Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Face masks for Secondary Pupils in classrooms

510 replies

FatPatty · 22/02/2021 15:35

I can’t see this being reported anywhere but the Daily Fail are reporting masks to be worn in Secondary schools for first few weeks back.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9287275/Secondary-school-pupils-wear-face-masks-lessons-weeks-school-return-March-8.html

OP posts:
Thread gallery
11
StarlightandSunlight · 23/02/2021 01:26

@noblegiraffe It's moved on from spontaneous legionnaires that all mask wearers were apparently going to die from then.

TaxTheRatFarms · 23/02/2021 01:28

I can happily say that dh has been known to spend all day in the same mask as a kid, (he grew up in a country where masks are an everyday thing) and still to this day sleeps in a mask if he has a sore throat (because his gran said that would cure it) and still hasn’t succumbed to any kind of bacterial lung infection. I asked him if said bacterial lung infections due to masks was a problem in his country and he said “wtf no, is that some English joke?”

We’ll also note for the record: doctors, nurses, dentists - all somehow miraculously alive.

verybadhairdoo · 23/02/2021 01:29

I know it's necessary, but not great for my DS...as a hearing aid user this will make him feel very isolated, as he relies on lip reading and facial expressions. Clear face masks may help with that but just potentially means the mask will push any aresols straight down...on to his radio aid receiver that the speaker will have around their necks. Not sure o see a solution for him.

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 23/02/2021 01:34

@verybadhairdoo

I know it's necessary, but not great for my DS...as a hearing aid user this will make him feel very isolated, as he relies on lip reading and facial expressions. Clear face masks may help with that but just potentially means the mask will push any aresols straight down...on to his radio aid receiver that the speaker will have around their necks. Not sure o see a solution for him.
Hopefully the school will try and come up with some ideas to help. If not they may say he is except.

Hopefully the mask wearing will only be needed for until we get case numbers lower or all adults vaccinated.

Pissedoff1234 · 23/02/2021 02:09

I support this and think it's a good idea but DS whose in mainstream secondary has SEN with an EHCP plan. He will be fine wearing one and I want him to wear one for safety and so he isn't different to his friends but sometimes he garbles and you can't understand what he's trying to say. Makes it so much harder with masks. I'm sure they'd say he could be exempt but I don't really want him to and neither will he but think it will be trickier.

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 23/02/2021 03:06

@Hcolhcsra

Our school is ignoring it, as yet again its only a recommendation. We never enforced masks in communal areas either. Why can't they make it mandatory?
This time it is mandatory in all areas of secondary school. In higher education or university it is only guidance
Evvyjb · 23/02/2021 05:49

This feels like talking to a toddler (or y10 on a Friday) doesn't it?

"You have two choices. In school with a mask, or no school"
"But I want IN SCHOOL and NO MASK!!"
"That isn't an option. So the choices are...."
"But it's NOT FAIR! I DON'T WANT TO!"
"OK, let's try this again. In school and"
"Child abuse! Taken leave of your senses! Filthy masks in pockets! BACTERIAL LUNG INFECTIONS!!!"

eeyore228 · 23/02/2021 05:57

I think masks were dependent on infection rates in each area. We had high rates so my DD has been wearing masks since she started secondary school in September.

mynameisnotmichaelcaine · 23/02/2021 06:50

@DenisetheMenace

mynameisnotmichaelcaine

I teach English. Quite a few kids that I teach have been wearing masks in the classroom since September, and I can't hear a word they are saying. I am really, really going to struggle with this“

Do you have a hearing impairment? If so, sympathies, that must be very difficult.

Otherwise, not sure why you can’t hear a word they’re saying? Had a lovely dusk walk in the woods today with our 18 year old, both wearing masks and speaking at normal volumes, we enjoyed a really nice conversation.

I don't have a diagnosed hearing impairment, but I do have MS which can have an impact on hearing. Either way though, I don't know why you think I'm lying? I genuinely can't hear them. I don't quite know what I'm going to do. Before Christmas I just got the kids without masks on to repeat what the mask wearers had said to me.
pinkhappy · 23/02/2021 07:12

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

TenaciousOnePointOne · 23/02/2021 07:27

@noblegiraffe

It's weird that the same people who tend to get all shirty when it's suggested that kids might spread covid, because it implies they're 'germy disease vectors' or whatever are now making heavy use of an argument that kids are filthy and disgusting and can't be relied on to have a clean mask.
One is true, plus I'm not sure children always think logically and can act instinctively. I'm sure one MNer said her DC came home with someone else's mask.

