AIBU to want to wear a mask again in my classroom

[EmsHugs]

Would like to know AIBU to not give in to this parent demand.

I am in my second trimester but still quite small so not told many people as we still have some tests etc and i am listed as high risk. It is my first pregnancy after years of infertility, failed IVf and and I am being super cautious. Before the summer when I was in the early weeks of my pregnancy I caught covid and was very ill so since returning to school I have chosen to wear a mask, particularly as I have still to get several of the vaccinations like flu, whooping cough etc.

A parent of a child has put in a complaint and said I should remove the mask because it makes their child anxious but I have said while I am sorry their child does not like the mask, due to current health issues I will not. They have now made accusations that I am a poor teacher and not respectful of their child's issues, however as a high school teacher I have over 500 pupils in and out my classroom every week and want to every precaution I can to protect my baby. The school are aware why I am doing this and said they will explain to the parent but several of my colleagues, friends and family members are still not awaresi am pregnant so I do not particularly feel I should have to divulge this to a parent and that stating my health concerns should be sufficient. I have even sat with the child and explained that I wear the mask to protect myself and that I need to wear it for now but that may change later but I appreciate them being understanding. The pupil seemed to be okay but the parent continues to be adament and I believe it is because I have immediately not given into them and stood my ground.

The stress of this parent sending complaints everytime this child is in my class 4 times a week, is getting me very stressed so I would like to know:

AIBU to not divulge at the moment the reason I need to wear a mask
AINBU the parent needs to realise they cannot get everything they want.

Oh dear. Another poster who knows nothing at all about infection control - but thinks she does.

their advice is put an FPP2/FPP3 mask on once numbers reach 800-1000, and get out of there if numbers get above about 1700

Blimey, I’d never do any teaching in that case. About 1700 is pretty much baseline for my classroom. I’ve come into it before and it has been 5000 because the previous teacher didn’t open the windows.

You need to speak to your head in that case as they are breaching HSE ventilation rules and government school ventilation. Your school would have been provided with CO2 monitors for every classroom and access to purchase HEPA filters if required. Education staff are one of the highest professions along with medical staff suffering long covid. You should not have to risk your health to teach - and nor should the pupils.
www.gov.uk/guidance/using-co-monitors-and-air-cleaning-units-in-education-and-care-settings

Hah, no one cared during an actual pandemic, they certainly won’t now.

Your school would have been provided with CO2 monitors for every classroom and access to purchase HEPA filters if required.

Nope, didn't happen, and in the few schools that it happened in there were not enough C02 monitors for every classroom.

Are you sure they're not sat in a cupboard somewhere? Unfortunately messaging has been so poor I know some schools didn't even bother to unbox them. Unions have been constant in informing members how they should be used and access to HEPAS. You are entitled to be working in a safe environment that meets HSE regulations.

"I am fortunate to do most of all my teaching without a mask by standing near an open window. When I see the numbers creep up on my CO2 device, I open a second window, maybe put a mask on for 10 mins until they fall again."

Don't forget the earplugs and goggles - all perfectly sealed against the virus-laden air of course. Maybe granny knickers too. Because viruses enter the body through mucus membranes. Wearing a mask for 10 minutes in this context is a new level of crazy.

Your argument is utterly ridiculous, because by far the greatest entrance route for an airborne virus is through the mouth and nose - and an FFP3 mask is more than 99% effective in stopping that. Other entrance routes are infinitesimally small by comparison.

By your logic, since seat belts are unlikely to offer much protection against a concrete lorry hitting you head on at 70mph it's pointless wearing them.

Agree with this. In a modern classroom with lots of windows and only 20 pupils, the baseline is around 1300. It's farcical to suggest the school will invest in air filtration - we had a condemned boiler and just had to manage without heating at one point! County council was well aware.

Rubbish - modern classroom, windows & door open so through draft, 30 kids and we hit between 550-600ppm.

Modern classrooms have windows that only open a crack due to Health and Safety

How could anyone be angry by someone wearing a mask?!

is this a thing?!

my mind is blown

They dont need to be flung wide open. And as per gov guidance if you are unable to meet ventilation requirements by opening enough windows/doors than you need to use HEPA filters (which can be accessed through procurement channels). If a very modern building you may have mechanical ventilation which needs to meet specific requirements including air changes, fresh air and not recirculated and they can have HEPA filters within them.

It's really not. I'm happy to take a photo of it when I'm in next week. I'm not really sure why I'm being accused of lying though because throughout lockdown it was the case in many schools according to other threads. I teach with the classroom door open and have 4 or 5 windows I can open (but they only open a relatively small amount, which I'd imagine is normal in primary).

To state that it's impossible in a modern school is only your experience though as I've told you how we manage it in our school - so by your statement am I lying?
As I said, for those schools who are unable to reach sufficient ventilation then you need to use alternative systems such as mechanical ventilation and HEPA filtration.

The 'procurement channel' that the govt set up for air filters has a couple of crap yet really expensive air filters available, that the school has to pay for.

It's no wonder there is no rush to take up the offer. Schools have no money...

Just as ridiculous as wearing a mask then.

Do grow up.

What's impossible? I'm not sure what you're quoting. I don't doubt some classrooms have lower readings but like noblegiraffe, mine is very high just on a normal day with the windows open etc.

"In a modern classroom with lots of windows and only 20 pupils, the baseline is around 1300. "

This isn't the case for all modern classrooms, I gave you my own class readings - and explained if it is the school needs to make adjustments as per HSE & Gov guidance.

There's also the issue of the CO2 levels being lower when you open all the windows but it's freezing outside and cold already inside. Been there done that with the kids in coats, gloves, hats trying to learn.

Yes, and I didn't realise yours were based on experience rather than guidance. I apologise for wording it poorly - I should have said in my modern classroom. Are you primary? I'd honestly be astounded if any school around me would invest in air filtration. Getting county to pay for absolute basics has been nigh on impossible.

Definitely didn't happen.
Like so many things that were supposed to happen.

Also just as an aside. I know of several DT departments where the only way to get the extraction repaired was to shut the workshops and effectively threaten the school with poor exam results,
And these are actually mandated requirements not just a guidance.

There are studies on the medical sites (some of them by Fauci himself) that prove masks cause diseases. And so far no one has been able to prove 'viruses' pass from one person to another and make them sick.

Since you're in education, maybe you can educate yourself instead of following everything the TV tells you to? Anyone still doing what they're told by a bunch of clowns and actors is a joke.

Good, sometimes we need to stand up to make things happen - even though they should. Have you looked at making them as a science lesson - I know many schools have.
https://neu.org.uk/latest/library/make-your-own-classroom-air-filter-corsi-rosenthal-box