Masks..in the school playground??

[PatButchersEarring]

The head of my children's primary school has requested that all parents wear masks in the playground (totally outside, open, no sheltered areas) when dropping off or picking up children- and is rigidly reminding and enforcing this.

Now, the only interaction with teachers is outside, through a fenced off area. There are literally cones and red tape cordoning off any entrances to classrooms. If parents speak to teachers, it is from at least 2 metres away and outside. No parents have been able to enter the school for nearly 2 years- with or without masks.

I understand that schools pose a high risk for the spread of Covid- but masks outside? Really??

Looking at the DFE guidance, this appears to be in direct contradiction, and I'm wondering if it is more of a political statement on the school's behalf as opposed to a rational, thought out preventative measure.

So, my AIBU is 'Is it unreasonable for it to be mandatory for adults to wear a mask when in the school playground?'

Our school previously required masks in the playground, it’s now optional and about half the parents are still wearing them. I’m wearing mine, whilst it’s outside there are several pinch points that get crowded and all the staff are wearing them, feels pretty disrespectful to not bother when they are.

Our school wants us to wear masks, and I do, although I agree it seems overkill outside in the playground. However, I feel it is up the them.

To me it falls into the category of it may not do any good but it certainly isn’t going to do any harm so why not.

This has been the case in secondary schools for quite a while if I need to visit my child's school for meetings or to hand in an item my child forget. I ensure my mask is on before I press the buzzer on the gate. Why do you think it should be different for primary school?

@AdviceOnLife

My dc's school no parent is allowed in either playground at all. The parents collect in the street and the parents must be masked in the public street when doing pick up.

Masked on a public street? I don't think the school have that kind of authority. What happens if the parent isn't masked? Studies show that it is highly unlikely to catch covid outside, seems pointless to enforce these rules

Wearing masks outdoors is nonsensical in my view, unless you have a lot of people in a very small area. If a playground is tiny with hundreds of parents in it, than maybe it's sensible. And a parent might prefer to wear one, given all the unvaccinated children around. But otherwise it's just covid theatre.

Masked on a public street? I don't think the school have that kind of authority. What happens if the parent isn't masked? Studies show that it is highly unlikely to catch covid outside, seems pointless to enforce these rules

Agreed.

Whilst I don't think masks outside are usually necessary, I wear one all day at work (TA), including the playground as a) if a child is upset or injured I can't keep my distance, b) we have some children with physical disabilities which necessitates close contact and c) helpful members of the public have been know to complain if they see a member of staff unmasked in the school grounds, even if outside!

Our school also asks parents to wear them in the playground, that is because a) they rarely keep their distance from staff or each other and b) again, members of the public are hyper vigilant- we've had some complaints about lack of masks and distancing by our parents OUTSIDE the school grounds!

Completely standard and completely pointless.
Virus spread outside is extremely unlikely which is why events like parkrun are allowed to take place.

I do wonder what we are teaching our kids about critical thinking when we are doing something that has no actual benefit but is really just for show.

Very glad my dc are now at secondary.

We haven't had any guidelines on masks at drop off/pick up in months and most parents don't now. But we're not allowed in the playground so we're talking about people stood outside of school grounds, outdoors, largely social distancing. Adding masks to that would make no difference to transmissions (and I have always happily worn a mask whenever it's been required through the pandemic and have not set foot in a shop without a mask since the beginning)!

The virus doesn't spread outside, so it is an empty gesture that makes it 'look' like the school are doing something but in reality it makes absolutely no difference. Of course the transmissions are happening inside the classrooms and not outside at drop off and pick up!

Do you want to "homeschool" again? Thought not: wear the blooming mask it's just 5min

Our school did this last year for a bit. Gradually more and more people stopped wearing masks, until nobody was. It wasn't mentioned then, and hasn't been mentioned since.

All the kids and teachers are still alive.

I will not wear a mask outdoors at school, most parents at our kids primary school are the same now. Haven't needed to get out of the car if going to the high school.

