How do teachers feel about wearing masks to teach?

[windyautumn]

Been reading a lot about this today and it feels like it won't be long before masks are mandatory in schools which is probably the best thing all round for suppressing transmission.

I was curious about how teachers feel about the practicalities of wearing a mask more and more (especially as it's all been about children currently!).

If it was mandated, how do you feel about teaching for hours with one on? Do you feel you can connect with new classes and students if everyone has a mask on? How will you overcome communication barriers with SEN students etc

I'm a speech therapist so I worry about SEN children but I'm particularly worried about voice misuse for the teachers!

@itsgettingweird it's tricky isn't it. You shouldn't really touch the mask at all even to drink. You should take it off, dispose, wash hands, drink, put a clean mask on and wash hands again....not terribly practical! In the hospital we just aren't drinking which isn't exactly great!

I'm not generally anti-masks, and wearing them in the shops etc doesn't bother me in the slightest, but it would be difficult for me as a teacher because I teach foreign languages. The kids would find it very difficult to understand what I was saying, and modelling good pronunciation to them would be virtually impossible. If masks impede communication in one's own language, then it would be exponentially worse when trying to understand a foreign one!

I've found the medical ones much easier to wear (I've switched because of WHO guidance for clinically vulnerable to wear them).

I know they aren't the most comfortable, but I find all this moaning about wearing them really frustrating. Surely, after going through the last 6 months we have all learnt that we want to avoid that again. We need to be doing everything possible to avoid it. I know there are some that will be exempt and support them. But I have noticed lots of younger colleagues who are the least likely to have issues with covid, so be the most vocal about all the restrictions including masks. I've had to insist a colleague get a test this week after he made it clear he was unwell during a teams meeting.

So yes. I am massively in favour. I'm vulnerable though so I understand I might be more anxious. Secretly hoping other teachers are wearing them tomorrow and that we are told we can wear them to teach in.

I teach FE, including to adult learners, and I'm currently not allowed to wear a mask on campus at all, unless I'm on a college minibus or doing something I'd normally (pre-covid) wear a mask for.

Wouldn't bother me but it would bother my students. Most aren't native English speakers and I have a strong ish regional accent so we struggle along a bit at first anyway.

My ideal would be msks worn in corridors and to enter the classroom then removed whilst seated.

I plan on using Teams and getting students to take pics of their working out if they're struggling and inboxing me on there as we'll not be allowed to get near. Can't think of any other way 🙈

“ I find all this moaning about wearing them really frustrating”

My husband hasn’t moaned at all. He’s just not in favour.

I am an SEN teacher and we have pupils who use BSL and we do too. So no masks for us at all. We do have a couple in the office with a clear window for the mouth, but not enough for all staff to have 1 each, never mind the fact they're supposed to be disposed of or cleaned between uses.

The other children with HI on my caseload will really, really struggle with masks being worn. Makes me sad to think that may happen.

@NailsNeedDoing

I'm a speech therapist so I worry about SEN children but I'm particularly worried about voice misuse for the teachers!

Can you explain more about voice misuse please OP? I’m just interested.

Teachers are really high risk for voice misuse due to excessive vocal use, lack of hydration, room acoustics not set up for public speaking etc. The more use your vocal cords get, the dryer and more inflamed they become which often leads to chronic throat clearing or coughing or raising your voice even more to compensate which creates more damage. Teachers quite often get vocal nodules like singers but will often persevere with coming to work until their voice has gone completely.

Masks increase all of the above because they force you to increase your volume due to the physical barrier suppressing your natural volume and also to compensate for the lack of other total communication (facial expression etc) and your vocal track drys out much more rapidly with a mask. Once you get a bit of a sore throat or a tickle cough, the damage is already starting.

General advice: ventilate as best as possible, drink pints and pints of water, use microphones rather than raise voice, try steaming for 2 mins, 4 times a day, learn how to breathe properly for public speaking and if you are a habitual throat clearer - try to suppress it with drinking. All of these are impossible with safe mask usage though!

I'd absolutely hate it. I have avoided shops since we have had to wear masks in them. I have used one about 3 times and hated every second. And I can't see how I could teach my subject effectively.

[quote windyautumn]@itsgettingweird it's tricky isn't it. You shouldn't really touch the mask at all even to drink. You should take it off, dispose, wash hands, drink, put a clean mask on and wash hands again....not terribly practical! In the hospital we just aren't drinking which isn't exactly great![/quote]
Luckily I have enough to do this if when working I must replace each time. Back to school Thursday! And you're right I should behave myself with mask etiquette when it's for work!

But if I'm honest I unhook from my ear a little , don't touch mouth bit, put straw in and replace ear hook and slide it down and out when done

@KatherineOfGaunt

I am an SEN teacher and we have pupils who use BSL and we do too. So no masks for us at all. We do have a couple in the office with a clear window for the mouth, but not enough for all staff to have 1 each, never mind the fact they're supposed to be disposed of or cleaned between uses.

The other children with HI on my caseload will really, really struggle with masks being worn. Makes me sad to think that may happen.

Yes, me too. I feel really sad for all children who need non verbal communication, lip reading etc to access the curriculum. I'm not sure where reasonable adjustments come in really. Covid takes priority I guess but what if masks are going to becoming a permanent thing? Then what?!

I’m pretty fit but I ran up the stairs wearing one then stopped to talk to a colleague and really couldn’t breathe. Felt very low on oxygen. I just can’t imagine teaching in one.

I think the “moaning” comment is unnecessary-no one here is moaning, just sharing views.

