Masks in school in area NOT in local lockdown - England

[Jamdemic]

Anyone else's school in English gone straight in at the deep end for the start of term and made masks compulsory in communal areas like Scotland?
I think the advice is that this is a measure for areas in local lockdown, but my DC school is doing it anyway.
Going to be really really really hard and horrible for pupils new to the school to make any friends or recognise any teachers.

[Jamdemic]

@singersarp - I have been doing my bit and taking personal responsibility for keeping virus transmission low. Not been on holiday either in the UK or abroad, not been in a shop since March, not seen family since February. So it does annoy me that due to the lack of responsibility of most of the population and the government, that now pupils are not able to return to normal school 6 months after the start of lockdown. It is not me that is promoting virus transmission, I am far far more cautious than almost anyone.

[SqidgeBum]

@singersarp

No it's not devastating to wear a mask. It is devastating to have dead parents and teachers. Do people not understand that it's contagious? So fabulous news that numbers are low. If you'd like to keep them that way wear a mask. Or how many dead teachers will it take until you deem it time to don the mask in a lesson?

I agree. It's like teachers dying is perfectly fine as long as your teenager doesnt have to wear a mask. They aren't being asked to do it for no reason. The science has shown it helps stop the spread, and if people want teachers to be at work to teach kids, we should try minimise the risk to them.

[Jamdemic]

The footage on the TV from Scotland shows the pupils just shoving their masks in their blazer pocket once they are in the classroom. That mask will be in and out of that blazer pocket dozens of times each day. I really don't think that is protecting anyone. Also the 2-metre distance is total rubbish. I remember 20 years ago there being a national campaign about coughs and sneezes travelling 20-30 metres. We also know that virus droplets can hang in the air for 2-3 hours inside. So unfortunately, every classroom is going to be very dangerous and anyone with coronavirus is going to infect most people inside a classroom.
The mask in communal areas policy is not going to solve the problem.

[beelola]

Which is exactly why they should be wearing them in a classroom. To make it less dangerous

[Jamdemic]

As I said before, it should be a consistent approach nationwide. Work out a policy and stick to it.
Don't have one school where things are like 'normal times' and another down the road where the pupils are in masks.
That points to a shambles by government and local authority.

[Jamdemic]

Clearly it was a shock to find out my DC school was doing something different/more to the government's guidance, which I was not expecting at all.
If schools need masks, then all schools should be told to do it by government or local authorities.

[MarshaBradyo]

It’s not different to government guidance but it is by discretion.

[beelola]

Well yes, it should be consistent. All secondary age students should be wearing masks. But seeing as you were less concerned about safety and consistency than your child making friends, you can see why that hasn't been made policy.

[Jamdemic]

@beeola As I said, I was not expecting it, it was a shock. There is no need to be nasty. When you are a teenager, social issues are important and can affect all kinds of mental health conditions.

[sunseekin]

@FourTeaFallOut

People touch their faces all day long, I can't imagine that popping on a mask between classrooms, even accounting for readjusting etc, will have a marked increase on the number of times we fuss with our faces.

Exactly this! I hope more and more heads get braver. They aren’t blinded by the economy that’s behind most decisions being made by the government.

Looking after their staff (I’m sure some schools have more vulnerable demographics than others), their students, their students’ families and the wider society - it is quite frankly a relief to read your post.

Kids get used to things so quickly. On the whole (I know there needs to be some exceptions) they’ll be fine.

[sunseekin]

*with masks

Maybe teachers need some smiling photos/posters of themselves on their walls x

[Discobar]

[quote Jamdemic]@singersarp - I have been doing my bit and taking personal responsibility for keeping virus transmission low. Not been on holiday either in the UK or abroad, not been in a shop since March, not seen family since February. So it does annoy me that due to the lack of responsibility of most of the population and the government, that now pupils are not able to return to normal school 6 months after the start of lockdown. It is not me that is promoting virus transmission, I am far far more cautious than almost anyone.[/quote]
Calm down Karen. Think about the teachers. The kids will be fine. It's you who has the issue with masks not them

[GlassOfPimms]

Our school has currently said no masks in classrooms or corridors. They have to have one with them in case they are in a classroom with a vulnerable teacher or individual.

