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?

There's always a poster on education threads who says "but kids don't transmit" but the government quite rightly take the line that they aren't super spreaders like we thought in March but do transmit.

The long-term lung damage from catching Covid is very concerning. I don't think my kids will die but I worry about the possibility of lung scarring from catching the virus. Johnson looks like he's still recovering himself so it's shocking that he's putting teachers and kids in the firing line and risking them having long-term issues.

My y12 wore a mask to protect her teachers in June. Admittedly not got 6 hours a day but her teachers could approach her and look at her work with less worry. She would wear one in September so that her teachers didn't have to worry about catching it for her and I suspect that many kids will feel the same

@ekidmxcl then you are going to have to build bigger classrooms very quickly.

And there is no evidence that anyone transmits it. No one knows where they catch it from. So you could say their is no evidence that nurses don't transmit it - because there is isn't. There's guesswork and statistics. But no evidence that X caught it from Y.

Can’t believe people actually think children should wear masks in school . How deluded are you all? Come on think about it rationally . They do not need masks.

@pink1173 no one wants to wear one. But no one wants to catch Covid either. And if I can help with that I will.

@Michaelschofield explain. Kids breathe out. They can carry Covid. Wearing a mask stops this spreading.

Definitely! I’m in South Africa and my eldest 3 kids (10, 8 & 5) have to wear masks at school. Basically Reception upwards..my 2 year old doesn’t have to...

I really hope that this doesn’t happen for my own sake - I’m a secondary teacher of English and Drama and have significant hearing loss - I rely on being able to lip read in the classroom and don’t think I would actually be able to function at all. ☹️

I think they should be compulsory for secondary school students (with relative exceptions).

I'm a secondary school teacher with a teenage daughter with a long term health condition that puts her at significantly increased risk if she got CV.

I've already seen teenagers who think it is fun to cough in teacher's faces saying they've got Corona. Or coughing very forcibly saying "Corona" under their breath. Without masks, there is no protection for teachers at school. But hey, they school is giving teachers hi vis jackets, so children are reminded to stay 2 meters away! Like that's going to happen.

But I am more worried about my daughter and other children like her. If she gets it, she could get very sick... A couple of months ago, her NHS letter was advising me to not let her out of the house, keep her away from shops, to change our clothes if we left the house etc etc...

But a few weeks from now, she is expected to go back to school with no social distancing at all, no screens, no PPE at all and very little protection whatsoever. The only protection she is being offered is that she will be limited to only mixing with another 250 other teenagers. Oh and if I don't send her, I am threatened with being fined.

Not that I have a choice, because when I return to work, I won't be able to homeschool. And before someone tells me to just pull her out of school and homeschool - that's a lovely idea in the world of mumsnet, but in the world of reality where we have a mortgage to pay, homeschooling is not an option - not if I don't want to become homeless.

So yeah, I think schools should have masks, because I can't think of any other situation where people are being forced to go whilst being told there is so little protection for them.

I’m a secondary teacher, and will be wearing face coverings when we return. We have six lessons a day, so I will have at least six face coverings on the go.

Our students are being asked to have their own stationery, fully-charged chrome books, clean uniform, etc. They can also manage face coverings within this regime, should my employers demand it.

Let them rise to the occasion instead of thinking that they won’t cope.

And obviously all the teachers have to too! We have to wear them though when we go for a walk or do exercise. You get used to it! I’ve got quite a few different masks. Some easier to wear than others...

@CraftyGin agree. Although we have been told we are not to wear PPE. I will.

I'm also worried about this study which indicates teenagers do pass on the virus:

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/07/20/children-10-transmit-new-coronavirus-easily-adults-south-korea/amp/

I understand colleagues worries and that they will feel safer with everyone in masks.

Personally I don't want this to happen. Hearing impairments make it very difficult to hear if someone is wearing a mask. I lip read to get through life (couldn't deal with hearing aid) and life is HARD now. It would be so much more difficult in a classroom if I couldn't hear the children.

The policing of the wearing is a battle too. Masks are more visible than untucked shirts when kids are sat down. It'll be a nightmare.

Wearing masks for hours a day is unpleasant too. Don't they have a short wearing limit? So you'd need hundreds of disposable ones per person?

Of course teenagers, and children, spread it. It's a virus. It goes up the nose or in the mouth and then you breathe it out. It doesn't care about the age of the host. It might not make the host ill, but it will still be in the droplets they breathe out. Whether 80 or 8. It can't tell ages. It's a virus.

@Hercwasonaroll washable ones. Couple per day for kids. One per lesson for me. Wash and wear again. It's better than not wearing them.

@Michaelschofield

Can’t believe people actually think children should wear masks in school . How deluded are you all? Come on think about it rationally . They do not need masks.

It isn't us that's deluded, dear.

Read the science then come back.

@Montsti thank you for telling us that S African children manage perfectly well. Really not sure why English children can't. Yes there will be exceptions. But times are not normal and we need to adapt. My mum wore a gas mask in her lessons.

@mumsneedwine Don't the washable ones stop working once damp? I had mine on today shopping and it was damp in 10 mins.

Even if they do last an hour, that's 5 per day for lessons per kid. You wouldn't get them washed and dried overnight so you'd probably need a stash of 15 per child. At £3 per washable mask that's £45. A lot of money for most of our parents. Nevermind if they have more than one child.

@Hercwasonaroll they go in the drier, or on a radiator. Mine don't get that damp that quickly thankfully. What is the alternative ? No masks = shut schools.

@Hercwasonaroll and we have made loads at our school so kids could make their own in textiles lessons. Costs nothing with scrap material from Scrubs (I have been making scrubs). We have been making visors too.

You can not communicate properly wearing one, never mind teach.

Teaching Union leaders are just lazy buggers that cannot be arsed to do any proper work.

I agree op. With proper, training, re don't touch the mask I think it's a good idea.

Along with those visors!! It can't see how, with masks and visors, along with good hand hygiene and... Social distancing /extra cleaning, where possible how... Covid could spread.

Absolutely, exemptions for those that need it. Clear re in force ment.

@underneaththeash ah reasoned debate. Well done.

Masks are a dreadful idea and potentially dangerous as they can prevent you exhaling carbon monoxide properly. Two schoolboys died wearing masks nypost.com/2020/05/06/two-boys-drop-dead-in-china-while-wearing-masks-during-gym-class/