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.

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

We should be looking into this as there seems to be less fuss about it in many other countries. They don't seem to have as many people who struggle with hearing through them for example.

The mask wearer does need to speak a little louder and clearer I suspect, and the listener - unless they do have hearing impairment - does need to focus and listen more carefully. I do think a lot of us are quite lazy when it comes to actively listening to people. You see that all the time - people don't look at the person they are listening too, they kind of 'half listen' a lot of the time. I know I have certainly been guilty of this at times. I suspect most people are.

Maybe all these masks may actually make us a little better are facing one another and focusing on the person speaking a bit more than we do.

www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/08/25/schools-covid-coronavirus-reopening-boris-johnson-brexit/

Live - Politics latest news: Face masks in schools could 'rebuild confidence' in system, says former education secretary

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2020/aug/25/uk-coronavirus-live-face-covering-rules-for-students-should-be-kept-under-review-says-union

UK coronavirus live: new face mask rules for older pupils in Scotland; MPs to question Ofqual and Williamson

It's hard to focus and listen carefully to one person when I'm also half focused on ensuring the other 29 in the room are doing what they are supposed to be doing.

But lots of things are hard.

People moaned about seatbelts when they came in. Young people who have to wear a brace (teeth or back) complain and struggle and eventually adapt. I hate hate hate wearing glasses. I am allergic to soap and anti bac. I and other put up with the various difficulties and inconveniences for greater benefit to ourselves and others.

Arguably the most libertarian country in the world (Trump's US) has masks in most schools.

I'd be happy for secondary age children to wear them. DD1 starts in September. It doesn't look like the bus will be a problem - the public bus is restricted to 20 passengers. Barely a hope of being allowed on!

I work in a primary school, as a TA in R and yr1. I can't see masks working well for the kids in those classes. Some littlies have speech and language issues so it really wouldn't help them, but I wouldn't mind a visor!

It might not stop Covid, but it is not infrequent that pupils cough in your face.

Unlike the early years teacher up thread, we were all ill with Covid symptoms in March. Even the extremely hardy teacher of 25+ years.

mynameisnotmichaelcaine

I was thinking of it more the other way round tbh - teacher speaking, pupils listening. And also just in general life situations where it is mainly 1:1 or smaller groups.

And yes - it is hard when there are several people in one room all talking, and fidgeting.

But I would still rather deal with masks than school closures again personally.

schoolsweek.co.uk/government-to-u-turn-on-masks-in-schools/?f

This is sounding very positive.

My US based kids have just gone back to school wearing masks.
One is doing fine, the other with SN is struggling.
We are likely to switch to the online offering for them I think.

@Appuskidu

schoolsweek.co.uk/government-to-u-turn-on-masks-in-schools/?f

This is sounding very positive.

I'm sure lifeafter50 will be along shortly to demand the credentials of Schools Week, the government and the WHO...

At lunchtime the government was still insisting on no masks in England!

Oh ffs stop the fear mongering. We need our children educated.
Masks are evil.

Evil?!?

@northernmonkeys100

Oh ffs stop the fear mongering. We need our children educated. Masks are evil.

🤣🤣🤣

I ordered some masks a while ago which arrived today.
I let my kids (9, 7 and 4) choose which ones they wanted (4 each). They loved them, in fact the 4yo wanted to sleep in his paw patrol one!
The 7 year old is absolutely loving her cup cake ones. Even my ASD one loves the print on hers. They are pleated 2 layer cotton with a mouldable nose wire.
Masks are fine. No worse than school ties!

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/25/boris-johnson-drops-advice-against-face-mask-use-in-english-schools?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/25/boris-johnson-drops-advice-against-face-mask-use-in-english-schools?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Well it had to happen. Broken down, their guidance said to teachers: you are not allowed to protect yourself. With new improved it'll be your fault of there's an outbreak.

@nachthexe

Ours are mandatory for y6 and above, recommended for y3-6, and optional for r-2. Mandatory for everyone on the school bus. LA is providing 2 reusable masks per child plus a named bottle of cleaning solution and a cleaning cloth. That goes everywhere with the child and it’s mandatory to clean the desk when you get to it, and once you have cleared away before you leave it. Masks are optional once seated IF desks are distanced.

That's a brilliant start, roughly, where are you?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-53907035

another U turn by Boris et al

I am getting whiplash with all these u turns

Quite frankly they should have said - lets follow Nicola's lead. But no at lunchtime there were still saying that there would be a face mask review . ...

If I was Gavin Williamson or working at the DfE I would not own up to it. I would claim to be an estate agent or international arms dealers instead.

Evil. I can see the Christenings of the future. "Do you denounce Satan, his works, empty promises and masks?"

@echt

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/25/boris-johnson-drops-advice-against-face-mask-use-in-english-schools?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Well it had to happen. Broken down, their guidance said to teachers: you are not allowed to protect yourself. With new improved it'll be your fault of there's an outbreak.

The spin doctors are being trapped in their own web of misinformation and finger-pointing.

Teacher unions are just chuckling in the corner. Nicola thinks Boris is an idiot. Nobody has any respect for Gavin and the DfE. Opposition parties cant believe their luck and we still have Brexit to get through

@WhyNotMe40

Where did you order your masks from?

I can't find any nice fabric ones anywhere

It should be mandatory in schools & idiots wanging on about educational excellence & handwashing being sufficien...can be safely ignored

You can get personalised masks for. Snapfish. At the moment they've a discount code so, with p and p, I got two delivered for £12.

You can design it yourselves with photographs, text, imagines, colours etc.

I've done two - school logo, school colours and even my name.

I'm at primary so no masks generally but can use them in crowded enclosed rooms of adults, grabbing a sandwich from the shop over the road, etc. Nice colourful ones so they don't feel particularly evil

I got some from Mabel and mu, and some from etsy