it better.

@mumsneedwine

I'll say it again. 184 outbreaks in educational settings in last 4 weeks. PHE figures.

That’s with few children in too ... absolutely crazy to send everyone back in September inc those who were shielded surely.

[quote runbummyrun]@noblegiraffe yes but I don't wear shin pads or a helmet in the fear of falling over or something dropping on my head ...

Perspective .....[/quote]

@mumsneedwine Yes they will be. So much of teachers lesson planning is thinking about avoiding conflicts, masks just seem a sure fire way to introduce a very visual conflict.

Some of my behaviour concerns stem from school wide behaviour/SLT issues but there are schools up and down the country in this position.

It boils down to the government needing to fund something (and they won't) so we are stuck.