to object to teaching students without a reason for not wearing a mask

[evenmoreforthemoor]

I teach teenagers.

I have to wear a mask to protect them from me.

They don't have to wear a mask if they have a 'reason'. We are not allowed to ask them what their reason is.

I am fine with teaching learners who have a genuine reason for not wearing one. But I want to know if it is genuine or not. And yes, I think I should be able to ask why and refuse to have them in my classroom if they choose not to wear one for a reason that I believe is spurious.

What would be my legal status if I refused to teach them?

Am wondering if there are any test cases with regards to this.

Are you a private tutor or a teacher?

I don’t think you can unilaterally impose mask wearing rules in your classroom if you’re in a school.

Wonders when evenmore will be receiving their 'threaten with a solicitor' letter We've all been encouraged to write one don't you know.

There’s been no mandatory wearing of masks for teachers. Students don’t need to wear them in classrooms as they’re being taught in bubbles. Just teach from the front and keep socially distanced.

It's time they were compulsory for all.

@ILikeTrains

Wonders when evenmore will be receiving their 'threaten with a solicitor' letter We've all been encouraged to write one don't you know.

Yeah - I've been on that thread.

I kind of feel like that is what is going on with this learner.

And I refuse to risk my health because their mother is clearly not sane.

@PoodleJ

There’s been no mandatory wearing of masks for teachers. Students don’t need to wear them in classrooms as they’re being taught in bubbles. Just teach from the front and keep socially distanced.

I teach learners with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Teaching from the front is akin to managing a prison from reception.

I'm guessing you have no teaching experience.

I've voted yanbu, it's frustrating on buses because they teens tend to be constantly on their phones, squealing etc and they are spraying you with droplets.

However, you don't legally have a leg to stand on and need to put it to your union first. They may recommend being signed off.

If the pupils have emotional difficulties, tbey may be exempt anyway and for those with medical behavioural difficulties, they will also be exempt.

You have no right to be the self-appointed arbiter of acceptable and unacceptable reasons. It's laid down very very clearly in the guidance that you cannot demand that - however much you feel you're personally entitled to an explanation.

Your comments about the individual's mother are fucking appalling.

I have exemption reasons not to wear a mask. I won't be wearing one for face-to-face university teaching. From my own personal choice I have made my tutor and the university disability services aware in general terms of the reasons behind this (I've given them the highly abridged version as it stems from an incredibly traumatic experience in my life) but I have no intention of justifying to individual teaching staff what my reasons are in order for them to be able to decide if its acceptable or not.

Try just doing your bloody job.

@DominaShantotto

You have no right to be the self-appointed arbiter of acceptable and unacceptable reasons. It's laid down very very clearly in the guidance that you cannot demand that - however much you feel you're personally entitled to an explanation.

Your comments about the individual's mother are fucking appalling.

I have exemption reasons not to wear a mask. I won't be wearing one for face-to-face university teaching. From my own personal choice I have made my tutor and the university disability services aware in general terms of the reasons behind this (I've given them the highly abridged version as it stems from an incredibly traumatic experience in my life) but I have no intention of justifying to individual teaching staff what my reasons are in order for them to be able to decide if its acceptable or not.

Try just doing your bloody job.

Sorry Domina - in my classroom, I think I do have a right to ensure that all those who can wear masks do wear them.

It sounds like you have a valid reason. No problem.

everyone is having to make adjustments to the 'new normal'. I honestly believe that people with a reason for not wearing a mask should have to say why they are not wearing it when in a classroom.

I'm sorry if you disagree.

Also - the mother is clearly not sane. I'm not sure why that is 'fucking appalling'?

And I do do my job, under very difficult circumstances.

I won't be doing my job if the lad without the mask gives me coronavirus.

I'm sorry your life is tough right now.

But if is not for you to question them. what if you don't believe what they say-what do you do then? What if they don't want to tell you about their trauma, their medical history? I can see why it is frustrating but I think you are being unreasonable.

Sorry Domina - in my classroom, I think I do have a right to ensure that all those who can wear masks do wear them.

What’s your head’s view on this?

My husband feels the same. As well as teaching 16-23 year olds he is a carer for elderly parents one with dementia and the other who was hospitalised last month.

