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!

I would prefer children to use masks and me to use a visor, or if possible for me not to use a mask during 'direct teaching' and put one on for other phases of each lesson.

But it is definitely better than spreading infection, so I would do it if instructed.

I'm a teacher in Ireland and all students and staff wear masks or visors.
Its doable.

@itsgettingweird fair play to you for wanting to be a good mask modeller! There is definitely an element of 'well if everyone is wearing under nose / fiddling / pulling down or up to drink etc' everyone starts doing it in the hospital and standards slip. (Then we start getting aggressive emails from gold command 🤣)

@manicinsomniac

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.

I do wear glasses.

In fact a shield may mean they remain on my face more as some poor kid who is distressed isn't able or is less able to launch them across the room on my behalf

@windyautumn haven't started teaching in them yet but as long as you breathe slowly in them it's fine. I have a loud and clear voice anyway (nature of my subject!).

[quote profpoopsnagle]@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.[/quote]
I don't think there has been any moaning on this thread actually!

@lazylinguist

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!

Same here 😉 But I think a visor or face shield would be OK.

I completely disagree that my comment was unnecessary. It is quite clear that the majority of those teachers that are not happy to wear a mask are also those that don't have the added worry about catching covid or taking it home (either them or someone at home is vulnerable).

We all spent months trying to protect the vulnerable and were very happy to do so. Now it seems public opinion is that we've had enough of that. We've spent the last 6 months shielding and now expected to carry on as 'back to normal' practically.

Surely we should be trying to keep transmission as low as possible and keep schools open? I can see my opinion is in the minority and I have to accept that. But I'm really disappointed. Thankfully my colleagues have been really supportive about this and have suggested they wear masks/face coverings in our communal areas so we can meet.

Can I ask all of you to bear in mind those colleagues that have been told repeatedly that they have to shield/be extra careful. Plus those students in that category. I'm wondering if ours will be back at all .

My husband does have the worry of transmitting Covid (or any other infectious disease) to someone vulnerable, but you crack on with your assumptions.

I want because my health is paramount. I think if I do parents will moan. There also seems little point if I'm the only one in the room wearing one.

[quote monkeytennis97]@windyautumn haven't started teaching in them yet but as long as you breathe slowly in them it's fine. I have a loud and clear voice anyway (nature of my subject!).[/quote]
That's a really good point. Breathing slowly is key. I've been caught out a few times from dashing round the hospital then starting a consultation while a bit breathless and it's really hard to recover while talking with the mask on. You're also more likely to become breathless if you're teaching when anxious or nervous etc so definitely worth thinking about how to stay composed and steady with breathing.

@DeepTreacle

My husband does have the worry of transmitting Covid (or any other infectious disease) to someone vulnerable, but you crack on with your assumptions.

I have no answer for this that would go down well. I guess we all have our options on this and I would expect it would depend on many things (location, transmission rates, condition of vulnerable person, how many points make that person vulnerable).

I obviously hope the government do make them mandatory across all secondary schools (and FE and unis), like many other countries across the world-I haven't heard of any issues from those places against this? But I do accept, like I've said already, that my opinion is in the minority.

[quote profpoopsnagle]@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.[/quote]
Absolutely agree. You voice is your biggest tool and needs lots of care. I really hope all the teachers now in masks really look after their voices even more than before!

I won't be wearing one to teach. I've noticed when I've tried to converse with people when wearing masks we struggle to understand each other, so end up moving masks away to be able to speak. No chance I will be able to teach kids while my voice is muffled by the mask. Our school will suggest wearing while travelling in corridors. That's fine for me.

You are absolutely continuing to make assumptions about why people have different opinions to yours user1471530109. I doubt I have an answer for you that would go down well either. But as I said, crack on.

Ok @DeepTreacle, for someone who hasn't actually got to stand in front of 32 16 year old this week, you are being very defensive.

Maybe it is difficult to get across through text. But I'm not actually trying to get your backup. You singled me out first, I was merely replying. We have a difference of opinion (or rather your husband and I do). Leave it.

My objection is to the “teachers who don’t want to wear masks while teaching are young and fit and don’t have contact with anyone vulnerable” rhetoric which I keep seeing on here. There are other reasons beyond the selfishness which is implied. Accusations of selfishness relating to Covid are certainly not minority opinions on Mumsnet.

Yes @Jenasaurus FINALLY!!!

I am perfectly comfortable in a mask. Wouldn’t love it for my EAL pupils. Also pointless if the kids aren’t wearing them.

I'd wear a mask if asked too. I'd actually like to be able to do a risk assessment so that I can ask my 6th formers to wear masks for specific parts of my lessons (and I'd wear one too) so that we can do some practical work with me circulating the classroom. At the moment I have to stay at the front 2m away, which means I can't do practicals as I can't ensure safety or check they are doing things correctly which defeats the point of doing a practical. With a mask I think distancing is 1m+ so I'd be able to be a bit closer for short periods whilst we did the practical.

@Readandwalk can I ask if there was the same debates in Ireland when mandatory masks were announced?

I've heard a few oversees mnetters say that they are wearing masks in schools and not having issues and students have accepted it well etc. But was there this big rush of opinions on it before it started?

OP, I do agree about the voice issue. I am convinced but so far ignoring I am losing my hearing. I do struggle to hear when talking to someone wearing a mask. But I also don't raise my voice to make myself heard since wearing one. Mainly because I am paranoid of passing anything on by doing so! I would assume in teaching, as always, we would adapt to use other resources to help. I will definitely be updating all mine as we go to make sure if we jump back to online learning, that we are ready.

@windyautumn Thank you for the explanation, it was really interesting, and something I’ve heard nothing about even after years of working in a school. I suspect there are many teachers that have no idea about what they should do to look after their voices, especially if teaching in a mask.

I'm a nurse and wear one all day, I also talk all day too. You get used to it. Its tricky talking to elderly who are hard of hearing so I end up shouting most of the time, but this happens without masks. It does sound daunting but you do get used to it quickly.

Haven’t read the whole thread (sorry) but feel absolutely fine about it if that’s what’s needed to keep teachers and older students safe, as they’re the ones most at risk. It wouldn’t be non stop all day - in my case because of outside break duty when masks wouldn’t be needed, it would be maximum 1hr 40 minutes at a time.

Flag this is something we discussed today. I think in practical work, masks would be incredibly helpful to allow these to happen more regularly and more 'as pre-covid'. It's something I will be asking about tomorrow.