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?

@Mistressiggi I'm with you in that. But I don't have a 2m space in any of the 17 classrooms I'll be teaching in - we are moving around so kids are not too much. I'll be lucky if I'm 10cm away from students.

I think staff and students should be encouraged to wear masks inside for unstructured parts of the day (lesson changeovers, break, lunch etc - not while eating, obviously) but I wouldn’t want them to be compulsory during lessons (which are more manageable in term of SD etc)

@Mistressiggi I'm. With you there!! (bar the 2m box, mines about 30cm)

Hmm, you need to shove all the pupil desks closer together (they don't need to distance remember) so that you have 2m at the front.
Seriously though is it not in your guidelines to stay 2m away, or is it something wishy washy like "if possible"?

Only arseholes want kids to wear masks.

@Mistystar99

Only arseholes want kids to wear masks.

Oh look, one of those "Corona-cough kids" has arrived on the thread.

aka ignorant twats

Our rooms are tiny, the desks are facing the front and close together pre corona. It's a new build. I'm estimating room size here as I don't know exactly but they are about 9m by 6m.

2m is in the guidance, we don't have 2m of space!

Did you drop out of school early Misty, before they got on to critical thinking?

Surely your room then is not fit for purpose Herc? I would think you could measure out the space at the front for the teacher, then see how many desks you could fit in without going into that space, and that is the number of pupils that room could currently hold. What is your union rep doing?

None of our rooms are big enough really. We have about 10 that are. We'd have to shut the school (bojo says no). Guidance says if possible so union rep can't do much.

Only arseholes want kids to wear masks

No-one wants kids to wear masks. Some of us realise it might make school safer

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

An 11-16 year old finding it ‘confusing’?

I work with SEN children and whilst they will no doubt react in different ways (some may refuse the mask or be unable to wear it or tolerate it for whatever reason) their education will continue either from within the classroom (with it’s MANY new social distancing rules) or in smaller groups.

‘Confused’ is not the right word.

I will be wearing a mask.
If I have to wear one in shops, I’m sure as hell going to be wearing one in a stuffy classroom.

Teaching wearing a mask would be horrendous. I have the option to wear one but I don’t have a clue how I would cope. Talking for the time I need to would be impossible! A face shield maybe - but a mask no way.

@WhattheHhashappened what are you doing for hearing impairments? (both known and those who are just under needing support but do lip read?)

[quote mumsneedwine]@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 ??[/quote]
I know in our school as our head told us. We got very regular updates from them, what the school was doing to manage the risk, whether anyone had decided to shield from the teaching staff (not names, just numbers). We've also all been sent the risk assessment and asked for feedback.

@Mistressiggi

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.

You don't think making students independently responsible for proper use of masks is going to confuse the shit out of them? Educating online at home has confused the shit out of so many, if it's not something they're used to, it's a headfuck. I know NHS workers who say they cringe watching adults with masks- some are wearing and rewearing single use ones to the point they've changed from blue to grey. Some seem to think mask= fuck social distancing and personal space (something I've experienced first hand too). The amount who touch their faces or pull the mask down by their chin them back up again. And that's adults. We are asking a hell of a lot of teens. Also, what do you do about kids whose families are utterly skint? There are many of those right now. Tell them not to come back?

I have high expectations of pupils. Meh, you are desperately trying to make sense of the unpleasant remark you made to me.
I think masks should be provided, or made available to anyone without one. Making a mistake about how to use it is not in the same league as flinging across the room or pulling off a neighbour's mask etc.

Just caught up. It’s gotten to the stage of too many who haven’t rtft and are therefore smugly asking gotcha questions that have been answered multiple times by multiple people.

Becomes pointless then as it’s not anything like a discussion. Also it’s clearly not reasonable in the sense of being able to appeal to each other’s reason. Just a shouting match.

Thanks op for starting the thread and your support and thanks to all parents who came on and said they’re willing to consider teacher safety and would train/have trained their children to wear masks.

Let’s hope sanity and social consciousness wins out over selfishness. Peace and apologies to anyone who has felt hurt or offended by me expressing my desire to be afforded the same in work protections against a pandemic as any other worker.

Especial sympathy for any NT grown arse adult without a serious cause for exemption who can’t possibly wear a mask for 5 minutes. Getting through the peaks and troughs of reality and dealing with real problems must be really tough for you

I'm very impressed with a head who could sense Covid in any absent staff. I had one of those "mystery" illnesses around the time this was all starting and would love to know if it was actually coronavirus. Maybe your head could sniff it out?

Poor bloody kids. Kept off school for months because of a virus which is no risk to them. Kept away from social gatherings at a time of their lives when they most need to be sociable.
Don't make them wear masks. I couldn't teach my subject wearing a mask.
Let school be somewhere they can learn and be sociable.

Dipswim have you passed your research on to Sage? They will be delighted to know you (and I assume your scientific team) have proved that young people can't get coronavirus and can't suffer ill effects from it.
That's made me really happy!

Teachers insisting on masks, I hope none of you have hearing impaired children in your class. How are you going to ensure they are able to fully access the curriculum?

My 14yr old would have no problem wearing a mask to school. Although as he'd be completely unable to learn anything or participate in group discussions I'd be as well keep him at home and deny him an education.

Visors would be a compromise but I suspect aren't particularly effective at stopping transmission.

And yes, I've been working in a non-socially-distanced non-mask-wearing NHS office for the duration. It's what had to be done.