Totally pointless. I'd do it if asked, but wouldn't be impressed because it shows a lack of understanding about how the virus actually spreads; more important for them to consider ventilation inside the school. I'm surprised schools haven't asked for contributions to HEPA air filters, parents as directly interested parties might be happy to contribute to whatever models are approved.

Yabu. Huge numbers of staff are off sick with covid, many older and vulnerable.

Covid floats through the air. Sure you may be 2m away but the covid drops don’t magically vanish when you leave the area, and the staff will be walling around the playground after you’re gone.

Bottom line irrespective of all this: it is piss easy to wear a face mask for ten minutes and it makes the staff feels safer so stop being such a whiner.

Local public health guidance means a lot more than the DfE guidance. Your council may have their school COVID information on their website, though sometimes in awkward to find places (and constantly moving ime, though that may just be my council).

It may be a token gesture, but I agree with InCahootswithOrwell that using the DfE as a basis leaves out a lot of local and school specific issues.

Really, schools already have enough to do, while there may be a few HT would really enjoy adding things like this to their plate, it's the less likely option to rising local numbers and the local public health team's recommendations which ime schools are struggling to balance with their other needs going on.

I dont understand the rule to wear a mask outside on school grounds. Would be interested to know if these same people who say that this is the only way to reduce transmissions in school also wear a mask whenever they are walking down the street or outside in other situations? Parents not wearing masks is not causing the cases in schools to go up.

Evidence shows that you are very, very unlikely to catch covid outside. Wearing masks outside is pointless.

I see the people walking in with other parents to school not socially distancing with no mask then the 2nd they get to school they put a mask on....what is the point in that?

@Thirtytimesround

Yabu. Huge numbers of staff are off sick with covid, many older and vulnerable.

Covid floats through the air. Sure you may be 2m away but the covid drops don’t magically vanish when you leave the area, and the staff will be walling around the playground after you’re gone.

Bottom line irrespective of all this: it is piss easy to wear a face mask for ten minutes and it makes the staff feels safer so stop being such a whiner.

Wow, even 2 years into the pandemic and you seriously have no idea how covid spreads!!

Do you actually believe if a parent doesn't wear mask on the playground and then after they have gone a teacher walks there then they will catch it 🤦‍♀️

@allbartwo

Our school did this last year for a bit. Gradually more and more people stopped wearing masks, until nobody was. It wasn't mentioned then, and hasn't been mentioned since.

All the kids and teachers are still alive.

The problem is not the "kids and teachers" 🤦🏻‍♀️ has this pandemic taught us nothing??!!! It's the vulnerable family and friends of these kids and teachers that will die!

So if YOU have cold/flu symptoms you wear a mask all the time regardless of how healthy people are around you, because you don't know who they are going to visit or who they live with.

When the pandemic is over and covid is eventually declared as endemic grey. What will you do when you have a normal cold. Will you isolate and wear a mask at all times as people may die because let's face it they might. Your normal cold is my grandparents chest infection and hospital. Flue and pneumonia could kill either of them. I feel really sorry for anyone who has this mindset it's an illness in itself. Equating not wearing a mask outside to people dying is so low risk it's like never leaving your house in case you get run over.i have no issue with wearing masks at school but be honest with yourself it's not to stop any serious amount of transmission.

I think moving forward most people will be more sensible when it comes to avoiding people and taking precautions when They have colds and things. More common sense and less carry on regardless

@tootiredtospeak

When the pandemic is over and covid is eventually declared as endemic grey. What will you do when you have a normal cold. Will you isolate and wear a mask at all times as people may die because let's face it they might. Your normal cold is my grandparents chest infection and hospital. Flue and pneumonia could kill either of them. I feel really sorry for anyone who has this mindset it's an illness in itself. Equating not wearing a mask outside to people dying is so low risk it's like never leaving your house in case you get run over.i have no issue with wearing masks at school but be honest with yourself it's not to stop any serious amount of transmission.

Exactly this!!! 🙌👍

Completely pointless and ineffectual hygiene theatre, with no scientific basis. I wouldn’t be complying.

We've always had go wear masks at school drop offs/pick ups as we can't fully be socially distanced from each other

Whats the big deal?