I wouldn't do it unless it was compulsory, I don't think. I don't have any exemptions or anything though. I could wear one quite easily (I will be for several hours of inset over the next two days) but I'm a performing arts teacher so would really struggle with the communication aspect of drama and the exercise aspect of dance. I have one with a plastic window and a visor and I'm prepared to wear either or both of those if asked to. But it wouldn't be my choice. I don't think they're that necessary.

I would bloody love to wear one in my current crammed classroom of 32 kids but apparently primaries are "safe". However, I would very much prefer to have half the amount of kids for a half day each and some actual bloody space.

The more use your vocal cords get, the dryer and more inflamed they become which often leads to chronic throat clearing or coughing or raising your voice even more to compensate

I have had issues with chronic throat clearing. I didn't know it was a symptom of voice misuse, but that figures, I guess. I definitely don't drink enough water either.

Secondary here.
I can see the need for not wearing a mask for hearing impaired students and the specific cases outlined here. If I had such a student in my class I would probably not wear a mask unless I was directed to.
However, as someone who will be moving from bubble to bubble, with no guidance yet as to what I will have to do should a bubble close** (isolation etc), I will otherwise be wearing a mask.
My DM is shielding as is the dc who lives at home.
For this reason and the cross-bubble thing, I will be wearing a mask unless told not to.

@lazylinguist

The more use your vocal cords get, the dryer and more inflamed they become which often leads to chronic throat clearing or coughing or raising your voice even more to compensate

I have had issues with chronic throat clearing. I didn't know it was a symptom of voice misuse, but that figures, I guess. I definitely don't drink enough water either.

Every time you clear your throat, your vocal cords are banging together and becoming redder and more sore, dry and inflamed which perpetuates the cycle of feeling the need to throat clear. Massive increase in hydration, steaming and better voice use would help. Our voice clinic is full of teachers sadly with this difficulty and worse. Once the voice has gone, you can't work and it can take a while to get it back.

@itsgettingweird it's tricky isn't it. You shouldn't really touch the mask at all even to drink. You should take it off, dispose, wash hands, drink, put a clean mask on and wash hands again....not terribly practical! In the hospital we just aren't drinking which isn't exactly great!

But you only need to touch one strap to swing it away from your face and have a drink. Is that still really bad? I didn't think the strap would be an issue?

@mineofuselessinformation

Secondary here. I can see the need for not wearing a mask for hearing impaired students and the specific cases outlined here. If I had such a student in my class I would probably not wear a mask unless I was directed to. However, as someone who will be moving from bubble to bubble, with no guidance yet as to what I will have to do should a bubble close** (isolation etc), I will otherwise be wearing a mask. My DM is shielding as is the dc who lives at home. For this reason and the cross-bubble thing, I will be wearing a mask unless told not to.

I totally get this and this is why I'm sure masks will become mandatory.

I'm was curious about the actually practicalities of teaching, communicating and protecting your voice in the classroom really.

Aww good point with bsl.

We use makaton. I big part of that is that signing supports speech (even if child is non verbal) rather than replaces.

So that seeing the mouth shapes will disappear and often it's initial sounds ours kids start or only progress to using with a sign.

My biggest concern is cough or sneezing in face face (standard!) or touching my face after sucking fingers (standard!) or even spitting (luckily less standard!)

I guess although they don't give best protection a shield would be the preferred option.

Our children don't tend to access busy places anyway so I suspect they are lower risk with regards catching it and passing it on.

Certainly need to have a good think about what would be best all round.

[quote manicinsomniac]**@itsgettingweird it's tricky isn't it. You shouldn't really touch the mask at all even to drink. You should take it off, dispose, wash hands, drink, put a clean mask on and wash hands again....not terribly practical! In the hospital we just aren't drinking which isn't exactly great!

But you only need to touch one strap to swing it away from your face and have a drink. Is that still really bad? I didn't think the strap would be an issue?[/quote]
Even when you swing the mask off one ear and swing it back again, you almost always have to rearrange the mask back in position (for me it's always around the nose and get it back under my glasses).

That said, people do do this! But the guidance is to replace to be super safe.

[quote manicinsomniac]**@itsgettingweird it's tricky isn't it. You shouldn't really touch the mask at all even to drink. You should take it off, dispose, wash hands, drink, put a clean mask on and wash hands again....not terribly practical! In the hospital we just aren't drinking which isn't exactly great!

But you only need to touch one strap to swing it away from your face and have a drink. Is that still really bad? I didn't think the strap would be an issue?[/quote]
That's what I do.

Probably ok in everyday but I'm thinking at work it may not be the best move with regards modelling good practice!

it'sgettingweird I know everyone says the shield is useless without the mask but, when you're with children who are likely to cough, sneeze or spit in your face, it seems logical to me that a shield would not only be useful but would be more useful than a cloth mask. Unless you wear glasses as well then it seems like it would be the same.

I'm not a scientist but I think I'd want a visor in your position.

@windyautumn I didn't know the science behind it until now but that's very informative- thanks. I have been teaching for 20 years+ and knew the steps I need to take to look after my voice, but not why.

A voice is probably a teacher's most used part in teaching (brain aside etc). If you lose it, it is so hard to get through a teaching day. Using your voice effectively is a hard earned skill, and it's not just about projecting your voice. If you've ever seen how a teacher can get 400 children to listen in assembly with the quietest of voices, or a story being told to all ears, or a telling off that isn't shouting but the pupil is taking every word in and reflecting on it, that's how how we use our voices (and whole faces and bodies).

And I wasn't moaning either, just answering the thread title which is asking how I feel about it. I feel that it would curtail how effective I am at my job. I think all school staff should have the choice to wear a mask if they wish, because they all have different circumstances, but I have assessed my circumstances and I am happy to not wear a mask.

@DeepTreacle

My husband teaches at secondary and he is not in favour of teaching in a mask

+1