To be annoyed that school requests parents wear a mask.

[j101112]

School have requested parents a mask on drop offs and pick ups. I’m not anti mask and I will wear one but I’m annoyed.

It’s a rural school. With less than 100 children. Majority of children aged year 4 and up walk to school on their own or at very least walk into the school grounds on their own. I barely see anyone dropping Ds (10) off. Maybe 1 other parent from a distance. Don’t come into close contact with teachers as it’s all done outside anyway.

They also have staggered times. So people going in and out different times and one way system.

With Dd who’s younger I see the parents of the children in her bubble but we all social distance.

Barely come into contact with anyone.

School are saying it’s because parents often talk but what do they do expect us to not talk to each other? What’s the issue with people talking whilst social distancing?! I’d understand if parents were standing in groups but it’s not like that here. Most parents are rushing off to work and too busy to talk. Others drop their kids and walk off quick like me 🤣

But being made to wear masks in a huge outdoor open space with plenty of room to distance? Really necessary? Lots of open space around the school! I just don’t really understand!

I don’t come into close contact with anyone during the school run!

Yeah, I clearly said I am near at least five other parents while I wait for my DC to leave their classroom- usually more than five. Primary schools are small buildings that tend to have narrow pavements leading to and from them. It’s not always possible to practice social distancing.

Anyway, not sure why it’s worth an argument really. It’s a few minutes of your life so just put the mask on.

@Noitjustwontdo

Yeah, I clearly said I am near at least five other parents while I wait for my DC to leave their classroom- usually more than five. Primary schools are small buildings that tend to have narrow pavements leading to and from them. It’s not always possible to practice social distancing.

Anyway, not sure why it’s worth an argument really. It’s a few minutes of your life so just put the mask on.

Op has said she's not near anyone.... Which is why I asked who's advised you need to wear them in fresh air not near anyone.... Nobodies answered yet.

@PolloDePrimavera

They're ultimately minimising the risk and reducing the chances of a child getting it, therefore causing disruption in their education. Not to mention protecting staff, other parents etc . Same at our school and I don't think a single parent has complained.

Can I ask how they're reducing a child getting in when children live in homes with parents who are not continuously masked?

This explains why you should

www.facebook.com/DoghouseBlog/videos/810733649679174/

It's a pain I agree and our school have said that PHE guidance is that outdoor transmission risks are minimal but they want us to wear them so that others who feel anxious might be able to cope better. I take mine in my pocket and remove and soon as I'm off the premises.

About time. The school I drop off to has pathways that mean going within 30 cm of someone let alone a meter. The playground gets congested and it’s hard to stand 2 ms from everyone. Don’t forgot some people picking up may be in the vulnerable list. We can’t all
Just avoid schools. It’s probably 10 to 20 minutes of your day. Think of the poor health staff wearing PPE for 12 hour shifts.
You sound very selfish and entitled to be honest .

Teachers and parents all wear masks at pick up/drop off. We are a single form entry primary with staggered start and finish times, and we do not go on school grounds currently. It means that parents can have a conversation with the teacher if needed. Groups of parents do also talk to each other so I can understand the reasoning.

The requirement has come from our local council and is a requirement for all schools. I have forgotten my mask once or twice and I have kept back and out of the way of anyone. School have not said anything however I felt uncomfortable.

The government and, consequently, your LEA can't give separate rules for people who have children, who live in a rural area and whose children attend a tiny school.
They make a set of rules that they expect everyone to follow.
Your Headteacher is following the government's and the LEA's guidelines.

I'm sure that it might seem pointless in your circumstance but it's no one's fault.

Just wear the mask for the ten seconds that it takes your child to walk in to school.

OP's said she's not near anyone
And yet, OP has also said she talks to another parent. I am willing to bet they are not as far apart when they do this as they imagine. And presumably there are other parents who do stand close together while chatting. The rule is for the whole school, they didn't make it just to annoy one parent.

You are being asked to wear a mask ,not sell a kidney.

Our school have just asked us to do this to and I'm so glad. Rural school just under 100 children.

