Childs School insisting on face masks in lessons

[GrapefruitsAreNotTheOnlyFruit]

My son's school are now insisting face masks are worn at all times indoors except when eating. It's secondary age group. I think this is going to impact on learning but I don't know what if anything I can do about it. I don't know how effective it will be either. If they are supposed to wear them for hours I think they will be fiddling with them, taking them on and off etc. What do people think?

Good. They should be wearing them.

Where do you live?

I wish it was compulsory in all schools, for the staff and children. Where else can you go in large groups with no distancing without one? If they are needed elsewhere they are needed in schools.

Oh that's ridiculous. I have to wear one at school at all times and I fiddle with it non stop. I cannot imagine it will improve children's learning.

Also aren't they quite pointless? If face coverings were working surely infections wouldn't be going up

@GrapefruitsAreNotTheOnlyFruit

My son's school are now insisting face masks are worn at all times indoors except when eating. It's secondary age group. I think this is going to impact on learning but I don't know what if anything I can do about it. I don't know how effective it will be either. If they are supposed to wear them for hours I think they will be fiddling with them, taking them on and off etc. What do people think?

Ask to see their risk assessment and reasoning behind the implementation.

I think that's an excellent idea and I hope it becomes common practice

My kids secondary school (they're 15 and 12) insisted on face masks and provided them with a washable one from their first day back in September. They got used to them very quickly and I haven't heard a complaint about it from after the first week. I can't see how it has and they haven't mentioned it adversely affecting their learning, no more than other adjustments such as not moving classrooms, no practical work etc. Staff and pupils wear masks.

I live in Spain where they're compulsory from year one upwards (lessons, playground, everywhere) and at first I was really concerned for ds but I now things they're working an an effective way to stop or at least slow transmission of covid in schools. At the moment I'm in favour of anything that will keep schools open!

There was a case in ds' class and although they had to close the bubble, the whole class had to be tested and not one other kid had caught it.

That's standard in secondary schools in Ireland and many other countries. It makes sense.

I wear one at work all day. Still manage to work.

I’m Dubai, my 10 and 6 year old have been wearing them without issue for months. They should be wearing them. They may have fiddles at first but now they just forget about them. A total non issue (plus their day is long - 7.30 - 3.00).

Excellent. Should happen in all schools.

How will it impact on learning?

I think it's a good idea.

*In Dubai

I don’t think I’ve ever managed a full post on here without an typo

An typo. Ffs!

Excellent - so they should.

Good for the school. I honestly feel it will be mandatory in all schools after half term

Good. At least more likely to be in than sat at home after theyve caught ANOTHER cough!

I'm not keen on kids having to wear them all day - 9-3ish is a long time, the longest I've gone was about 2 hours in the hairdressers when I had my highlights done.

BUT I think with the increase in cases, it's good if kids can wear them all day if possible, and it may also help decrease colds etc, which are probably leading to a lot of what turn out to be unnecessary tests.

So although I've posted quite a few times on here against mask-wearing in class, I think I've changed my mind - keeping schools open is crucial. DS' college says they have to wear them in the communal areas and on college buses but not during lessons (yet).

Doesn't it impact on communication? I mean often in shops I find misunderstandings happening where people are having to repeat themselves, raise their voices to be understood etc. I can't imagine a French lesson.

And how effective are cloth masks anyway? Any teachers doing it in the UK? Wondering what your experiences are.

What age, where in the country (or approx rates per 100,000 if you don't want to say), any specifically vulnerable children/ parents/ teachers linked to the class, and are they allowing legitimate exemptions?

Over 16 anywhere, NE/NW over 14 and allowing exemptions - and if I were you I'd say thank you very much to the school for trying to appropriately protect the children and teachers. 11 yo in Cornwall and I'd think it's disproportionate to wear masks during lessons (corridors though, yes), I would still tell the kids to get on with it though if it provides reassurance needed for teachers, vulnerable parents and vulnerable students.

Long overdue. If this had been brought in months ago we might not be where we are now.

My East Asian students started wearing masks in late Feb before we locked down - I rolled my eyes and thought it was pointless at the time but looking at where Japan, Korea, China are now, they were right.

Oh these comments make me despair 😩 can’t these poor children be allowed some sort of normality.

Again, good. Wish ours did too.

We are in South Africa, masks have been compulsary in school here at all times except when eating and they do that outside since they went back a couple of months ago. My boys are 9 and 6 and I was very worried about how they would cope, they have adapted so well, I have to remind them they can take them off when they get home. It really hasn't affected learning at all. The teachers can wear face shields when they are at the front of the class and 2 m away from the kids to make communication easier. There are no bubbles here, the children have to socially distance to 1.5m at all times. It isn't always easy but they really have adapted to it. Our infection rate here is lower at the moment but we haven't had any cases at the school. If these are the measures it takes to allow them to be in school I think it is worth it, they are so much happier to have the routine and contact with friends. (It has done wonders for my productivity and patience as well)!