Being forced to wear a mask in exams

[whodoesntlovejelly]

So I've received an email from Dd's (age 15) school stating that during mock examinations-due to start on Monday it will be mandatory for all students to wear masks for the whole of every exam. Is it just me that thinks this will be absolutely awful for them??

I'm surprised that y11 mocks aren't held in the school hall where presumably the space between desks would be considered socially distant (or am I remembering exam halls incorrectly?) Therefore I would expect no masks until it's time to leave the room.

Your expectations would be dashed if you worked where I work. Two metre distancing and masks required for staff and students at all times when indoors.

Awful just means unpleasant, bad or to emphasise negativity

It does not mean “ the worst possible thing....”

The minimum distance in all directions from the centre of one student's chair to the centre of another's must be 1.25 metres

Found it

You know your dc will be heavily influenced by you don’t you? If you’re making it into a big deal (which it really isn’t) it will be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Why add another layer of stress to the exams?

If you want to actually be proactive then get them practising wearing it at home for an hour or so at a time. I wear one all day at work (eight hours) and apart from sweat face it’s absolutely fine.

Teach your child some resilience.

& I absolutely do agree that it's inconvenient, unpleasant & an all round pain in the arse.

I've got several very nice, otherwise, students who are constantly being written up for behaviour points because they just can't seem to remember to stop pushing the mask down to their chins.

Persistent offenders are given a day of distance learning - we have quite a few DLing students anyway, as it's an international school, so work is routinely posted online. If they can't comply, they need to not be on campus.

As a country we are doing a heck of a lot better than the U.K. in terms of deaths. A majority of the teaching staff are from the U.K., & we are horrified at how the U.K. government is expecting teachers to put themselves at risk on a daily basis - we have far safer working practices as routine.

Exams are an absolute no brainer. Running them without masks is bonkers.

If I were a parent of a child in the U.K. & objected to their being asked to wear a mask for mocks, I'd be arguing for them to complete the papers at home. Not to sit in an exam hall sans mask.

Obviously it'd be a much less effective learning experience, but at least it wouldn't endanger others.

Not awful at all. I wear one for 12 hours a day. You get used to it.

Awful just means unpleasant, bad or to emphasise negativity

It does not mean “ the worst possible thing....”

Look up Absolutely awful

How on earth do people lean over and write in a mask ?

I manage to write my notes after 11 hours in one, dealing with people, as well as wearing it while I do.

Or you could always do your emails at home before you leave. Without a mask. I don't have that option. Yes it's a bit uncomfortable, but makes me no more uncomfortable than the thought of infecting a unit with Covid, co workers included.

I think my DD would have liked the opportunity to sit her exams full stop, mask or not tbh. She lost the opportunity to do a subject she wanted because she had to use her projected grades rather than exam results. Likely to affect her far past this. But it is what it is and though she realises it's not fair, she knows it's still her responsibility to work a way round that.

Medical exemptions aside (where other measures need to be put in place) there's no reason why it needs to be awful, and you making a fuss about it will teach your DD that making a fuss is the way to deal with things in our lives we don't want to do, rather than problem solving and accepting responsibility where we need to for some things.

Completely and utterly unpleasant 😳

Reading comments here and views range from awful through unpleasant, an inconvenience to don't even notice wearing a mask.

These feelings reflected in the children forced to wear a mask during an exam would put some children at a serious disadvantage and benefit others. This would impact negatively on the attainment of some children and positively for others.

@whodoesntlovejelly

So I've received an email from Dd's (age 15) school stating that during mock examinations-due to start on Monday it will be mandatory for all students to wear masks for the whole of every exam. Is it just me that thinks this will be absolutely awful for them??

It's good practice for the final exams if they take place.

The invigilators will be wearing masks as well.

Yes, there is a minimum distance between students, but it is inherently a communal area, as it has multiple people in it. Not every school has large enough spaces to accommodate nearly every single student in a cohort to be in there at once. And there will be other rooms for students who need special arrangements, which tend to be much smaller. If they require an amanuensis or reader, that necessitates very close contact. If a student becomes ill, that necessitates close contact, as does a simple toilet break.

Adults taking examinations in test centres already have to wear masks, as do the staff (exempt people don't, obviously). They seem to be fine, as well.

@whodoesntlovejelly

So I've received an email from Dd's (age 15) school stating that during mock examinations-due to start on Monday it will be mandatory for all students to wear masks for the whole of every exam. Is it just me that thinks this will be absolutely awful for them??

Students have managed it in Japan for years so where’s the problem?

I'd be pleased because it would show me that child's school are taking sensible precautions to prevent the spread of Covid. It won't hurt them at all. At the moment plenty of people are working all day in face masks. My adult son does. My son's school wear face masks every day in lessons except outdoors PE. I don't see a problem.

My kids have to wear masks all day at school. They seem ok with it. I can’t wear one for more than 1/2 hour so don’t go anywhere where I have to!

This attitude is why COVID is out of control in the UK. Students here are wearing masks all day in high school and certainly for exams.

I haven’t heard any complaints - children seem to be less stressed overall now our country is virtually COvID free. Maybe if your schools shut again (like ours did for a second time) you will appreciate that masks are what will help to keep them open.

It's absolutely doable and I'd have no sympathy for a parent/child who whinged about these (aside from issues like disabilities). Suck it up, buttercup. No it's not ideal - a lot about the world right now isn't ideal - but plenty of children around the world are wearing masks all day in school.

@caringcarer I agree, it shows the school is prioritising a student health and ‘doing the right thing’.

@Bobtheshark I am still surprised that mine don’t complain about it. I think they just do it as the school says to do it and mask wearing is mandatory for all 12 years in public anyway here. Weirdly they never forget to take it either (school has disposables if they do).

I actually hate masks myself and find them stifling but I persevere.

And I love that our community is back to normal and the inconvenience of a mask is worth it for that.

All over* 12 years