In case you somehow missed this.
Now imagine you're the teacher at the end of a school day who might be approached by several parents - surely you can understand that it's better if they're masked as well as socially distancing, whether inside or out.

@loulouljh

IT is a safeguarding issue. Can you not see that? How many times have you walked past people and not recognized them! So how is a teacher supposed to match the child with the parent especially as we are so near to the beginning of the term and teachers won't know parents that well! It would be very easy for someone else to take your child.

Scientists are not advising this. Yes of course there no doubt is someone somewhere saying if you wear a mask outside at school pick up it will lower the risk. , But really. Outside. The risk of transmission is negligible otherwise unlimited time outside would not be allowed during this lockdown.

The request (and it is merely that) to wear masks outside at pick up is purely to schools look as if they are doing something and to appease the paranoid parents (who are here in their droves). That it is.

Easily...we've seen the parents every day for the last 8 weeks. It isn't difficult to recognise them with a small piece of fabric covering their mouths and noses.

How many times have you walked past people and not recognized them

Because they're wearing a mask? Never

I would be careful about thinking you will have no cases because you are rural. I live in a rural area and work in a rural area .Our village has cases as do my DC's secondary. I am medically excempt due to asthma but I wear a mask to work and out .I don't want it and yes I appreciate a mask wouldn't stop it but it but I rather keep myself and my family and even strangers at less risk.

I’m aware it’s not difficult but when I barely see anyone and keep myself to myself.

So the rules don't to apply to you? How can you keep yourself to yourself when you have a school age child, spending all day with loads of other kids and teachers, who all also spend their time with other people..? Why are some people not getting this yet?? Just wear the mask, eh? Not a big deal for you in the great scheme of things, and hugely reassuring for those of us who are able to see the bigger picture.

I would prefer to wear a mask, even on a fairly empty path outside, for the simple reason that someone may have coughed or sneezed ahead of me. I don't want to walk into their remaining potential Covid cloud.
We have constant problems with parents who defy the request and their children are obviously uncomfortable with the fact that their parents aren't conforming. Do you want to bring your child up to think that they don't need to follow rules or can abdicate their social responsibility?
Just wear the mask...do your bit to keep your area at a low infection rate and by doing so, you will also be showing some respect to the staff inside the building who can't wear them, whilst being in contact with 30 children, some of whom may be positive and asymptomatic.

Covid cloud omg

Ugh. Threads like this are getting tedious now.

You've been asked to wear a mask whilst picking up from school.

Wear one.
Potentially protect others from what could be your asymptomatic self.
Don't be an arse.
Don't be an arse

I got a very similar email from DDs school today. I have no issue whatsoever in wearing one. YABVVU

I expected you to say you don't chat to other parents but the fact that you do- I just find it so surprising that you have a problem with it. Not everyone social distanced correctly, it just takes the other person taking a step closer, as for numbers, we found out there was a case by a kid telling another his aunt had covid and so had his friend. A bit of investigation and it turns out a little boy who they thought was out sick for something else was isolating as people in his family have it.
By the way as for the do people expect us not to chat thing? If more people didn't stop for chats and only see enter where necessary the world might be in a better state. And I didnt rtft

Just put the friggin mask on and be grateful it’s not a ventilator !!!!!

@Justgorgeous

Just put the friggin mask on and be grateful it’s not a ventilator !!!!!

Yawn.

I'm with you op it's a stupid request and one they really shouldn't be making. You are outdoors, in a rural space - the chance of you passing it on with the minute chance you might have it in the first place is so low as to be NONE.

Some requests are reasonable - this really isn't.

And I wanted a vote. You are being unreasonable in thinking it’s a problem. You don’t know that someone amongst staff, pupils, other parents isn’t extra-vulnerable and you shouldn’t need to know as it’s not your business. In fact we should all be behaving as if the person next to us, whether we know their medical details or not, is potentially extra vulnerable. In a school that size there’s no way you’d know everyone’s business I hope. Just wear it with good grace and let us all get on with our lives.