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

[cansu]

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.

@Ugzbugz

Really?
Not sure how many times people need told that 'Some people are exempt'!!

Honestly. I worry about people's intelligence and their inability to understand this.

My son would happily wear a mask in school he's 9 and understands how they may help BUT his teachers won't let him. He also carries gel in his pocket for i between hand washing and is told not to use it and has anti bac wipes I provide for his deck and he's not allowed them from his bag!!!

My children have worn masks full time at school since they went back in September. In November we all had coronavirus

When they went back before Christmas all the doors and windows were open, year groups still closed due to positive tests

God knows. They won't even ask/enforce patients in hospitals to wear them.

Ha my typos thanks Apple.

Parents won't wear masks and won't let their children do so but want schools open

Because lots of children are exempt. My middle daughter won't wear one. She's autistic but you can't really say everyone apart from you, you and you must wear a mask.
Unless you want to make it really obvious which children have SEN so the bullies have a really easy target.

I hope teachers priorities there health. And won’t go in to school. The same way you prioritise your lovely child by not wanting him to wear a mask. Irresponsible parents

My 7 year old will wear a mask out and about, my 4 year old cant tolerate it.

My issue is grown adults are struggling if they have to wear one for 8 hours a day in a work place (I have to when customer facing but mainly I'm in an office on my own so dont have to) - i think its asking to much of lower primary to wear one for 6 hours of the day.

@happystone

I hope teachers priorities there health. And won’t go in to school. The same way you prioritise your lovely child by not wanting him to wear a mask. Irresponsible parents

Yep. In a fucking nutshell. So many anecdotes from other countries where the kids wear masks without problem but are they heard? No. Because obviously we are all special and different in the uk and of course vast swatches of the population can't. If it was a poisoness gas that would change pdq.

But of course masks don't work! Because that school where half the kids were exempt and the other half didnt wear them half of the time got covid. So of course that means the scientists are wrong! Epidemiologists are wrong!

And it's all the fault of the fucking government. 🙄

@Newdonewhugh
If you are that scared perhaps it’s time for you to go off sick? You control your own life, not the government. 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.

ODFOD!! Hope I don’t teach your child.

I wouldn't want an dc wearing masks I wouldn't send them to school. There obstruct learning for a start people struggle to understand people as it comes out muffled they can't hear the teacher and the teacher can hear them. If primary school children have to wear them they shouldn't be in school period.

Ask the french how there 6 year old children manage we as parents have to realise that if we want school safe and to stay open masks are going to be the answer masks open no masks closed

We are in the US and in the schools that have reopened, mask wearing is compulsory, even in Kindergarten. It's not ideal but the alternative is much worse. My kids haven't been in school since March and would do anything to get back. Wearing a mask? No problem.

Well that’s good you wouldn’t send your child to school if they had to wear a mask safer for other children and staff and one less person.

@WhoLettheCatOut
why do teachers not wear visors/masks all day? I know they do in secondary but surprised primary teachers at my children's school only wear them when outside or in school communal areas.
Because the DfE Guidance explicitly states that they should not be worn in Primaries, so we’re told we can’t wear them in the classroom.

@Amira19
There obstruct learning for a start people struggle to understand people as it comes out muffled they can't hear the teacher and the teacher can hear them.

Do you have any evidence to support this statement or is it just a case of repeating what the Government has said? If you do, I'd love to see it because I'd be really concerned about the millions of children worldwide that are currently attending school in masks full time.

happystone

Well considering my 4 year old has sensory issues he would react badly to keeping a mask on all day. They need to go back to remote learning.

My kids ( secondary)have to wear masks in communal areas such as loos and corridors but not in class or lunchtime. Sanitizers everywhere and social distance in class.
1000 or so kids and probably 18 positive Covid . I wonder if some of the cases in school are from kids hanging out in large multi bubble groups in parks etc and with kids from other schools , out of school hours.

Iamnotthe1

I'm a swimming teacher and wore a visor, the amount of times children couldn't hear properly and I am them also parents on poolside who had masks on it was certainly a barrier for communication.

So genuine question to all those spouting that their child will not wear a mask as they won’t cope, it will suffocate them, it’s not necessary etc, etc. If the Government change guidance and all children have to wear masks in Primary, will you keep yours at home then? Or are they all suddenly going to develop medical conditions that make them exempt?

My 6 year old wouldn't manage, he has a speech problem which would only be amplified with a mask on where people wouldn't understand him muffling his speech.
He has worn one before and he hated it the whole time and it was only for a short period of time.
I can't see his friends keeping them on either, not enough for them to be effective.
6 hours is a long time to expect young children to wear something over their face, to not touch it and avoid the urge to take it off, adults struggle wearing them for prolonged periods.
I would be happy to keep my kids at home.
It doesn't make me an irresponsible parent I am just realistic in my expectations of 6 year olds.

@Amira19

Iamnotthe1

I'm a swimming teacher and wore a visor, the amount of times children couldn't hear properly and I am them also parents on poolside who had masks on it was certainly a barrier for communication.

So it's anecdotal based upon your experience in an environment where communication is already difficult. Do you believe that this outweighs the millions of children worldwide who are learning successfully in masks?

I'm not saying that people don't have to try harder when wearing a mask but to go so far as to say it prevents progress and learning is an exceptionally bold claim, particularly when made without supportive evidence.

The government are very reluctant to admit when they're wrong. Telling kids to wear masks would be an admission that schools aren't in fact 'covid secure' as they've been claiming for months. It has nothing to do with science or public health and is entirely driven by the government's pig headed drive to insist they are always right.

I agree that children with sen can not wear masks in school but other children can

Day bath. Totally agree