Head recommending wearing masks in school

[rainyinscotland]

So DC has been back at school full time for a bit (Scotland). Secondary school. All pupils in and no masks. The Headteacher has now written to parents that it's not possible to socially distance, so he/she is recommending that pupils and teachers wear masks. Recommending, not requiring.

YABU - the Head was wrong to do that.
YANBU - the Head was right to do that.

Luckily my school (and country) is mandating the use of masks, we are being required to police it.
Happy to be in an environment where the powers that be understand the risk and want to take every possible measure to protect people, and teachers are not seen as expendable. Whilst children may not by symptomatic they do seem to transmit it very easily, and we have no idea of the long term effects of being a carrier yet - look at the stats.

I'm in Scotland and have been teaching wearing a mask for a week and a half now. I can honestly say that neither I or the children in my class have suffered because of it. Looks like some people might need to learn to be a bit hardier and roll with the fact that life can change under you a bit more easily...

@letsghostdance are you Primary or Secondary? Are any of the pupils wearing masks?

@ineedaholidaynow I'm primary and no, none of the children are wearing masks. I'm upper primary and would rather that they were but thankfully my kids are good at keeping their distance.

A diddy primary is not the same as a squished secondary of 1200 plus pupils plus staff.

I've checked the infection rate and it's currently low.

Maybe they want to keep it low

It's interesting the DM Andrew Pearce is talking about how they wear masks in office in shared areas and how they should have masks in schools knowing what we know now with the science.

Especially as he's been so anti unions throughout all this.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-53888479

Looks like the heidie at OP's school was anticipating this. I think they made a good call in giving parents the chance to talk it over with their DC over the weekend.

Well the WHO is reccomending them for ages 12+ and I've just read of a Scottish school closing because 17 staff members tested positive for the virus so yeah we need something more than handwashing. Although I do think wearing masks 6+ hours a day five days a week would be very miserable. Especially for those with longer travelling times. Don't know what the answer is. Smaller classes in half time during secondary for blended learning? I really don't know.

@lifeafter50

I expect mask wearing to be recommended in secondary schools next month. And your credentials are....what exactly? Thought not...

I look forward to lifeafter50 demanding to know what the WHO's credentials are next.

928 votes:
80% in favour of the Head recommending masks, 20% against.
Well DC went to school today and has reported back that very very few children were wearing masks. As in almost no-one.
Some teachers were wearing masks, but not many. And some of them took their masks off for teaching.

I am in the US right now and kids in school have to wear a mask as early as 3, now we have the fires to deal with and kids wear respiratory mask to go out. It sucks but why would anyone risk their child's health and the one of their teachers just to not wear mask? If a 3yo can go to school all day with a mask on, so can any other kid (and adult!), it's impressive how most kids (health issues/concerns aside) are adaptable.
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Agree. They are totally underestimating our young population which is insulting if nothing else.

I'd prefer to see them putting plastic screens up around teachers' desks

A plastic screen (unless it's floor to ceiling ie a box) won't offer much protection to pupils or the teacher.

Having kids back ft is an acknowledgement that we've, on purpose, set up a society where that's necessary. Parents need to work, and they need a place for their kids to be. Even forgetting education, people need the childcare. We could choose to return to a society where a lot more families have a parent at home, and actually I suspect a lot of adults might like that, but I don't see the political class going for that.

@Goosefoot this is the fundamental problem we have and the root of the demand for schools to open unsafely. Of course it's also what will close schools down again. The only way around it is to protect parents legally and financially to work more flexibly for the duration of the pandemic.

Thing is, to all of you saying I need to just get used to it - I can't actually hear what people are saying when they have masks on. I'm not entirely convinced that that's going to help me when I'm supposed to be teaching English to the children in my room. A fair number of our kids have hearing impairments. How are they supposed to get an education?

The oldest kids are the most likely to spread it, but luckily have the smallest class sizes and are better able to understand the infection risks and mitigate them. I'll definitely have the windows open and coats on if it's cold - desks arranged so they're not face to face, hands off each other policy.

I can't actually hear what people are saying when they have masks on

Then other options should be investigated instead of going ‘fuck safety’.

Have you seen the screens around desks in Thailand or South Korea?

We are looking at the cheapest option and saying that won’t work therefore nothing is the only option.

Only for our cheapskate government who send their own kids private.

I find that screens are similar in terms of blocking sound out. If there were a solution where I could teach and still communicate, I'd be more than happy to go along with it.

Maybe a fact-finding mission to other countries who seem to manage it should be in order.

The oldest kids are most liked to spread it, but luckily have the smallest class sized

Absolutely not the case in some subject areas, English, History etc are really popular subjects and in Scotland our Senior Phase (S4-6) our classes are full every year to the 30 pupil limit. Most years that just makes me a bit overstretched with marking. My concerns this year are a bit different.

People who have not been inside schools in the last 20 years really should not tell us what they look like and what our class and classroom sizes are!

In The Times today (it was about offices) it mentioned that plastic screens create trapped air and may be a worse solution where ventilation is poor (ie a classroom)