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.

[MarshaBradyo]

I have a dc going into yr11 too. I’m intrigued what A levels does he want to do? (If you can say)

[MarshaBradyo]

Ignore wrong thread!

[Jamdemic]

@MadameBlobby - not just corridors. All indoor areas except classrooms, so common rooms, cafeteria etc. Not that that changes much, but since you have told me to get a grip, you might as well be accurate.

[Jamdemic]

Wow Blobby you are a piece of work. Guess compassion is not in your vocabulary.

[MadameBlobby]

[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]
It is actually allowed to go out to shops and see family members and keep transmission rates low.

[Jamdemic]

Why can't people just respond sensibly, even if they don't agree. E.g. SeasonFinale asked questions and provided a responsible point of view. Name calling and insults are just showing the posters to be ignorant and nasty.

[MadameBlobby]

[quote Jamdemic]@MadameBlobby - not just corridors. All indoor areas except classrooms, so common rooms, cafeteria etc. Not that that changes much, but since you have told me to get a grip, you might as well be accurate.[/quote]
And how does any of that stop him making friends or recognising teachers?

[Jamdemic]

Are you working your way through each of my posts to insult me and belittle my posts?

[MadameBlobby]

Honestly you are being completely ridiculous. My 2 kids and all their pals are just taking the masks in their stride. They literally couldn’t care less. And they’re only 11 and 14, not almost fully grown adults like your son. You’re making it much harder and more of a deal of it than it needs to be. Maybe if you calmed down you’d find it all easier to cope with.

[Jamdemic]

Maybe your DC don't' have mental health problems. Lucky you and them. Compassion - try it.

[TheFallenMadonna]

My DD is in just the same position Jamdemic - new sixth form and knowing nobody. No masks in classes (unless they choose to) but everywhere else. My DS is starting university in a couple of weeks and his interactions are going to be really limited too. All they can do is take the view that it is what it is.

[MadameBlobby]

@Jamdemic

Are you working your way through each of my posts to insult me and belittle my posts?

I’m just completely perplexed at how wound up you are over something that is absolutely no big deal. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Jamdemic]

Because you lack empathy

[Jamdemic]

@TheFallenMadonna

My DD is in just the same position Jamdemic - new sixth form and knowing nobody. No masks in classes (unless they choose to) but everywhere else. My DS is starting university in a couple of weeks and his interactions are going to be really limited too. All they can do is take the view that it is what it is.

Thank you for the constructive post and helpful reassurance

[TheFallenMadonna]

FWIW, the reason my DD is going to this 6th form is related to MH, so I completely get why you are anxious.

[Time2change2]

@Jamdemic absolutely agree. I have a Y7 starter and it’s been shit with no transition at all. If masks were brought in for the whole school day including classrooms (as per PP) I would be devastated for my DC. Making new friends and getting to know and feel familiar with teachers is a huge part of feeling secure in a big new place for my just turned 11 year old. No school contact in 6 months either (not my choice) so it’s a big deal.
Much communication is done by facial expression. It must be very hard to hear what teachers are saying with a mask on. They are a huge distraction and negatively impact learning. With it being taken off x amount of times a day, stuffed in a blazer or dropped on the floor or shared between friends I’m not sure how much protection they would actually be?

[JustSaying101]

@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

This is a very valid point and is of much importance surrounding mask wearing. Anyone with a communication issue, for instance if they are deaf and rely on lip reading will be at a complete disadvantage. In an ideal world, government should issue schools with a universal mask, so everyone has the same, almost an extension of uniform, to eradicate anyone getting picked on. I would also like to see masks with a clear plastic area where the mouth is, so people can lipread, communicate and perhaps most importantly, smile!

[Jamdemic]

Yes, another good point. The school communication I received was totally tactless. No mention of those with exemptions or those who might find it challenging, those with special needs. A very blunt communication out-of-the-blue that seemed to blame it all on the local authority, but no other local schools are implementing the policy so that's not true.

[netflixismysidehustle]

Are any schools mandating masks in lessons allowing glasses wearers to be exempt?
My teens are happy to tolerate slightly steamed up specs in shops but shouldn't have to in lessons. The "hacks" that we've found online song always work.

[JustSaying101]

@MadameBlobby

Honestly you are being completely ridiculous. My 2 kids and all their pals are just taking the masks in their stride. They literally couldn’t care less. And they’re only 11 and 14, not almost fully grown adults like your son. You’re making it much harder and more of a deal of it than it needs to be. Maybe if you calmed down you’d find it all easier to cope with.

You shouldn't really bring age into this - there are many "fully grown adults" that find it difficult to wear masks for a variety of reasons. Many children will adhere to the rules and not find mask wearing a problem at all - that I agree with you on. However, do try and appreciate that there will equally be many children that will find masks problematic to wear for a whole school day and find learning, communicating and socialising difficult whilst wearing them.

[TheGreatWave]

@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.

This is what is happening near me. One school no masks (though permitted if wanted) the school 1/2 mile away has said masks in communal areas. It is one side of the road with one rule and the other side a different one.

[Elephanora]

Our primary school have said the children can wear a face mask if they wish to. As they are only in their own classroom or in the playground, they are obviously saying children can wear them in class.

Children of many ages, in many countries are wearing face masks at school as a way to prevent the spread of coronavirus. It is annoying to wear one all day, but it is doable, especially by secondary children... and we really need to do all we can to keep numbers down.

[Derbygerbil]

I think it is a concern all the taking off and putting on of masks and the touching of faces.

I’m not writing this because I’m advocating mask wearing in the situation the OP describes, but if people are wearing masks I think the concern over touching faces is overblown. It’s a very unlikely transmission path (especially if anyone with the virus is having it largely contained by their mask), but we’ve been conditioned to think it isn’t by the focus on hand washing early in the pandemic.

[ihearttc]

Just to update, I had a phone call from the HT this morning to explain their reasoning behind the mask wearing in class and it makes complete sense. It’s an oddly arranged school with very small classrooms but they can basically walk outside to every lesson. They will wear them in class then take them off when moving around the school as they are doing all the transitions outside. She completely understood my concerns over listening/concentrating in class and said that is also the thing all the teachers are most concerned about. They are going to start with all wearing masks and revaluate as necessary. I feel so much better for contacting them. I also apologised for bothering them, and she said she realised as soon as she read my email that I made valid points and wasn’t just annoyed at mask wearing.

[Enoughnowstop]

Actually I suspect it is all about the teachers.Fair enough, they are important too. But no thought given to pupils who are starting at new schools under these circumstances

Yes, school staff are important. Without them, your school can't open. This may be a school with a significant portion of their staff team over the age of 50. Or it may have a high number of pregnant staff or staff who were previously shielding. Or just a high number of staff with issues which make them vulnerable. God forbid that a head teacher should make a decision to attempt to protect his/her staff - because doing so, also protects your child's education. You seem to forget we are people too, with families, and circumstances and situations which mirror those of everyone else out there in the real world.

Every thought has been given to pupils starting school in these difficult circumstances. How fucking dare you suggest otherwise. Like schools haven't had change after change to the guidance to manage. Like they don't feel the weight of the responsibility that is placed upon them both in terms of making sure children are educated but also as potential hives of infection incubation. No head wants to be front page news because everyone tested positive, 3 staff are on ventilators and 2 more have died.

Get a bloody grip.