Why not masks for all in secondary schools ?

[countryroses]

Why not ?

As a TA in a secondary school. I would like to wear a mask or at least a visor but am not allowed to do so. I agree that it would be very hard to compell kids to wear them all day but I would like the option.

They have studied data worldwide inc from countries who’s schools never closed

But don’t let the science - the actual facts- influence you

whose

Uber is different to private hire and cabs

By all means voluntary

But for kids to be forced when adults aren’t is wrong!

Primary school in Dundee that has closed ''Now, all staff and pupils at the school have been told to self-isolate after cases rose to 12, including one pupil who was identified as a contact of one of the early cases.''

So @Vinoonasunnyday even if 'no teacher has caught off a child' then those children are still home for the next 14 days because the teachers are home.

Primary school.
Where children are more like children & not young people.

Secondary schools in my opinion should be in masks but hey ''no teacher has caught off a child'' so all schools back in their 'bubbles' and we'll see what happens

Do you wear a mask at work?

So how can children at school not pass it on but they can at home??

Even if children do wear masks its not a given that it will prevent schools from closing

Because cloth masks do fuck all, aren’t tested and will be soaking and touched all day. Kids have been affected enough.

This is utterly ridiculous now!!!!

Of course it's not but surely it's worth trying.

The schools have a magic covid safe barrier around them!

I think @Vinoonasunnyday will only read the science that suits her script.

All staff, students and visitors should have the option of wearing masks as part of the measures to keep themselves and their school community safe.

Because it's extremely difficult for many people to communicate effectively and/or be heard while wearing a mask.

I have OK hearing (out of paranoia, I recently did a hearing test and it was actually good for my age) but I realise now that I rely a certain amount on lip-reading and facial cues to work out what people are saying, especially in larger groups. I teach in a university and if I had to teach a seminar in person to students wearing masks it would be a disaster. At the moment, thankfully, our seminars will still be online. I am also unable to make myself heard properly through a mask and often have to repeat myself four or five times in shops, sometimes while lifting it up. Before, I had no problems of this kind.

In shops, this is tolerable and fine. In a classroom it wouldn't be. The experience of teaching and learning while wearing a mask isn't for me 90% of what it was before, it would be more like 40%. So despite being keen to get back to the classroom if unmasked (I have had covid, have antibodies, and not remotely worried about the virus on my own account) I dread the idea of returning in a mask and would quit my job if this were required indefinitely.

Nobody anywhere can prove the exact moment someone caught the virus. But for all other workplaces where there is free mixing among human beings (and it is proven children have same, if not higher, viral load as adults - frankly can’t be arsed to post links as this is beyond tiresome at this point) it is widely accepted that the place of work may be infection point:
Doctor - probably caught it at work
Bus driver - probably caught it at work
Carer - probably caught it at work
Teacher - must have caught it at the supermarket
You also need to read up on Long Covid in kids - it’s not pretty. There’s limited data because we haven’t been testing kids until recently but there are growing reports especially in the US. You may choose to believe “no child has ever infected an adult” if you wish but they do infect one another (Half a million kids now CV positive in the US) & they deserve to have adults stand up for them & ensure they are safe at school & college.

Staff

I have always said people should have option of wearing a mask

I just don’t agree kids should be forced out of irrational fear

topcherry Lovely comments from a teacher about their pupils. Am two pages in and you’ve referred to them as “little dickhead“ and “snowflakes”. The latter actually more troubling as it shows lack of any intelligence through the regurgitation of such a fatuous word.

Teacher - must have caught it at the supermarket

Lol 😂 that is because of the magic wall around schools that prevents the transmission of Covid

So much for people wanting to do all they can to get schools back.

On the first page mac12 implies that kids in Canada are wearing masks - I’m not sure where they get that information from? In the secondary school I work in in Canada we went on spring break March 15 and haven’t properly returned yet! Kids came in if they needed help with online work or if they couldn’t be at home alone because of SEN and were kids of essential workers. Then summer break from the end of June till September 8th.

When we go back so far the directions are that kids can wear masks if they choose. They won’t all be back full-time. I doubt many bar the East Asian kids (who come to study English) will be wearing them.

So keep our kids out of your UK kids need to toughen up argument.

I think there's no perfect answer. I think the compromise would be to use them in corridors, and remove them in class. Never going to happen though. Corridors are where they finish their crisps walking to lessons after break, play fight with their mates when they can get away with it, and spend time showing each other memes etc. Teachers can't police every corridor, we're too busy running to the loo/ answering emails or grabbing a cuppa break time. So no enforcement there.

Lessons, no. They are hot and uncomfortable after half hour in the supermarket. 5 hours plus travel? I don't want to letalone the kids.

I will teach from the front, and ask the pupils to respect the space (I've just finished shielding). And do you know what, I think nearly all will comply. They are not stupid, and even the pupils intent on disruption will continue with mobile phones etc. rather than invade the space. Most kids are intrinsically nice, normal people, shock horror. Those few that aren't, some
will give in to peer pressure not to do it, or will be sanctioned in line with policy.

If they choose to wear masks, my classroom policy is clear regarding mickey taking etc.

I don't think forcing them to wear them is practical.

@FrippEnos

So much for people wanting to do all they can to get schools back.

That’s because some want the old normal which isn’t happening.

will teach from the front, and ask the pupils to respect the space

Yes we will be a bit more old style. You are right in that students do respect those requests.

I had a significant proportion of year 10 and 12 wearing masks when we had lessons in June and they were very sensible with hand gel etc.

StaffAssociationRepresentative

That’s because some want the old normal which isn’t happening.

Yup, and in a couple of weeks we will have a spate of why won't the teacher come near my child in class threads.

I think life is hard enough for children at the minute. Schools are warm places, facemasks are uncomfortable. Children will be hot, miserable and it makes teaching and learning even more difficult, becomes a point of confrontation in all kinds of ways and there needs to be some normality in life,
It is time people all went back into their work place, those who can do so without significant disruption or discomfort should wear facemasks.

We should all be observing social distancing as much as possible, washing our hands very regularly and avoiding bars and large gatherings.

But we need to get back to a life in our towns and cities, work places and schools. It is madness what is happening in hospitals, Drs, Dentists still. We had a leaflet yesterday from our GP telling us we can now have video appointments, telephone appointments and will find we very rarely need to see a GP face to face! Our dentist is not doing any procedures that involve machinery at all. I had a hospital appointment this week and it was like the Marie Celeste.

My son has been teaching in China for several years. ALL students wear masks, from kindergarten upwards, as do all school staff.

LuluJakey1

what I find most interesting from your post is that you want schools to do things that medical professions are not.

Surely that should tell you something?

It is time people all went back into their work place, those who can do so without significant disruption or discomfort should wear facemasks.

and again teachers can also wear masks without disruption or discomfort. They do so in many other countries.
What is happening here is that various parents are giving their children an excuse to disrupt.