To refuse to wear a face mask

[gindinner]

Outside my daughters primary school as I wait for her after school?
I was asked to wear one today as I stood outside the gate so my daughter in year 6 could see me and leave her teacher.
It's not an enclosed space, not even inside the school gate.
So who is being unreasonable? The school with this ridiculous request, or me?

Thank you to those who actually managed to answer me in a civil manner. The rest of you made no coherent arguement and I received no useful opinions from you. So settle down now.

What argument do you need? The school have asked you to do it, so do it or home school. You asked AIBU and got a resounding yes.

Do you really need someone to explain why the school have asked this? Do you really need someone to explain why the school don't need the hassle of having to nag you at the moment?

@Aesopfable

‘Just do it’ it not reason enough.

This

You.
You are being unreasonable.
It is guidance that the school will have had from the Local Authority and you should comply.

How much effort is it for you to wear one? Really?

Unless you have a very good medical/ptsd reason then you need to get over whatever issue you have and wear one.

Is there any particular reason you can't just pop a mask on to pick up your daughter? Teachers are under a lot of pressure at the moment, coming into contact with kids from lots of different families, and as much as anything else you should want to try to relieve that pressure.

Even if you don't think there's any point in wearing a mask, if it makes everyone feel safer - teachers, parents, pupils - then why won't you just bloody do it?

There has been some discussion that parents congregating outside the school gates is a recognised method of transmission. I’ve been past a few primary schools when the kids are coming out. Most of the parents I see are not making any attempt at social distancing, quite the opposite in fact. This despite the fact that our town has one of the highest Covid case rates in England.

One of the reasons that other places have had to lock down is so schools can stay open. I’m fine with that being the case, but it would be nice if parents would do their bit as well instead of just insisting on their right not to be slightly inconvenienced.

Thank you to those who actually managed to answer me in a civil manner.

Or, to put it another way, thank you to the couple of posters who agreed with me as opposed to getting on for a couple of hundred who didn’t.

DD's nursery have asked us to wear a face covering when dropping off and picking up. I do but some don't

There's also a one way system around the outside of the building, you'd be surprised how many ppl can't follow that as well. Hopefully they don't drive a car

@gindinner

Outside my daughters primary school as I wait for her after school? I was asked to wear one today as I stood outside the gate so my daughter in year 6 could see me and leave her teacher. It's not an enclosed space, not even inside the school gate. So who is being unreasonable? The school with this ridiculous request, or me?

I'm going to add to this.

Maybe the teachers should refuse to teach your child as you are being very unreasonable and putting people at risk. They would be, in my opinion, within their rights as human beings to refuse to deal with people like you and could easily draw the conclusion that you are not taking this seriously, potentially allowing your family to come into contact with the virus and therefore take steps to ensure their own safety.

You'll probably feel that what I've typed above is 'ridiculous' OP
The thing is - it's not.

You need to help protect people who are there to educate your children and are being put in a highly vulnerable position by the governments almost criminal decision to 'not allow' teachers to wear face masks in the classroom.

All you have to do is wear a mask for the school run.

How incredibly selfish and entitled you must be.

We've been asked to as well. We stand on a public street, greater than 2m apart. I think it is lunacy and unscientific to have to wear a mask in this situation but I do it so I won't be abused in the street.

People think masks are the answer to everything. They aren't! Distance is the answer.

My PB for putting on a mask to hyperventilating is 45 seconds. It only takes a few inadequate deep breaths due to the stuffy humidity and there I am overheating, shucking clothes, before yanking the bloody thing off my face and breathing lots of aerosol from deep within my lungs.

So it's better for me and those in the vincinity not to attempt it.

I wear a visor in shops, but that is a stupid gesture for 20 minutes outdoors on a windswept playground when all it will do is fog up and obscure my vision creating a trip hazard. So again, it's safer not to play stupid games for the sake of looking like you're doing something.

This morning, there were 3 of us loitering on the playground between staggered drop-offs. How hazardous!

I had to sign DS1 out immediately for an appointment, go round to the small lobby/ reception. "One person at a time" fair enough. You can't stand 2m apart in there. I'm person #1. I stand back from the hatch as much as is feasible. Despite their masks, there are 2 other sets of people crowded in a space that can only accommodate 1. Masks give a false sense of security. I don't wear one, but I'm much more mindful about space than the people who think they're invincible by covering their airways with some scraps of fabric.

