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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Why won't the government insist that children wear masks at school?

227 replies

cansu · 03/01/2021 09:53

I am a teacher and I want to be at work. I hate remote learning. However I am more worried now than I have ever been about covid. I really wish that we could see the govmt really try much harder to make school safer and really listen to staff.
I do not understand why we are so reluctant to ensure the use of masks in school environments and I include primary in this.
All children, except for those whose special needs prevent it, wear a mask in school lessons and in all communal areas inside. No mask = no school. If parents send their child in without a mask, they are sent home. If pupils refuse to wear them, they are sent home.

OP posts:
WhoLettheCatOut · 03/01/2021 11:55

Thanks @Iamnottheone I was curious as all our teachers have a visor on at pick up and drop off (parents too). I would support more PPE in the school but I still don't think it's practical to have small children wearing masks, I'm just not sure they would understand and keep them on but maybe that's my child.

FightingWithTheWind · 03/01/2021 12:00

Alot of younger primary school children wouldn't be able to use them safely, my 5 year old would remember not to touch it for all of avout 10 minutes before she got bored and started fiddling with it, pulling it down, taking it off and not being able to get it on again without help, probably swapping masks with her friends, touching the outside then touching her books, the table, chairs, everything else in sight and I don't think she is unique in that respect it isn't that she'd be being naughty/disobedient just that she would being a typical 5 year old. With the younger years of primary school unfortunatley I don't see how you can truly make it safe, children can't use masks correctly (as others have pointed out, many adults seem to be incapable of that too), they can't socially distance and if they fall over or become ill they still need an adult to pick them up and look after them.

Iamnotthe1 · 03/01/2021 12:03

@WhoLettheCatOut
I still don't think it's practical to have small children wearing masks, I'm just not sure they would understand and keep them on but maybe that's my child.

We often underestimate what children can do. Everyone thought that children wouldn't understand the language of digraphs, graphemes and phonemes in phonics yet four year olds do every single day. Everyone thought that children would find the concept of an algorithm too confusing, but Year One children use that concept confidently in Computing lessons.

If primary children understand what they need to do then they will often do it.

Iamnotthe1 · 03/01/2021 12:05

It's also disingenious to use examples of the very youngest children - four to six years old - to justify why mask wearing isn't possible for children twice that age.

corythatwas · 03/01/2021 12:08

Masks are only effective protection when worn by the majority of people in a space. So one person wearing a mask and visor would have little to no effect

Wouldn't that depend on whether that happened to be the one person who had just picked up the virus during a trip to the supermarket or something?

Arizonaa · 03/01/2021 12:08

@Newdonewhugh

I know you are scared but the people who oppose your ideas are scared too. I don’t want my child to wear a mask. I have completely different views to you. The society you want to create scares me, just as much as you are scared now. We are all just trying to do the best for our families. This isn’t a battle of who is right and who is wrong.
Out of curiosity what scares you about your child having to wear a mask for a period of time until the pandemic is under control?
corythatwas · 03/01/2021 12:09

I mean, you could equally well say "hand-washing is only effective if performed by the majority of people". You wash your hands so that any germs on your hands should not be transmitted elsewhere.

Itsjustricemichael · 03/01/2021 12:10

It's interesting that mumsnet normally has all these children that confidently put on shoes, use a tablet, are apparently capable of loading a dishwasher or making their own sandwiches or whatever thread it is in standard times but when it comes to wearing a mask it's impossible for the majority. (And I am talking about the majority not children with additional needs or specific exemptions to be clear)

corythatwas · 03/01/2021 12:11

Personally, I am not afraid of Covid but if I did think there was something that could hurt me and my family I would do whatever I had to do to prevent that. You are the master of your own destiny.

If you are the carrier of an infectious disease then you are also the master of other people's destinies. And they may not realise.

Masks are not there to protect the mask wearer- they are there to protect other people from the mask wearer.

Pippa234 · 03/01/2021 12:12

I wouldn't want my 6 year old to wear one all day, and I don't think it's realistic to expect all young children to actually keep them on.
I would be happy for at home learning at the moment for a short time.

