Face masks for Secondary Pupils in classrooms

[FatPatty]

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

You’ve all taken leave of your senses. We’re not just talking about young adults, but 11/12 year olds wearing a mask ALL DAY.

Yes, that's right. Unless there are specific medical issues which prevent this, I don't see the problem. Yes, it's a bit of a pain in the arse, but they will adapt like everyone else.

@TinaYouFatLard

You’ve all taken leave of your senses. We’re not just talking about young adults, but 11/12 year olds wearing a mask ALL DAY.

No, not all day-from about 8.30-3 and not for breaks and lunch and any time doing PE/outside.

They will be just fine-just like all of the 6+ year olds across the world who have been doing this (whilst attending their open schools!) for months.

Obviously anyone unhappy with the plan has the right to choose to home school.

I presume if rates sky-rocket in primary, they will extend mask-wearing to there as well.

Schools shouldn't be going back at all until it's safe.

Safe means vaccinating all staff, all vulnerable children and then wearing masks and social distancing at all times.

Otherwise we'll be back into lockdown again in the Autumn. It's too soon.

Masks - especially the kind that most people wear and the way they wear them - do v little to help, if anything at all. But if it makes people a little less hysterical about getting back to normal then I’m all for it.

@Evvyjb

The 11/12 year olds in my (England) school have been wearing a mask ALL DAY since September *@tinayoufatlard*. As has everyone else. Every single one.

They've been fine.

I found out what they looked like (and vice versa) when we started teaching through teams!

The very fact that you didn’t know what your pupils looked like shows how far from the path we have strayed. You think that’s okay?

@TinaYouFatLard

You’ve all taken leave of your senses. We’re not just talking about young adults, but 11/12 year olds wearing a mask ALL DAY.

3 year olds wear them in some countries. As long as the kids who can't wear a mask aren't shamed for it, why wouldn't they introduce a measure that children in every other country can cope with?

France insists on medical grade masks for school and they've not shut schools this year.

What a joke.

The Government also recommends that the use of face coverings in Higher
Education, Further Education and secondary schools is extended for a limited period
to all indoor environments - including classrooms - unless 2m social distancing can
be maintained. Face coverings are now also recommended in early years and
primary schools for staff and adult visitors in situations where social distancing
between adults is not possible, for example, when moving around in corridors and
communal areas. All children will once again be expected to attend school, as they
were in the autumn term.

@FleetwoodRaincoat

Schools shouldn't be going back at all until it's safe.

Safe means vaccinating all staff, all vulnerable children and then wearing masks and social distancing at all times.

Otherwise we'll be back into lockdown again in the Autumn. It's too soon.

Sigh. There is no such thing as safe.

I think the bigger issue is the testing which sounds really disruptive. To me, it means they won't actually be in in the first week, they have to be tested three times and then twice a week at home. How many kids are going to bother doing it at home? It's hardly a pleasant experience. All sounds like a waste of time.

@RedGoldAndGreene

I wonder if wearing glasses will be considered an exception? Some days my glasses don't steam up when I wear a mask but they do on other days.

I really don't think so! Wearing glasses with masks isn't new.

@TinaYouFatLard it meant I got to teach them in person, rather than being sent home all the time like all the other local schools!

I know them incredibly well. What their pets' names are, their favourite books and films, what their worries and successes are. Dont need to see the bottom half of their face for that.

Kids need to be in school. It's not right. Get them back.

They'll have to wear masks.

Oh no, not MY child.

Hope none of these kids are going to want to go in to professions where masks are necessary.

At DD's school face masks were mandatory in classes after Oct half term. And cases have been very low, maybe 6 or 7 in total. It's hard to know whether the face masks themselves have led to lower levels or whether it is that the schools going above and beyond the guidelines are being very strict with enforcing SD/handwashing etc. I don't really care which it is so long as it means that DD is not having her education disrupted.

My child's secondary school in England has been wearing masks all day since September and everyone has adapted easily. Hence why I at all the adults who complain about masks when almost 1000 children in the school have easily adapted to wearing masks with almost no complaints.

DD, 15, went back to School today (Scotland) and all wore masks for entire duration, although the teacher didn't, strangely enough.

They've been wearing masks since long before the last lockdown. It may not be the most comfortable but it is safer.

Good. My dc's school were doing this since October.

There was still many cases though 🙈

It is the right thing to do – but why on earth wasn't it brought in last year? Our kids have endured so much these past 12 months, their mental health has really been tested, and now, just as we're telling them that the vaccine programme is start to work, they'll soon be able to hug their grandparents etc, we've got to break the news they have to mask up in class to stop the spread? Talk about locking the stable door after the horse has bolted.

@seasidefishwife rates were still the same - didn't reduce in school

Probably using the same mask wll week!

@ProfMcGonigle

DD, 15, went back to School today (Scotland) and all wore masks for entire duration, although the teacher didn't, strangely enough.

They've been wearing masks since long before the last lockdown. It may not be the most comfortable but it is safer.

The teacher must have been exempt, as otherwise we are all expected to wear them.

@Worldgonecrazy

Dreadful idea

Apart from the fact that masks have very little effect other than making the wearer feel safer of course ...

If you think it is worth it so that you can feel safer without actually being safer, fill your boots.

Could be the basis for some interesting science experiments though?

Exactly this - let's make secondary pupils feel uncomfortable all day long so the government can look like it's doing something and some parents and teachers can feel safer even though they are not. I am a teacher btw and am happy for schools to go back.

Better late than never Boris, you absolute incompetent bell end.

How is it not safer if someone in the same room as me has their cough or sneeze mostly contained in a mask instead of landing on my face?

What a joke.

The Government also recommends that the use of face coverings in Higher Education,

Nothing new there then. University staff and students have been wearing masks for face to face teaching since last year.

100% compliance and no moaning about it. In my experience.

Good.

It should have been mandatory for ALL schools months ago. Could have meant that schools could have stayed open. Other countries have kindergarten upwards wearing masks without problems and they are in school.