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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Masks are a bad idea in secondary schools

39 replies

underneaththeash · 17/09/2020 21:54

DS was back at school 4 days before he developed a cough, temperature (highest 38.2) and sore throat. We paid for a covid test as there were none available.
But how has he contracted it? We've not visited family/freinds, been inside for a leisure activity.
My thoughts are that he's touching the mask so much to put it on between lessons and then transferring microbes to his face. They even have to out it on outside.
YABU - teens need to wear masks at school
YANBU - repeatedly putting and taking off of masks can contribute to the spread of infections

OP posts:
LolaSmiles · 17/09/2020 21:58

I don't think the mask is the issue.

Being in full classrooms where masks aren't required and social distancing is impossible is probably the bigger issue, or going to/from school he hasn't had his mask on and he's been in close contact with someone who tested positive, or he's handled equipment within his bubble that has been handled by someone who tested positive/ had been breathed on by a Covid positive person.

ohbrightlight · 17/09/2020 22:00

Tbh I feel really sorry for secondary school teachers at the moment. I went to a less than desirable school and 90% of the pupils there would of laughed in a teachers face (or worse) if they were asked to put on a mask because they wouldn't give a shit.

halcyondays · 17/09/2020 22:00

More likely they’d catch something in class when they’re not wearing masks.

TingTastic · 17/09/2020 22:01

You need to teach your son better mask hygiene. He should have a number of masks so he can put a new one on each time. He should also know how to put the mask on / take it off safely. There’s plenty of explains on the internet if you need it

SaltyAndFresh · 17/09/2020 22:04

This is pure conjecture.

I am not staying in my classroom michnlo get of something is not put in place to protect my health. If it's not masks it will have to be social distancing and therefore part time school.

And just let anyone tell me I'm clearly mentally ill and should resign for expecting some protection at work.

Cornettoninja · 17/09/2020 22:04

Masks aren’t 100% prevention from anything they simply reduce transmission.

It’s more likely he’s caught it in a classroom environment if he doesn’t have to wear a mask but it’s still possible he’s caught it in a situation when he was wearing a mask.

Hope he’s feeling better quickly Flowers

Original poster
underneaththeash · 17/09/2020 22:05

No, he has the mask on the bus and between lessons, my issue is that school is saying that they need to wear them outside at their 2 break times, so they're trying to eat (whilst pulling their mask down).
I don't understand why they are compelled to wear one inside.

OP posts:
LolaSmiles · 17/09/2020 22:05

Tbh I feel really sorry for secondary school teachers at the moment. I went to a less than desirable school and 90% of the pupils there would of laughed in a teachers face (or worse) if they were asked to put on a mask because they wouldn't give a shit
Tales like this make me thankful that our students in a nice comprehensive but nothing fancy are polite and thoughtful. They've taken the changes in their stride and aren't arguing back over Covid measures. There's a 'we're all in this together' feel at my school.

Original poster
underneaththeash · 17/09/2020 22:05

I don't understand why they are compelled to wear one inside - I meant outside

OP posts:
SaltyAndFresh · 17/09/2020 22:06

I am sorry about your son though. Hope he has a light case.

WitchDancer · 17/09/2020 22:08

I give my sons enough masks that they are not reusing dirty ones. They have a sandwich bag with clean ones and a second one for dirty ones (labelled) and hand sanitizer to use before and after handling them.

I have emphasised how important it is to keep them as safe as possible and they understand, particularly as I am high risk and we are doing as much as possible to minimise the chance of it being brought home.

Not one of their peers has said anything to them, or if they have they would soon put them in their place!

stayathomer · 17/09/2020 22:08

It's a bit of a stab in the dark though isn't it if you haven't seen him do it?

Original poster
underneaththeash · 17/09/2020 22:09

I'm not asking from a politeness/rule point of view, but touching your face is dangerous from a corona point of view and taking your mask on and off, involves touching your face.

OP posts:
corythatwas · 17/09/2020 22:10

Why does he have to touch his face (eyes, nose, mouth) to put a mask on or take it off?

I've been reading this so often over the last few months but my mask and every other mask I've ever seen hooks around the ears: the only thing you need to touch are your ears, and actually you don't even have to touch those much. Is anyone suggesting Covid is transmitted via the tips of your ear lobes?