Original poster
cansu · 03/01/2021 12:13

Maybe we need to be a bit more solutions focused:

  1. Many children 7 + can and would be able to understand the need to wear a mask in school. Many other countries illustrate this.
  2. The very young children and children with SEN who can't should be in smaller classes where social distancing and hygiene practices can be increased. We should also work on testing younger children more regularly to mitigate the fact that they can't wear masks.
  3. Children who are hearing impaired. It is possible to get transparent masks. Let's get those for staff and children who need them.
  4. Let's get the testing regime into primary schools as well.
I am now waiting for parents to tell me that there is no way their child will take that test. Actually many can manage with their parents' support. So let's do that, let's get parents in to test their kids.
OP posts:
Pippa234 · 03/01/2021 12:13

Short time meaning for me couple of months if it was really necessary obviously we don't want to keep kids off forever.

Iamnotthe1 · 03/01/2021 12:14

@corythatwas

Masks are only effective protection when worn by the majority of people in a space. So one person wearing a mask and visor would have little to no effect

Wouldn't that depend on whether that happened to be the one person who had just picked up the virus during a trip to the supermarket or something?

That's true - in that specific scenario, that one person wearing a mask would have some effect. However, I was referring to mask wearing as a protective measure and saying that it's only effective if the majority wear one. Current data would suggest that children are more likely to be infected than their teacher is so the teacher being the only one wearing a mask wouldn't be an adequate protective measure.
corythatwas · 03/01/2021 12:14

And like everybody else, I am wondering what is so special about British children, when other children can manifestly manage.

But I've been wondering that for a long time re healthy school meals as well. Works in other countries but no, British children just couldn't accept it.

And if you are scared about society controlling your child to make them wear a mask, how on earth have you coped all these years with school uniform? Regulation length skirts?

Pippa234 · 03/01/2021 12:14

I agree we need testing in our primary schools.

OhWhyNot · 03/01/2021 12:15

You are the master of your own destiny

What utter bollocks. So all those that have followed guidelines and have become very ill/died or lost their jobs down to covid have been masters of their own destiny

Covid has impacted us all to some degree and how it impacts us is not down to just our own actions it’s down to how we all respond

It’s really not that difficult to understand

Original poster
cansu · 03/01/2021 12:15

And for all those who say they don't mind if teachers wear them but their kids can't or won't. The mask you wear protects others. So when I wear my mask in school, I protect children and other adults. Who is protecting me?

OP posts:
corythatwas · 03/01/2021 12:15

YYY to the OP.

Original poster
cansu · 03/01/2021 12:15

The poster who told me to go off sick as I am the master of my own destiny is also full of shit. I am not sick. Why should I go off sick??

OP posts:
Iamnotthe1 · 03/01/2021 12:16

@cansu
Let's get the testing regime into primary schools as well.

Only if it's actual mass testing and not what the DfE is doing in secondary schools - using it to replace isolation for close contacts.

Pippa234 · 03/01/2021 12:16

I don't disagree with you cansu I do think you need protecting.
I just can't see 6 year olds wearing them effectively.
I personally think schools need closing until the rates go down.

MissBaskinIfYoureNasty · 03/01/2021 12:18

We can't get adults to comply with the rule. Its bizarre how many are "exempt" compared with countries like Spain. Its a classic British attitude though. You'll never get people to ensure their kids comply!

heydoggee · 03/01/2021 12:19

My child is autistic and won't wear a mask. None of their classmates would either. I can't wear a mask out when I'm with them because they scream and panic.

There are thousands and thousands of children like mine.

Original poster
cansu · 03/01/2021 12:21

heydogee
Mine is the same but not all autistic children are the same. My dd attends a special school. She wouldn't and couldn't wear a mask but many of the pupils there do and can. In my own class I have two children with ASD, they wear their masks in the corridor like everyone else. Yes there will be and should be exceptions but that shouldn't mean that the majority don't or can't.

OP posts:
SueDeNimm · 03/01/2021 12:21

@millymollymoomoo

Yeah cos masks are doing a great job of preventing spread. I’ve said thus a few times now - in my kids secondary of 1600 pupils - less than 10 positive cases since sept. 10. And we’re in tier 4

The hysteria is far more scary than the reality.

That's the number of pupils with visible covid. What about the teachers or relatives who the asymptomatic children give it to? Or are they unimportant?