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AIBU?

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Original poster

To encourage you to send letters like this to your schools?

718 replies

NameChange2271 · 22/09/2020 13:18

Name changed for this as apparently it’s an unpopular opinion; but I think it’s important to protect our children.

Please can I encourage you to send a letter like this into all your children’s schools.

Dear Headteacher

I am writing to inform you that (Child Name) is exempt from wearing a face covering of any kind, as per government legislation.

There are many exemptions from wearing a face mask, which incorporate hidden disabilities, including but not limited to:

(I) because of any physical or mental impairment or illness or disability (Section 6 of the equality act 2010)

(II) without severe distress

Section 6 of the equality act states that schools must not discriminate against a student because of their disability.

I am concerned that my child will be singled out for not wearing a mask and would like to remind you that this is also discriminatory.

(Childs Name) is under no obligation to provide proof of this exemption and is protected from doing so by the Data Protection Act 2018

I have also sent a copy of this letter to our solicitors.

Kind Regards
(Your Name)

OP posts:
THisbackwithavengeance · 22/09/2020 15:52

Your DS can't wear a mask? Or doesn't want to because he doesn't like it? I don't like them either but still wear one in shops etc..

I am fairly nonchalant about covid to be honest but it's decent and courteous to wear a mask when required to do so.

Sick of all the people who apparently "can't".

Idontgiveagriffindamn · 22/09/2020 15:52

@NameChange2271 I’m confused why you’re asking everyone to send the letter into their school.
If your son can’t wear a mask then send the letter if you want. Or talk to them about it.
Don’t speak for other parents and their children

gamerchick · 22/09/2020 15:55

@NameChange2271

No one has to have an “condition”

The law says if it causes you severe distress you don’t have to wear one. But it also says you don’t have to prove it; so someone wearing a mask may or may not have a “condition” and it’s no ones business but their own

You are one of those parents OP. Get him a mask he can wear, get a personalised one with a picture of his choosing. Have him practise wearing it for a longer and longer time each day.

We all found them distressing at first, it gets easier the more they do it.

ItalianHat · 22/09/2020 16:00

but I think it’s important to protect our children

@NameChange2271 you start your OP by saying that you think it's important to "protect our children" and then you lay out a plan of action which - according to pretty uniform medical advice - will do quite the reverse.

Are you hard of thinking or just selfish?

Enoughnowstop · 22/09/2020 16:00

So you don’t think other children your child mixes with and school staff deserve the minimal protection a mask offers against Covid? Bearing in mind that statistically, we are going to lose some teachers who contract the virus whilst at work?

keeprocking · 22/09/2020 16:02

I really hope that the op won’t complain when her child’s school has to shut due to outbreaks!

You can guarantee that the OP would be first in line to complain, the letter's probably already fabricated.

Marmunia1975 · 22/09/2020 16:03

I'm a school governor and I would take a very dim view of any mention of a solicitor. You will be seen as a problem parent.

keeprocking · 22/09/2020 16:05

If other parents of masked children tell their child not to mix with your child, irrespective of bubbles etc,. no doubt there's a bullying letter in the pipeline too.

Chloemol · 22/09/2020 16:05

If your child is exempt then he gets a pass. At some point teachers are going to remember they have one and not ask anymore

If he is not exempt then he needs to suck it up like the rest of us

Or do you want lockdown to continue forever?

ChloeCrocodile · 22/09/2020 16:06

The law says if it causes you severe distress you don’t have to wear one. But it also says you don’t have to prove it; so someone wearing a mask may or may not have a “condition” and it’s no ones business but their own

Firstly, if there is any normal, routine things in school (eg facemasks in many areas) which are likely to cause severe distress to your child the school SENCo should be informed. Mental health matters and we absolutely don't want children to be suffering severe distress.

Secondly, I'm not sure the "you don't have to prove it" applies to workplaces and schools. If you have a disability which means you are unable to comply with health and safety measures, your school or workplace needs to know so that they can check if reasonable adjustments are necessary and then implement them.