School is aware of DS1's developmental conditions that make him reasonably exempt (plus communicating with him is also reasonable on my part) and they are also aware of DS2's health condition that makes him reasonably exempt. It does not take a leap of imagination to realise that their parent may indeed have issues about it themself.

Anyway masks outside are pointless at best.

But you don’t need to stand there wearing a mask for a couple of hours to pick up your child. How long does it take - 15, 20 minutes? Can you manage a mask for that duration?

It sounds like you only want to hear from people with your own viewpoint. Why bother asking for opinions? Most people think you’re unreasonable. Not wearing a mask simply says ‘I don’t care about you all, my comfort comes first’.

BogRollBOGOF i think it's right that you should make up and implement your own rules based on your own expertise and research into the subject.

I know someone who feels the same about speeding and drunk driving. He drives better when a bit drunk you see so it only makes sense that he should ignore what anyone else says and decide for himself.

Everyone should decide for themselves what rules and laws they obey. That's human rights that is.

Wear a mask as you’ve been told to do. If you can’t then let your child walk home alone. If that worries you maybe meet your daughter half way home?

All primary’s are asking parents to do this as per govt guidelines. With us GPS and parents in caring professions have been wearing them since term started.

@gindinner

Outside my daughters primary school as I wait for her after school? I was asked to wear one today as I stood outside the gate so my daughter in year 6 could see me and leave her teacher. It's not an enclosed space, not even inside the school gate. So who is being unreasonable? The school with this ridiculous request, or me?

You. You're the one being unreasonable. Assuming you don't have a reason to not wear one (and just read your posts, doesn't seem like you're exempt unless I've missed something) Why wouldn't you wear one outside the school gates? It's not all about you. I say this as someone not vulnerable and goes out and about myself

You.

You could ask the school to show you the evidence that wearing a mask at school drop off will reduce transmission.

I mean, you'll be waiting for a long time to see it, but you could ask.

In the meantime, most people will go ahead with the nonsensical guidance because Covid...

I'm so glad my kids are no longer at school.

All primary’s are asking parents to do this as per govt guidelines.

Government guidelines only talk about on school premises. This thread is full of people going beyond what the government has determined to be necessary or desirable.

YANBU. The law does not require you to cover your face on the street. 2m distancing is significantly more effective than 1m+ with mask and I don't think anyone has ever disputed that. If you're 2m distant, outside, you're preventing transmission perfectly effectively.

YANBU. The law does not require you to cover your face on the street.

OK, fair enough, not needed for random street standing.
Have you ever stood at the school gates at hometime though?
They're usually pretty crowded so can see why needed

The school

YANBU. The law does not require you to cover your face on the street.

Nothing to do with the law, its about the school's request for how to handle pick up. Don't want to do what they ask for, fine- but don't send the poor fuckers your kid.

i think it's right that you should make up and implement your own rules based on your own expertise and research into the subject. I know someone who feels the same about speeding and drunk driving. He drives better when a bit drunk you see so it only makes sense that he should ignore what anyone else says and decide for himself. Everyone should decide for themselves what rules and laws they obey. That's human rights that is.

You could ask the school to show you the evidence that wearing a mask at school drop off will reduce transmission. I mean, you'll be waiting for a long time to see it, but you could ask. In the meantime, most people will go ahead with the nonsensical guidance because Covid...

I think one of these is sarcasm and the other is stupidity but how the fuck is one supposed to tell the difference anymore?

It's all sarcasm.

It's all sarcasm.

That would be lovely.

@Laurendelight

Wear a mask as you’ve been told to do. If you can’t then let your child walk home alone. If that worries you maybe meet your daughter half way home?

All primary’s are asking parents to do this as per govt guidelines. With us GPS and parents in caring professions have been wearing them since term started.

I wish all primaries had this rule in place to protect those around them. At my school parents don’t even have to wear masks inside the school office and staff aren’t allowed masks either at collection time. It’s all down to the head teacher’s discretion.

I would find it reassuring that people wear masks at collection time alongside proper social distancing. We need to work as a whole school community to help keep each other safe.