Would the schools problem be solved by masks

[notevenat20]

If all secondary school children wore masks all day and we only then sent home people who sat next to them at lunch if they got covid, would that solve most of the covid schools problem?

It's exactly what they do in France.

Erm, my dc's school is educating pretty normally at the moment. Yes, there are a few things that aren't happening as usual, but essentially, both pupils and teachers are getting on with it.

Yes. Strictly in terms of lessons and academic education, DCs schools are functioning perfectly. The science teacher complains they can’t be in the lab as much as he would like but really that’s it.

I can think of at least 6 subjects in my school that are not teaching their subject as they would normally do. That's before kids and staff are off isolating.

This

Both. Unless you are in school with them, you really have no idea.

That just makes no sense to me but I will leave it there. There are some gaps that can’t be crossed :)

I can think of at least 6 subjects in my school that are not teaching their subject as they would normally do.

Could you say what they are?

Yes.Strictly in terms of lessons and academic education, DCs schools are functioning perfectly. The science teacher complains they can’t be in the lab as much as he would like but really that’s it.

What type of school?
A comprehensive with 2/3000 pupils? A primary school with 90? A private school with small classes? A secondary school with 500?

I don’t imagine drama, dance, PE, or music could be taught normally at the moment. Design technology and other practical subjects likewise. Science subjects also - practical experiments must be impacted, especially as they require specialist labs and equipment which can only be used if year groups can break other year group bubbles to gain access to them, as the labs may not be in their bit of the school, so cleaning, washing of equipment, and airing must be carried out, first...

What type of school? A comprehensive with 2/3000 pupils? A primary school with 90? A private school with small classes? A secondary school with 500?

One primary, one secondary. But yes a year was sent home so that clearly wasn’t good. Hence my post :)

Could you say what they are?

PE, science,Technology, Music, art and Drama.

Other than science, some people think the list above can be done away with anyway.
If you don’t believe in a balanced curriculum you might think it’s ok.

A primary could have 90 or 300 pupils
A secondary could have 600 or 3000

If you Google compliance with mask wearing you will.find that 100% compliance is rare. In Germany people seem to be complying with social distancing and hand washing more than mask wearing.
I am not sure why Germany is always seen as a country with high levels of compliance.

Parent of a year 11 child here and yes i want to see schools open full time for as long as possible as my son is expected to sit exams next year, he has lost a lot of time already and a lot to catch up on
He had work during lockdown but struggled out of the classroom and more disruption or being home educated will likely mean he will fail his exams , this will then affect him and future choices for years
We aren't wearing medical grade masks and in asia a lot of mask wearing pre this was for pollution i don't think they have sat in classrooms with masks of for years
Also there are a lot of factors whilst there numbers are not high and masks may be a little way but not exclusively

DCs schools are functioning perfectly.

But yes a year was sent home so that clearly wasn’t good. Hence my post

Which one OP?

@Itsasecret our school seems to be educating normally , luckily we have had no cases as yet ,im sure that will change but also they have online provision for people isolating and my son is getting proper education and all in all i think they are doing amazing in these times. Credit to the teachers and heada

@notevenat20

It’s clear you haven’t stepped foot in one recently. Its almost laughable.

That’s an odd thing to say on at least two fronts. If you mean to say that I have no idea what sort of education my own children are getting or what it’s like for them at school, that’s an odd thing to say. If you mean to say that only a loser parent doesn’t physically walk into their child’s classroom, despite all parents being banned due to covid, well that’s very odd too.

Can you explain your point without sarcasm or insult?

I’d say both.

[quote timeforanewstart]@Itsasecret our school seems to be educating normally , luckily we have had no cases as yet ,im sure that will change but also they have online provision for people isolating and my son is getting proper education and all in all i think they are doing amazing in these times. Credit to the teachers and heada[/quote]
Lucky you. My children have missed weeks of school (in a low incidence area) due to positive cases.

PE, science,Technology, Music, art and Drama

From my DC I have some info on this.

PE seems unaffected although maybe they do more outside.

Science, they use the labs once a week rather than two and I think there are more teacher led demos than usual.

Music lessons seem to as normal. The orchestra is limited to string instruments and they physically arrange them by year.

Art seems to as normal.

Drama lessons are more or less as normal except they won’t do a school play in near future.

Technology, I don’t know.

So yes there are some differences for those subjects but nothing fatal except if you want to perform on stage or play the trumpet.

Typo: to-> to be (or not)

@Itisasecret i did say luckily and my concern always has been how much time will get missed as i don't think any school will go in without cases , the school do seem to be prepared now though with online provision whilst isolating
But im not stupid if my son misses weeks and online only he will really struggle come exam time , which is why im in favour if courseswork
And mini assessments now to be done and used but thats another subject
I was merely pointing out that my sons school is teaching pretty close to normal at the moment whilst kids are at school

You still don’t say what type of secondary school OP.

A private school with small classes is better equipped to continue as normal.
A large comprehensive with classes of 30+ not so much.

A lot of the guidance does seem to pay lip service.

In our school there are separate teaching spaces for each year groups most of the time. Pretty strict but then they do share spaces for art, drama and tech? They all use the same toilets. The one way system does reduce congestion slightly but corridors still crowded. Most staff socially distanced from each other, but smaller friendship groups easily forget!

No positive cases as yet though!

So many inconsistencies:
Children don't spread it - yet they manage to spread the cold viruses easily.
Children don't spread it - yet they could spread it to classmates who the. Get sent home to isolate.
Children can't wear masks for their mental health - yet other countries have their kids wearing them just fine.
We need social distancing in schools - we don't have the space so should be doing blended learning where possible.

Another poster said her child's school have to wear masks and they have the highest number of infections in the area (other schools not having to wear masks)

@notevenat20 - how very dismissive you appear to be of wind instrument playing. And what about singing? And what is normal about drama without any kind of production? How can you truly learn stagecraft without being able to produce a play, operetta, or musical? As for PE - are your children female? Or are they happily colliding into each other, playing rugby? Do your children do any cooking at school?

@BowlerHatPowerHat

So many inconsistencies: Children don't spread it - yet they manage to spread the cold viruses easily. Children don't spread it - yet they could spread it to classmates who the. Get sent home to isolate. Children can't wear masks for their mental health - yet other countries have their kids wearing them just fine. We need social distancing in schools - we don't have the space so should be doing blended learning where possible.

Nicola S, said that Scotland’s R rate was higher because schools and uni’s went back earlier. That tells you enough, along with the huge leap in cases since school when back.

The reality is, schools are adapting learning as they go. Many children are finding it difficult. Staff are covering where they can, due to sickness. There is no social distancing. Children still sneeze over you and forget to wash their hands. Masks would increase transmission because children can’t keep their hands away from their faces. We’ve been lucky with warm weather and been able to ventilate classrooms. Track and trace has given up on education settings now too. Oh and yesterday, I heard of a teacher who was very poorly with Covid for the SECOND time. (Secondary).

The only way schools will give any stability to children is, if the government stop lying. Until schools can socially distance well, it will spread. The classrooms are full and unventilated. Masks will not help. Look at France.

Parents and children will think it’s business as usual because we all have our game faces on and will do anything to keep schools open; the reality is, it’s unsustainable as it is.

@Walkaround

Just so much negative reading. I have no negative feelings towards wind instruments m'lord.