Genuine question though about communication with a mask on - I've tried and failed to talk to several shop assistants recently with my mask on. They literally couldn't hear anything I said unless they'd come up to me within the 1 metre distance. How will this work with kids wearing a mask in lessons?

I'm sure this has been discussed at length in school but wonder because I realise our school could change their guidelines at any time and I have a child that isn't confident enough to speak out in class anyway

[Discobar]

It's down to the head teachers so actually within guidelines- so to speak

[Jamdemic]

@Discobar - nice, didn't take long before the misogynistic Karen insult came along.

[Reubenshat]

I’m a bit with it now.

Only 300 people in the whole of England of England now are in hospital with COVID. 33 of those on ventilators. We have 55 million people in England. Hospital admissions dropping daily.

God knows how teachers are going to teach with a mask on. I couldn’t understand a word a restaurant food server was saying before and had to keep saying ‘sorry what was that?’

[SeasonFinale]

Yes we are implementing masks in communal areas such as the corridors, libraries too. It wont hamper them making friends. Why do you think it will may I ask?

[Jamdemic]

@SeasonFinale - because those that already know each other will stick together and those that don't know anyone will be likely to be isolated.
By the way, some people are trying to make out I am being frivolous, but making and having friends is very important for mental health of teens. Being unable to make new friends while others around you stick in their established groups is something to be considered.

[SeasonFinale]

[quote Jamdemic]@singersarp - I have been doing my bit and taking personal responsibility for keeping virus transmission low. Not been on holiday either in the UK or abroad, not been in a shop since March, not seen family since February. So it does annoy me that due to the lack of responsibility of most of the population and the government, that now pupils are not able to return to normal school 6 months after the start of lockdown. It is not me that is promoting virus transmission, I am far far more cautious than almost anyone.[/quote]
Your approach is on the very cautious side so I am surprised that you have this stance on the mask wearing provision. I would have thought you would welcome this. It seems such a contradiction.

[SeasonFinale]

[quote Jamdemic]@SeasonFinale - because those that already know each other will stick together and those that don't know anyone will be likely to be isolated.
By the way, some people are trying to make out I am being frivolous, but making and having friends is very important for mental health of teens. Being unable to make new friends while others around you stick in their established groups is something to be considered.[/quote]
When new joiners all start in y7 a lot of work is done to integrate people. Indeed when my DS started there was only one other girl from his old school in 180 kids. He made plenty of friends by half term. Indeed it seemed like kids were bored of their old friends and actively sought out new people to make friends with. I would not minimise people's concerns about friendship forming at new schools but I don't masks will create any issues in this regard.

[Jamdemic]

@SeasonFinale yes, I can see why you think that. But the reason I have tried so very hard to not catch the virus and not to spread it is because what mattered more to me than any holiday or meal out or trip to the shops was that my DS would be able to go back to school and resume his education properly.
I am quite annoyed that I am in the minority on this and now the virus levels are going up and the pupils have to wear masks. Personally, I feel if everyone had done what I have done then masks wouldn't be necessary. But the government felt casinos and pubs were more important than education and now we are in this position.

[SeasonFinale]

• don't think

[Jamdemic]

@SeasonFinale My DS is joining a new sixth form in an existing school where most pupils already know each other so friendships will be established and new kids in masks at breaktime are going to have a much harder time to make friends.

[MadameBlobby]

@Jamdemic

It is devastating to be joining a new school under these conditions.

Jesus. Prone to over dramatics, aren’t you?

My autistic 11 year old has coped fine.



Going to be really really really hard and horrible for pupils new to the school to make any friends or recognise any teachers.

Get a grip. It’s only in corridors!

[MadameBlobby]

[quote Jamdemic]@SeasonFinale My DS is joining a new sixth form in an existing school where most pupils already know each other so friendships will be established and new kids in masks at breaktime are going to have a much harder time to make friends.[/quote]
6th form? How old is that? 16/17?

Maybe stop babying him and he’ll do alright.