Mask came in here on Monday. Staff have been given a list of students (with pictures) to help us decide which children need reminding about facemasks and who to leave alone. With the best will in the world though, teachers are human and in a big school (1500+ students) sometimes they won't remember who has an exemption, especially if it is a child they've never come across before.

Bloomburger · 22/09/2020 16:06

Hilarious.

You're spouting that he doesn't have to prove he is exempt because he isn't exempt???

I fucking hate wearing masks, it makes me feel very claustrophobic and panicky but as I'm not actually exempt I just have to get on with it.

Teach your son that he isn't a special owl bunny and he is to fall in line as are the other children who are also not exempt.

EasilyDeleted · 22/09/2020 16:06

Well, I'm totally in support of there being exemptions (I have a DC who could in theory be exempted but has agreed to wear one). I think that having a pass is a very good way of quickly identifying who is exempt and who is not. I'd rather by child had to flash a pass occasionally than have the teachers time taken up trying to work out who isn't wearing one because they are exempt and who is not wearing one because "they can't make me". Similarly if you have a blue badge you are obliged to show it to park in a disabled space, otherwise anyone could say they were entitled to use them.

I would definitely not be prepared to ruin my relationship with my DC's school over this.

raddledoldmisanthropist · 22/09/2020 16:06

The law says if it causes you severe distress you don’t have to wear one. But it also says you don’t have to prove it; so someone wearing a mask may or may not have a “condition” and it’s no ones business but their own

That's about criminal law, OP. It has no effect on the right of organisations to set rules on their premises (indeed the school may have no choice, depending on their set up and resource).

If you want to send your kid to that school then support them. If not, please homeschool so at least the poor teachers don't need to deal with you.

Grapesoda7 · 22/09/2020 16:08

My Yr 9 child is exempt, school were fine and made him a card to show if he got asked.

If he's asked, he just shows his card and the staff have no problem with it, nobody has had a go at him.

nicknamehelp · 22/09/2020 16:09

Why would I unless my child was genuinely exempt?

Grapesoda7 · 22/09/2020 16:10

They've also emailed all of his teachers to let them know.

m00rfarm · 22/09/2020 16:10

Your solicitor? Really?

HaggieMaggie · 22/09/2020 16:10

I have also sent a copy of this letter to our solicitors

Because we all have a solicitor right?

I think it’s important to protect our children

I'm sure we all do, hence the wearing of masks.

Thisismytimetoshine · 22/09/2020 16:13

With the best will in the world though, teachers are human and in a big school (1500+ students) sometimes they won't remember who has an exemption, especially if it is a child they've never come across before.
Presumably that's why op's child's school are issuing exempt passes for those who are exempt.
Op wants her child not to be questioned purely because he can't produce the exempt pass when questioned.
Because he doesn't have one; not being exempt.
This thread is shameful, op. No bloody wonder you hadn't the balls to post it under your usual name 🤦‍♀️

Kazakaren · 22/09/2020 16:13

To those saying he has to wear them in shops etc. No he doesn’t. The law states that there are exemptions. No one is under any legal obligation to prove their exception

It causes loads of people distress. But if your child is genuinely one of those people who simply can't wear a mask, what is your motivation with your op to encourage others to also go ahead and declare an exemption? Sounds a bit odd to me. Like you don't want your child to be the only one protesting for spurious reasons.

SquashedSpring · 22/09/2020 16:14

OP, if your son does not have a disability, why are you quoting Section 6 of the Equality Act to the school?

MitziK · 22/09/2020 16:14

Oh, fuck off.

If you want your kid to have Covid, knock yourself out.

Just don't clog up my fucking inbox with this shite when I could be dealing with something important instead.

Sidewinder30 · 22/09/2020 16:15

There should be a You Are Being a Tool (YABAT) button.

AlrightTreacle · 22/09/2020 16:15

What a stupid suggestion OP.

I'm all for people who have genuine exemptions not wearing a mask, but your letter takes the absolute piss.

PablosHoney · 22/09/2020 16:15

Totally over the top