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Original poster

To want to pull my child out of school

62 replies

XRockinrobynx · 02/10/2020 15:08

Five year old

Case of covid in a bubble at her school. Bubbles shut.

Panicky email from head that from Monday parents have got to wear masks for drop of and pick up.

Hate wearing them. I've got anxiety that I've only just started to recover from. Taking babysteps and wearing them in the shop occasionally.

This rule will be staying in place now and I think it's awful that the kids will be greeted by masks. Starting to wonder about home education. It's obviously dangerous to have the schools open. One case and they are demanding masks in the open air.

I know alot of people think masks will help. But I think they are only needed in enclosed spaces and risky places. Outside is ridiculous and should be optional.

OP posts:

Tiredmum100 · 02/10/2020 19:22

We've been wearing masks for drop off and pick up in Wales for 2 weeks now. To be honest I don't think its a bug deal, I've found it fine, but then I'm a nurse who wears a mask in work so I'm getting use to it now.

lucy2204 · 02/10/2020 19:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LIZS · 02/10/2020 19:26

Masks are already very normal in many settings. You are projecting your anxiety into your child's potential reaction and the homeschool idea is a kneejerk reaction. You need to think it through calmly and logically, perhaps with a therapist if you can access cbt online.

duckme · 02/10/2020 19:27

Our local authority sent a blanket message to all schools in our area that they strongly suggest parents wear masks at drop of and collection.
It could be that your school received a similar message and it happened to coincide with the positive case.

YorkshireIndie · 02/10/2020 19:27

I have to wear a mask to pick up LO from nursery. I know they are a pain but we all have got to do our bit

OhCaptain · 02/10/2020 19:29

You’re being ridiculous.

Parker231 · 02/10/2020 19:30

Wearing a mask for a short period of time is a small price to pay to keep the schools open. My friends in the US have to have the DC’s in masks all of the school day from kindergarten upwards.

AldiAisleofCrap · 02/10/2020 19:30

But I think they are only needed in enclosed spaces and risky places. @XRockinrobynx
It’s a good job you aren’t the person making the decisions then.

ellieboulou33 · 02/10/2020 19:49

I'm anti masks but I ware one as although I suffer from anxiety it's not bad enough to warrant me being exempt. I can't stand the bloody things but....

DD's school sent an email this week asking parents to ware masks at drop & pick up, fine by me, if it keeps the schools open and staff / other parents feeling more safe then I'll do it. Lots of parents ranting on the class what's app saying they won't because it's ridiculous. I'll wear my birthday suit if it keeps schools open!

OhCaptain · 02/10/2020 19:50

“Anti-mask”.

There aren’t enough eye-rolls in the world...

lockeddownandcrazy · 02/10/2020 19:51

Get a grip - pulling your child out of school is a serious over reacttion. Get on with it, put your mask on an be a good role model to your child

Bunkumum · 02/10/2020 19:54

Describe a ‘panicky’ email from the head...new schools guidance recommends masks from Monday in lots of LEAs. Are you sure it wasn’t just a bog standard can everyone please wear masks from Monday on school grounds i.e not panicky at all.

PeaceAndHarmoneeee · 02/10/2020 19:56

Our local authority had told all schools that masks must be worn on drop off/ pick up, only 1 person can accompany kids in playground, 2m from others at all times and to collect and leave immediately.

Everyone seems to be complying, I'm doing whatever is asked tbh as it's important for us that DC are able to stay in school and that school are reassured we are complying (whether the rules make any difference or not!)

Ojj37 · 02/10/2020 20:00

Ever been doing it and the kids don’t seem to remotely care.

fishfingersandtrashtv · 02/10/2020 20:10

For whose benefit would you be pulling your child out of school?
It sounds like you are upset with the school.
Raise it with them, have your voice heard. Don't wear the mask if it causes you anxiety and explain why.
But your child also has a voice that needs to be heard and it is likely in her best interests to remain in school

Meredusoleil · 02/10/2020 20:16

Don't wear a mask if you really can't (I hate them too), but could you at least try to wear a face shield or visor instead? I'm sure as long as its a face COVERING of dim sort, that would be fine with the school? As I'm pretty sure that's what the law and guidance says, rather than specifically a face MASK.

pooopypants · 02/10/2020 20:16

Your upset is based on you - not your child's. You're unhappy because they won't see 'a smiling face'? I'd rather my DC my masked face than my coffin face, thanks.