What I have noticed from myself is that wearing a mask prevents me from touching my lips and scratching my nose and any other face-touching I might otherwise have got up to.

Feelingconfused2020 · 17/09/2020 22:11

Sorry your son's Ill. The mask will lower his chances of getting covid a bit and significantly lower other children/staff so I think you are unreasonable. His risk was never zero.30 of them sit in a small room right up next to each other, they socialise every day in the same area and eat together. Of course they will pass germs to each other. The mask is to lower the risk of transmission and protect the teachers and other students. If enough teachers get Ill the school closes so we really do need to protect the teachers.

Original poster
underneaththeash · 17/09/2020 22:11

Apologies - I've really not been clear, he doesn't have COVID! just something viral which he's given to my children, and a few of his friends.

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corythatwas · 17/09/2020 22:12

Was watching staff and customers recently during quite a long wait: the ones who did not wear masks (staff serving) kept touching their face in one way or another, no doubt without being aware of it, the ones with masks didn't.

TempestHayes · 17/09/2020 22:13

He's got a cold. He caught it the same way we all catch colds and have done since colds began.

A year ago you wouldn't be wondering how he'd caught a cold so why worry about it now? Yes, he touched his face and caught a sniffle. Glad he's negative and can now get back to school.

Feelingconfused2020 · 17/09/2020 22:13

And no they shouldn't have to wear them outside.i would question the school about this. It's against government guidelines.

scammedmum29 · 17/09/2020 22:15

Sorry your son is unwell.

He needs to be more careful with hygiene, hands should be washed/sanitised anytime before touching the mask and when not being worn it should be stored in a washable container.

I teach almost 200 children per week, in groups of up to 30 with no distancing between them and a 2m box chalked on the floor for me. Kids generally don’t care about keeping a distance from me, they find it a joke and I have to remind them repeatedly. Fortunately the majority wear masks in communal areas, which makes me feel slightly safer.

Whilst I love teaching in person, I cannot tell you how anxious I feel for me and my family.

ClarencesMum · 17/09/2020 22:16

@ohbrightlight

Tbh I feel really sorry for secondary school teachers at the moment. I went to a less than desirable school and 90% of the pupils there would of laughed in a teachers face (or worse) if they were asked to put on a mask because they wouldn't give a shit.
Thats really unfair. You're talking about different times.

My eldest is at a very mixed school and every single week (Scotland, they've been back for weeks) we get an email praising the kids and how well they have ALL responded to the need to wear masks. Local shops are contacting the school to pass on their thanks to the kids for queuing, respecting social distancing and wearing masks.

Don't make the kids out to be monsters.

LolaSmiles · 17/09/2020 22:17

but touching your face is dangerous from a corona point of view and taking your mask on and off, involves touching your face
It shouldn't.We showed our students how to take masks off and they should be removed from the ears and placed in a ziplock bag.

Noodledoodledoo · 17/09/2020 22:21

Given I spend a lot of my time during the day reminding students to put on masks, not fiddle with them in class, make sure they are wearing them in all areas, I would say the mask is the least of the issue.

We have a simple rule - if you are not in a classroom or eating you have a mask on. The 'discussions' I have had over the past few days are draining, young people seem to think they are invincible!

Redlocks28 · 17/09/2020 22:27

@underneaththeash

DS was back at school 4 days before he developed a cough, temperature (highest 38.2) and sore throat. We paid for a covid test as there were none available. But how has he contracted it? We've not visited family/freinds, been inside for a leisure activity. My thoughts are that he's touching the mask so much to put it on between lessons and then transferring microbes to his face. They even have to out it on outside. YABU - teens need to wear masks at school YANBU - repeatedly putting and taking off of masks can contribute to the spread of infections
Has your child got coronavirus?

If they’ve got a cold-that will have nothing to do with wearing a mask. Bugs causing colds are everywhere. They aren’t always transmitted from person to person.

Original poster
underneaththeash · 17/09/2020 22:36

No he doesn't have COVID-19 or a cold. He has a virus - no snot, sneezing, congestion and since wearing a mask and hand washing if meant to prevent transmission of a virus and I'm bemused how he contracted one after 4 days of being at school.
It's clearly not working as a method of viral protection.

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