The issue is that children need to be coached on proper mask use, DC is under 10 yet still knows that he needs a new mask once he's removed the old one and carries his own hand sanitiser (he's better than me at ensuring he has hand sanitiser). However, lots of the mums on the school run (before Christmas) wear the same mask (disposable and cloth) for the entire week and are shocked I have more than one and wash them after wearing them.

cheninblanc · 23/02/2021 07:35

I think this should have been done months ago, at the very least during the November term when we were on another lock down. I've ordered new ones for my daughters so they'll have plenty, they are 17 and 14 and will comply as they understand. I'm pleased, I've been vaccinated but if it protects them and my husband then that's good

SpringisSpinning · 23/02/2021 07:37

Totally agree on mask coaching, but why have general virus comms been so poor?
Nothing about how it spreads, one small part of one poor advert showed green breath..

Why not simple cartoon style ads, pushing ventilation, mask etticute etc.

I'm very happy with masks, yes the risk of dc touching, mis handling is there.. However, wearing a mask will still slow down the release of particles. Re poster with sons radio aid, whoever is handling that I'm sure is dousing their hands with gel before and after touching it and your son could do the same

SakuraEdenSwan1 · 23/02/2021 07:43

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Hcolhcsra · 23/02/2021 07:45

@Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum if you go to gov.uk you'll see it is not mandatory. The exact wording uses the word 'recommended', our head says this means kids don't have to wear them and she's already told staff they shouldn't as they're all 2m away from the kids (we aren't as it would involve standing in one spot with our backs against the far wall all lesson). Some kids will wear them and I'm sure one or two staff will insist but will be committing career suicide in doing so 😔

echt · 23/02/2021 07:52

@SakuraEdenSwan1

Face masks do not stop Covid, they can cause Hypoxia and quite frankly its barbaric muzzling our children when no peer reviewed evidence has ever shown they are effective in stopping transmission of Covid, it's simply there to try appease the masses.
😷
Nellodee · 23/02/2021 07:57

Barbaric, muzzling, fetish, hypoxia... anyone got any more words for the us4twats bingo card? When you get house, one of their heads actually explodes.

Does it make me a bad person that I’m enjoying watching them become apoplectic over this?

Probably does, to be fair.

Ploughingthrough · 23/02/2021 08:00

Muzzling 😂😂 super ott.
I've said this before on here but I teach in Asia and all the kids from 4 upwards have worn masks to school every day. Most wear washable, if we notice a child has a dirty mask we give them a spare disposable that are kept in the office.
In all that time there has been not one case of hypoxia in the entire country and every child has continued learning just fine.

Nith · 23/02/2021 08:03

The hypoxia suggestion is such nonsense. To read what some people say about it, you'd expect to see fainting all over supermarkets and on long train journeys. Strangely, I haven't seen one person with a mask fainting.

seasidefishwife · 23/02/2021 08:06

@SakuraEdenSwan1

Face masks do not stop Covid, they can cause Hypoxia and quite frankly its barbaric muzzling our children when no peer reviewed evidence has ever shown they are effective in stopping transmission of Covid, it's simply there to try appease the masses.
Oh dear! I don't believe anyone is this stupid. But in case people are worried, how do you think surgeons manage?
Nith · 23/02/2021 08:06

I remember that stupid Birbalsingh woman getting outraged about how mask wearing would make discipline in secondary schools so difficult. Quite surprising really, given that she makes out that her school is a haven of wonderful behaviour because her teaching and discipline methods are so brilliant.

Nith · 23/02/2021 08:07

Barbaric, muzzling, fetish, hypoxia... anyone got any more words for the us4twats bingo card? When you get house, one of their heads actually explodes

I'm just waiting for face rags ...

GCAcademic · 23/02/2021 08:10

@SakuraEdenSwan1

Face masks do not stop Covid, they can cause Hypoxia and quite frankly its barbaric muzzling our children when no peer reviewed evidence has ever shown they are effective in stopping transmission of Covid, it's simply there to try appease the masses.
Yeah, I think I’ll take the expertise of the Professor of epidemiology at me university on this rather than u4t and their agenda. Funny how kids all over the world can manage this, isn’t it? I wonder why it is that parents like you seem to raise kids who are so much less equipped to cope than kids in other countries?
GCAcademic · 23/02/2021 08:11

I'm just waiting for face rags ...

Face nappies, as well. 😂😂😂

Parker231 · 23/02/2021 08:12

Funny how it’s only the U.K. who raise objections to children wearing masks. Other countries, with higher educational results, have children from age five plus successfully wearing a mask during the school day. They haven’t had months of remote schooling.