I've been wearing masks at drop-off and pick-up since schools went back, it's literally 5 mins at each end of the day. Parents at our school are shit at SD so the least I can do is wear a mask to try and minimise any risk.

If your anxiety is so bad that you can't bear less than 10 mins per day, in 2 separate bouts, you need to seek help. I assume you don't wear a mask in the supermarket, etc?

What makes my teeth itch is people that happily chirp up with "I have X, Y, Z so I'm exempt" instead of finding a way to help themselves. No, not all conditions are reasons for being exempt can be 'fixed' and I appreciate that, this however is one that could be helped. Instead, you'd rather take your child out of their educational environment and away from their peers.

BunsyGirl · 02/10/2020 22:30

We have been required to wear masks for drop off and pick up since my DCs first went back in June. They also had to wear them, but this changed when they went back in September and only year 7 upwards have to wear masks now. None of the kids seem fussed about them.

PinotLovesMomma · 02/10/2020 22:37

Just wear the mask its literally a few minutes twice a day, and of it helps only slightly making the school environment a tiny bit safer then its all the better. We've been wearing masks at my dc school for a few weeks now, honestly the dc haven't questioned queried or been upset by it once.

Aragog · 03/10/2020 08:26

I work in an infant school and within the first week it became obvious that our playground simply isn't large enough to let everyone SD by 2m. We have some clinically vulnerable staff and parents and we want to help protect everyone.

So we asked parents and Carers, plus staff, to wear masks at pick up and drop off. We are now 3-4 weeks in and almost everyone adult wears a mask at these times. It's an incredibly small minority who don't.

The children haven't been even remotely bothered by it. I wear a mask at other times during the day as I cross bubbles. I had some printed specifically for school use in bright colours, with school logo and school related images. The children aren't upset by them at all and like to see which one I've got when they see me.

We've also played 'guess the emotion' game with masks - can they guess if I'm happy, sad, cross etc. It really doesn't appear to bother any of them.

Oh and they almost always can guess the 'right' emotion / as the children tell me, it's in the eyes.

NailsNeedDoing · 03/10/2020 08:31

I agree with you that children shouldn’t have to see masked faces all the time at school, but the sight of them shouldn’t worry children by now, they’re everywhere.

If you’re serious about home education then you need to start researching how you can make that work, but if your child doesn’t have a particular need to be educated at home then it’s only something you should do if you’re passionate about it and dedicated to it. Not wanting to wear a mask for a few minutes each day is not a reason to deny your child their education at school.

OpheliasCrayon · 03/10/2020 08:40

@pooopypants

Your upset is based on you - not your child's. You're unhappy because they won't see 'a smiling face'? I'd rather my DC my masked face than my coffin face, thanks.

If your anxiety is so bad that you can't bear less than 10 mins per day, in 2 separate bouts, you need to seek help. I assume you don't wear a mask in the supermarket, etc?

I agree with what you say about people very easily saying they're exempt. There are 100% reasons for people to be but to be honest they're few and far between. I'm disabled, visibly and some 'invisible" ones so I'm not being "ableist" and I have friends who are very dear to me who genuinely cannot manage it. But on the whole you can wear one. I have medical reasons why I would be exempt and no one would question it but, I just get on with it. I wear one in shops and for a full day at work as it's required in one place I work. I just got used to it. Yes the medical issues I have dont make it easy at times but you just put up and get on. I'm not saying I'm better than anyone else here I'm just saying you deal with if if you can and for goodness sakes... Ten minutes for drop off and pick up .... Get one of those buff things pull it up round your face...wrap a scarf around your face as it's getting pretty chilly but really....I think you just need to crack on with life.

Parker231 · 03/10/2020 08:41

Why would a child seeing someone wearing a mask be frightening? Next door neighbours DS is six and loves his masks - dinosaurs and spots different colours and patterns on masks.

ravensoaponarope · 03/10/2020 08:51

Why do people always say, if you're that bloody anxious , go and see a doctor? There is no reason to think the OP hasn't done this. Doctors aren't miracle workers. Not all anxiety is easily "cured".

IncidentsandAccidents · 03/10/2020 09:16

I'm sorry you're feeling so anxious about this, OP, but it's unfair to project this anxiety on to your 5 year old. I really don't think it will be a big deal for your child to see you in a mask a couple of times a day but it would be a huge deal to pull them out of school. This is now common practice, it isn't a panicky response by your school.

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