The students refusal to adhere to the rules have contributed to all his classes going back onto zoom

@loulouljh

But if is not for you to question them. what if you don't believe what they say-what do you do then? What if they don't want to tell you about their trauma, their medical history? I can see why it is frustrating but I think you are being unreasonable.

I think that like any needs assessment that we have in our (FE) institution it needs to be recorded and assessed as to whether we can support that individual in our classroom.

Maybe not by me as that's too arbitrary but I feel my institution should be able to make a decision.

The lad who doesn't wear one doesn't wear one because his mother things Covid is a conspiracy and the 5G masts on the college roof make him sick.

@PoodleJ

There’s been no mandatory wearing of masks for teachers. Students don’t need to wear them in classrooms as they’re being taught in bubbles. Just teach from the front and keep socially distanced.

hAhahahaHahaHaha

You've clearly never taught.

@loulouljh

But if is not for you to question them. what if you don't believe what they say-what do you do then? What if they don't want to tell you about their trauma, their medical history? I can see why it is frustrating but I think you are being unreasonable.

I don't know about unversity but at my husband's college all the tutors know the medical/SEN/mental health details about all their students anyway. They need to know so they can make reasonable adjustments. The student who was sexually assaulted for example would not be given a drama script involving rape.

They may not be given the full details but student x cannot wear a mask due to a traumatic experience would be the minimum information given.

We received a letter from the school (secondary) stating that masks should be worn in communal areas but not classrooms.

How do you (as an individual) have the right to insist that students wear masks when it's not mandatory?

I sympathise, I'm 31 weeks pregnant working in a public facing welfare role and I'm not even allowed to mention mask wearing to service users.

I understand why though; it's not up to me or my employers to ask for private medical information or refuse our service to non mask wearers. To do such could be discriminatory based on disabilities.

It's an impossible situation.

It is a gross breach of privacy and medical information.

You aren't privy to the child protection documents held in school and you will know from your own duty of care that disclosures are deal directly with the minimal information to the nominated person who needs to know.

You might have headlines on some relevant situations, your pupil with ASD may be exempt for sensory issues. But by prying you may force vulnerable young people into traumatic flashbacks of abusive behaviour. Child protection issues may be known, or may be indisclosed, and a pupil may not be ready to release that information yet. Especially when for nearly 6 months vulnerable young people have been denied access to support or trapped in with abusers.

There are a myriad of physical and mental reasons for exemption, and you have no right to know to absolve your anxiety.

@GreekOddess

We received a letter from the school (secondary) stating that masks should be worn in communal areas but not classrooms.

How do you (as an individual) have the right to insist that students wear masks when it's not mandatory?

I don't have that right, that's why I'm posting.

At the very least I feel those who record individual needs at my institution should be privy to the reason why an individual can't wear a mask and make a decision as to whether it is reasonable or not.

I don't know who we are protecting in this?

Stay at home then!

@BillywilliamV

Stay at home then!

Thanks for your reasoned and intelligent addition to the debate

If all the teacher's stayed at home the system would disintegrate.

I absolutely agree OP.

I would go further tbh, and insist that everyone wears a mask of some description and if they absolutely cannot then maybe online teaching is the way forward.

I am in France. All teachers at all levels of school school and university, and all secondary school children and students must wear masks at all times on the premises. The same goes for all the admin people. All day, in class and out. If a person can't cope with wearing a mask then they get a dr's note and stay at home.

@BogRollBOGOF

It is a gross breach of privacy and medical information.

You aren't privy to the child protection documents held in school and you will know from your own duty of care that disclosures are deal directly with the minimal information to the nominated person who needs to know.

You might have headlines on some relevant situations, your pupil with ASD may be exempt for sensory issues. But by prying you may force vulnerable young people into traumatic flashbacks of abusive behaviour. Child protection issues may be known, or may be indisclosed, and a pupil may not be ready to release that information yet. Especially when for nearly 6 months vulnerable young people have been denied access to support or trapped in with abusers.

There are a myriad of physical and mental reasons for exemption, and you have no right to know to absolve your anxiety.

I totally get your point and agree with most of it.

I don't understand why those who usually hold the information on learners cannot have the information on why they cannot wear masks.

it could be a simple tick box, signable form, even with the option 'would rather not say'.

Just having this could weed out those whose mothers would rather they wore a tin foil hat to college than a face mask.