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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:
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11
Xerochrysum · 22/02/2021 17:51

I really hope it will be enforced, except for someone with genuine reasons. That will make me feel a little bit safer to send dc back into school.

TheMoth · 22/02/2021 17:53

It will be amazing how many kids now have genuine reasons not to wear one.

MoreW1ne · 22/02/2021 17:54

Been wearing masks in our secondary for ages. No one has an issue, they all just do it. Even the challenging students that you think might complain/make a fuss. About time the government at least attempted to bring in some safety measures. For the vast majority it's really not that difficult to wear them and where necessary a small amount of exemptions can be applied.

AuntieStella · 22/02/2021 17:55

At last!!

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 22/02/2021 17:56

@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.

And we do that for what the next two to five years. The vaccines work well but are not 100%. There will always be an element of risk. Going back now for 3 weeks with a 2 week break and everything closed is actually much safer. Going back after Easter would be a long term will that we couldn't control so easily.
thefallthroughtheair · 22/02/2021 17:56

I suppose it's worthwhile if that's what it takes to calm the panic. It remains the case that the evidence that they have any useful effect is as extremely weak as it ever was but if they wanted DC to carry around a rabbit's foot, I'd agree to that too just to get them back in school.

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 22/02/2021 18:00

Our secondary has been wearing masks since September. The kids were encouraged but not forced. Around three quarters decided to wear them in class. Teenagers are more socially responsible than adults in general. They are also more accepting of new things.

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 22/02/2021 18:01

@thefallthroughtheair

I suppose it's worthwhile if that's what it takes to calm the panic. It remains the case that the evidence that they have any useful effect is as extremely weak as it ever was but if they wanted DC to carry around a rabbit's foot, I'd agree to that too just to get them back in school.
That's the spirit 😂
stickygotstuck · 22/02/2021 18:01

@BiggerBoat1

Good. They should have been wearing masks from the start. I hope its enforced.
Agreed.

Been saying this since September. It's this or all children back home. Which is it to be?

I don't understand the resistance to masks in this country. They are at least worth a shot, surely. And yes, children other nationalities manage (and are not sent home to isolate at the drop of a hat). Are our children made of inferior stuff? Confused

pinkhousesarebest · 22/02/2021 18:03

Language teacher( not in the U.K.). Everyone from 6 up has been wearing a mask since September. Schools have not closed, teaching has continued easily enough after a week or so of adaptation.

Ltdannygreen · 22/02/2021 18:06

I’m on the fence, yes it will make sense and maybe a whole safer for the time being however knowing how much I hate them I wouldn’t wish to sit down in a hot classroom 6 hours a day with them on either. Ds13 won’t be wearing one due to his sensory needs, he can only wear them for 10 mins max (at least he tries) he’s is on the exempt list at school so hopefully that’s still in place.
Not sure what I will do about testing if that goes ahead because he suffers with frequent nose bleeds so I’m not sure sticking something up his nose is a bright idea not to mention his sensory issues may be an issue ☹️

TheKeatingFive · 22/02/2021 18:09

I suppose it's worthwhile if that's what it takes to calm the panic. It remains the case that the evidence that they have any useful effect is as extremely weak as it ever was but if they wanted DC to carry around a rabbit's foot, I'd agree to that too just to get them back in school

Totally agree Grin

Iootraw1 · 22/02/2021 18:09

@Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum

Our secondary has been wearing masks since September. The kids were encouraged but not forced. Around three quarters decided to wear them in class. Teenagers are more socially responsible than adults in general. They are also more accepting of new things.
Thank you at last someone’s said it. “Teenagers are more socially responsible than adults” (by and large this latest generation indeed do seem to be) and yet everyone’s been on young people’s backs, they’ve taken a huge hit with this pandemic. I feel sorry for them now having to wear masks all day when trying to learn in classroom. The government said before they didn’t have to because it would impede learning with not being able to hear others talking, that teachers need to be able to read facial expressions to check understanding and to facilitate lip reading (which isn’t just for the deaf you know we all do it to some extent). But yes they will adapt and do it but is does t make it easy for them and it will compromise their learning further. There’s only so many times you tend to ask someone to repeat what they’ve said for instance before you pretend to have heard for avoiding embarrassment - anyone done that ?
AlexaShutUp · 22/02/2021 18:18

I have just been talking to my teenage dd about this thread. She said that none of her friends have issues with wearing masks (they had to wear them in corridors last term, and in lessons with one teacher who was CEV) and she doesn't understand why some posters are making such a big deal of it. She also said that many of her friends are worried about the risk of passing the virus on to teachers or family members, so they would rather wear masks in order to minimise that risk.

I think we do indeed need to give kids credit for being more adaptable and socially responsible than some people might expect.

Anna12345678910 · 22/02/2021 18:22

Our secondary were wearing them in December in most areas. Some wore plastic shields instead of masks - not so good but a compromise

Nith · 22/02/2021 18:29

@keiratwiceknightly

What about lip reading teachers like me? I'm not against this btw, but it will make it very very difficult for me to do my job properly...
Persuade the school to invest in something like this as a reasonable adjustment?
VioletAlder · 22/02/2021 18:30

I'm overseas. Masks mandatory for all since we went back to school in October - there are about 3 students with exemptions who wear visors instead.

Dd2 is deaf, so her teachers swap to a clear mask or visor for her lessons.

It's all worked fine. Our PTA raised money to give everyone a school logo'd mask. Obviously these are social death above year 8, so we have bags of spare ones to give out...

I usually buy packets of cotton masks & have at least 3 in my bag at any time, so I can change mine at lunchtime & have a spare in case the elastic breaks. They go through the wash & I keep a big jar of clean ones by the door so dc & I can grab fresh ones every day as we head out in the morning.

AllAroundTheWrekin · 22/02/2021 18:30

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

This is exactly how I feel Grin

Lets hope they vaccinate teachers too.

loulouljh · 22/02/2021 18:31

I definitely have a problem with this...for those who can struggle to hear. For those who are shy who will have to talk all the louder to make themselves heard. For those who struggle with languages and need to see the teacher's face. For the teachers who are looking to see who is concentrating, who doesn't get what's going on. It is a rubbish idea.

Indoctro · 22/02/2021 18:31

I returned to work in secondary school
Today in Scotland and all the kids had masks on and it wasn't a issue at all. Even in the hot kitchens when they were cooking no one complained they just got on with it.

It's not a issue and no different to adults wearing them

bonbonours · 22/02/2021 18:34

My teenagers voluntarily wear masks when going out for a walk. They were asking to wear masks last year when they were told they were unnecessary in schools. They will be perfectly ok wearing them in lessons.

Thimbleberries · 22/02/2021 18:37

in case anyone hasn't seen these but needs them - face masks for lip reading that show much more of the face, and fog less than the standard ones with clear lips only

www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/reviewed-the-game-changing-clear-face-mask-that-helps-lip-readers-9156257/

TheKeatingFive · 22/02/2021 18:39

My teenagers voluntarily wear masks when going out for a walk

Outside?

I really don’t see the need for that. Unless in a busy shopping street or something.

RandomGrammarPun · 22/02/2021 18:44

Those who struggle with glasses steaming up - you need some antifog wipes. Clean your glasses with them in the morning and they stay steam free all day.

ChloeDecker · 22/02/2021 18:47

Thank you so much Thimbleberries
Have just ordered a box Grin