Mask instructions from school

[Summertime2]

DDs school have sent instructions that masks are to be worn in classrooms this term - fine. But also that the masks should be cloth rather than disposable as apparently more effective and better for the environment.

DD has been told they will "be challenged" if wearing a disposable mask.

AIBU to object to this? First I can find nothing online that says cloth masks are better than disposable - in fact the opposite.

Secondly - does this mean the school could also insist on cotton hankies rather than tissues? On old rags rather than sanitary towels?

Surely this is not the school's job?

Here is the email for reference - for info the email my DD received was much more firm. Let me know if IABU to tell them to get lost and DD will wear a disposable mask if we choose. Which she does as she finds it more comfortable.

Face coverings:

"Pupils now need to wear masks in lessons, practice exams, in the corridors, in all communal areas and also in classrooms at lunch and break. We would very much appreciate it if all pupils could bring their own, non-disposable, mask to school. This is helpful from a sustainability perspective but also in ensuring the effectiveness of the mask. We have contacted the girls on several occasions about the importance of using non-disposable masks but last term we saw students use more than 300 disposable masks in school each week. We would really appreciate your support in this matter. "

Of courde they should be weqting cloth reusable masks, disposable masks are so wasteful

They are probably leaving disposable masks as litter all over the school. DC high school they are littered everywhere

So presumably handkerchiefs rather than tissues too?

@Hankunamatata

They are probably leaving disposable masks as litter all over the school. DC high school they are littered everywhere

This. Everywhere is covered in bloody masks. It's so annoying.

I think the school are right to encourage reusable masks.

It's a good idea, reduces waste and litter and should be cheaper in the long run for parents. Decent fabric masks cost maybe £2? That's accessible to most secondary school parents

In my school, we have handed out over 8000 disposable masks this year. This has very serious implications for our budget, of course.

@Summertime2

You’re just looking for an argument…

@Summertime2

So presumably handkerchiefs rather than tissues too?

Plastics in masks take 450 years to beak down. A tissue, five minutes.

I voted YANBU - especially as in my role of teacher I much prefer a disposable mask! - but I have a feeling that the emphasis here may be to encourage students to bring their own masks. The reference to over 300 disposable masks in school each week makes me think that some students may have been getting one or more masks a day from teachers/reception (hence them having a number to pin on it). I know some of our students would go through 2/3 masks a day sometimes ("lost it miss"). However, if your daughter's school have decided to become the eco-police and will "challenge" anyone wearing a disposable then absolutely tell them to wind their necks in and bugger off!

It doesn't have to be all or nothing OP, reducing waste in one area is positive, of which masks is easy. Why would you want to be encouraging your daughter to be wasteful? There are so many diffetent styles of fabric masks i'm surw she can find one that is comfy, or you could make your own so it is the same style as the disposable

Those disposable masks will end up around some poor duck or swan's neck

I wish people would snip the strings when they throw them away if they insist on using them

OP. Be that parent!

MrsTerryPrathcett - I hadn't realised that. Though sanitary towels apparently take 800yrs so should I accept guidance on reusable cloths instead?

I'm genuinely not looking for an argument - if I was I'd be challenging the requirement to use masks. But I'm not sure it's up to the school what kind of mask is used.

Maybe they should be encouraging students to use FFP3 masks that are actually effective rather than a bit of cloth?

Disposable masks are so much more comfortable if you are wearing them for a long period. Also some students will find them a better fit to stop their glasses steaming up. Quite important if the school want them to actually be able to concentrate on their classes.

I think encouraging cloth masks is good but I do also see the OPs point.

Some schools do forget that they don’t actually control everything.

Though sanitary towels apparently take 800yrs so should I accept guidance on reusable cloths instead?

Yep.

Just when you thought you'd seen all the possible complaints about masks 😂

Of course they should be using reusable masks. Disposable ones are fine when a reusable one has been forgotten but they should be be used all the time as the litter and waste is appalling.

@Ralphschocolate

OP. Be that parent!

I try not to be. Hence asking on here first

I was under the impression that the disposable masks are more effective than most cloth ones. When I was volunteering at the vaccine centre we were only allowed to wear the disposable type. In fact, the centre where I went for my very 1st vaccine made everyone swap their mask at the door for one of their disposable masks.
So from a sustainability perspective then I agree that reusable is better but for effectiveness then I would have thought the disposable type are better.

The planet is in a bad enough state with this bloody virus. At least lets try and do a wee bit for the environment along the way.

YANBU

I can tolerate a cloth mask for about half an hour at most. A disposable mask I can wear for much longer. Ds who is autistic absolutely cannot wear cloth masks. I buy him very soft, medical grade disposable masks.

Surely the important thing is that the young people are wearing masks and that they are as comfortable as possible whilst they are trying to learn.

DD is 14 and finds most of the typical blue disposable ones too big for her face. Not properly fitting masks are useless, it's like not wearing one at all.

Fabric ones are often available in a variety of sizes.

The only. disposable ones which fit are the propper FFP2. ones, they are more effective but quite expensive.

If I could find something that said cloth masks were more effective I might be convinced but everything online seems to say the opposite.

Surely efficacy is the point?