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.

My view about face coverings in general is that face shields or visors should be an alternative, but there should be no exemptions. Plenty of adults who don't wear them I don't think have any real reason- I was in Germany in September and on the trains they were worn without exception. I am sure not all Germans are healthy and without any neurological conditions.

Agree

Iamnotthe1

Alot of people had stated masks can cause communication issues many people lip read. If its getting bad that young primary school children are forced to wear masks school need to close.

Iamnotthe1
Forget to add there's many children in schools whos English isn't their first language who will struggle with masks as a language barrier.

@Amira19

Iamnotthe1

Alot of people had stated masks can cause communication issues many people lip read. If its getting bad that young primary school children are forced to wear masks school need to close.

People have stated that. But without evidence those statements aren't really relevant.

I could state that masks will mean children need to focus more on what is said which will lead to better learning because they must concentrate more. I have no evidence for that so, in reality, it's meaningless.

I agree @Amira19

That being said, I do agree @Amira19 that we have hit the point where schools need to close, as SAGE have stated.

The evidence hasn't been gathered as compulsory mask wearing for primary school setting hasn't been issued that's not to say the experiences or issues are any less relevant.

Some people still don’t wear them in shops or on public transport so I doubt you’d get a ‘no mask no school’ rule to fly here. About 20% of parents still don’t bother wearing them at drop off time at my DC’s school despite it being enforced.

I find adults / parents are the issue. They make such a song and dance about things.
Saying that the teachers at daughters school were offered PPE and refused so don’t know what the answer is.

@Amira19

The evidence hasn't been gathered as compulsory mask wearing for primary school setting hasn't been issued that's not to say the experiences or issues are any less relevant.

But it is saying that those opinions aren't based on independent evidence and so are likely to be influenced by the holder's own bias.

I appreciate that there's no England-based evidence because masks aren't compulsory here. However, they are for millions of children across the world without any reported impact on the progress of their learning.

Yanbu.
The drama over masks is keeping us in this mess.

Some children with special needs won't be able to wear them, but most can which really helps.

@cheninblanc

Mine wear masks in corridors and I'd have no worries about them during lessons. I'd rather they wore masks than were off school indefinitely

Exactly this.

My 15 year old said the same. She wants to be in school and if that means a mask so be it.

Iamnotthe1

Have many of those countries who have pupils won't don't speak the native language and come frkm different multiple cultures who have come there without knowing or speaking English?

People comparing wearing masks to wearing shoes, uniform, gloves etc are being ridiculous. A mask prevents children from being able to see and interpret facial expressions, a skill primary school children are still developing. It’s completely against the norms of healthy communication and social interaction to cover up the majority of your face.

I appreciate it’s necessary for as many people as possible to take precautions to protect each other in the current situation but I don’t agree children as young as 4 should be compelled to wear masks all day, 5 days a week. I would seriously consider home schooling my 5 yo if that became compulsory.

@Amira19

Iamnotthe1

Have many of those countries who have pupils won't don't speak the native language and come frkm different multiple cultures who have come there without knowing or speaking English?

England is not the only multi-cultural society in the world. Masks are compulsary in France and their immigration levels are around the same as the UKs.

In the land of mumsnet

All schools should be open. Schools are magically safe. No child can wear a mask in the UK because they are different to children from other countries.

But teachers should wear masks and are not allowed to get covid. But some teachers act like the parents do and don't want to wear masks either - cue shock and horror.

It's the governments fault because they should never close the schools and the children of poor and lazy working parents are disadvantaged because they aren't doing their home learning. The government should give all children state of the art WiFi and laptops snd send magically covid immune tutors to their homes instead.

OR
schools should close because they are unsafe and parents need to work and it's directly impacting poor people only who the government hates.

Teachers are lazy fuckers who don't want to work. Because they should be fine with being in schools alongside hundreds of non mask wearing children.

It's the governments fault for not closing schools earlier and it's a conspiracy to give us all covid which they invented.

God help us all.

@Whattheactual20201

I find adults / parents are the issue. They make such a song and dance about things. Saying that the teachers at daughters school were offered PPE and refused so don’t know what the answer is.

For other adults aka parents to lead by example and stop being total cunts?

You are right of course though. The children would do it and be fine, it's their parents messing it up for them and projecting. If every other kid does it and it's a condition of being at school and it's part of the rules they do it.

But we would rather bring them up to be selfish entitled shits who don't give a fuck about anyone else.

Really wish people would stop obsessing about the fact that ChiLDreN mIgHT tOuCH tHEir MaSKs.

It really doesn't matter if they touch their flipping masks, everyone.

Surface transmission of COVID19 (ie, getting the virus through "touching things") is extremely difficult. We now know that this virus is spread basically through breathing in airborne droplets.

Right at the start of this pandemic, some people in public health (who should have known better) kept pushing the idea that "Masks don't work, the infection is spread through touching things!"

We now know that this is basically not true at all, and yet the echoes of this misinformation are STILL being heard all around us. "Masks don't work!" "Masks will make things worse because someone might TOUCH THEIR MASK!" "It's all about hand washing, everyone---wearing masks distracts everyone from washing their hands properly!" "You have to perform operation-theater-style sterile-handing routines, otherwise your mask will poison you!"

It’s a difficult question.

Including commuting time, my dd is out of the house for 9 hours on school days. I am not sure I would want her to wear a mask for 9 hours. I wear a mask in shops etc of course but I would struggle to wear one for 9 hours straight,

I think this thread illustrates beautifully the problem. Everyone is uniquely focused on what suits them and their child best. I have already posted about this in relation to home learning where parents all have vastly different perspectives about what is best for their child and their family circumstances. Decisions need to be taken to protect the majority. If masks provide some level of protection to the majority then they should be mandatory for those who can wear them. If this is unacceptable to the minority then they can choose not to send their children. No one will be 100% happy with this but it would be mitigating the risks and providing school staff with some level of protection on a par with other key workers who must mix with large groups of people.

Because they are uncomfortable, they are a distraction, you cannot see people's faces, it is hard to hear etc etc.

Yes, they are all those things BUT they can help prevent the spread of covid and keep schools functioning. It is a simple choice: make school safer in the short term and keep face to face teaching or go to home learning. We need to be practical and prepared to make pragmatic decisions.

My 6 year old couldn't wear a mask. It took 6 months and play therapy to get her to stop clawing them off mine and other peoples faces, she still hates them on us but tolerates them. She is exempt regardless

Exactly, so that would be fine. My dd also has asd and sensory problems. She can't and I wouldn't attempt to force her but many others can and should.