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

@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!

Bloody hell you didn't know what your students looked like and vice versa. The world has gone mad.

Today 21:06 epcot15

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.”

Yes? 3 year olds in Japan happily wear masks?

Clinical issues, of course, there must be exemptions. Healthy 12 year olds will no doubt be perfectly alright.

@bonbonours

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.

So you're ok with your teenagers wearing masks while out for a walk in the fresh air?

Right decision. Lip reading is tough. I have asked students to repeat things often. It's do able.

@TheKeatingFive

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.

Well quite. I told them it wasn't necessary. But they chose to. My point is they are not in the least inconvenienced by wearing masks, in fact my goth 14 year old loves covering half her face with black material! Think she thinks it looks cool.

@HoldontoOneMoreDay

Jeezo. Secondary children have been wearing masks all day in Scotland since after the first lockdown and it is both fine and enforced - although it apparently doesn't need much enforcing at my DS's school as the young people there care about each other's health and welfare.

Language teachers stand 2m back and unmask when necessary for pronunciation. PE is unmasked but outside. masks are only removed for eating and being outside. My son's large secondary only had one case between Aug and Dec.

Despite being massively keen on washable masks for environmental reasons, DS prefers a disposable mask for school which is fine, it is a long time to be wearing one.

No they haven't. S4-S6 have but the other years haven't had to wear them in classes. Not sure why you'd make a blanket statement like that without knowing the facts.

Its potentially only for a few weeks , most of the kids aren't complaining just seems to be adults.
Yes its not ideal but none of this is

@epcot15

Well I don't mind if they want to. Why would I? It's their choice not mine. I don't wear mine outside but plenty of people do. On our seafront it gets quite crowded so there are times when I can see the point of wearing one there. It doesn't stop you getting the fresh air you know. Especially not in the brisk sea breeze we were walking in!

@donewithitalltodayandxmas

Its potentially only for a few weeks , most of the kids aren't complaining just seems to be adults. Yes its not ideal but none of this is

Agree

My DS will probably wear his even if they stop being mandatory after Easter

@TheMoth

Maybe if parents are worried about their kids wearing masks, they can keep them off school.

Maybe if parents are worried that's schools aren't safe they could keep them off school?

Maybe if parents are worried that's schools aren't safe they could keep them off school

They don’t need to now as the masks are a really sensible policy for inside areas where social distancing isn’t possible.

Would they have to wear masks at break time too?

Apologies @epcot15 you are correct, senior pupils only, which my DS is. However the rest of my post still stands - it has not had a detrimental effect on the cohort. I just do not get the throwing up of hands around this. It's not pleasant, but our young people are sensible and cope admirably with it. And 'it' is a hell of a lot better than being out of school.

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.

16 year old ds is not keen, but I have told him to suck it up!

Masks have just become a lobbying point - and a way to indicate your intentions (kill or save lives)

The evidence for their effectiveness in a classroom is very very very limited, but it's an easy debate to have and yet again, children and young people take the brunt of all this posturing.

I am very against it. It makes no sense. There is testing, there is isolation and the masks make such a minute difference with big consquences for receiving a reasonable education.

Looks like I’m in the minority here, but I am not happy about my kids having to be in masks while in class. They won’t be happy when I tell them. They are desperate to go back, so I guess we will have to comply. I hope this isn’t going to be for a long time.

About time too.
I am sure they will take them off for outside breaks

Won't that be lovely when there's a heatwave and trying to learn in a stuffy 33⁰C classrom with half the face obstructed...

A shame for all the children who rely heavily on non-,verbal communication; it's not just obvious hearing impairments, but processing issues too(including conditions like ASD) and these issues are often undiagnosed. It's exhausting being in an environment where you focus extra hard with the double whammy of distorted speech and the loss of facial movement.
Behaviour is likely to deteriorate as a symptom of struggling students or from straight forward mucking about with the things.

Hopefully it's a very temporary problem until rates fall further as the weather warms up and more vaccinations occur.

Masks might help them keep warm in cold classrooms at the moment

In September I really wasn't happy for my secondary school child to wear a mask at school. However I gave him a mask as the school wanted them worn in the communal areas. They encouraged the kids to wear in class but they didn't have too.

Almost straight away three quarters were wearing there masks in class of their own accord. My son forgets he is wearing a mask most the time. He says he wouldn't want to be responsible for another person getting sick. Kids are much better about all this than us adults.

@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.

The number of times I used to have to say things like "take your hand off your face, I can't see what you're saying".

It's draining when you lip read more than average.

I am not happy about my kids having to be in masks while in class. They won’t be happy when I tell them.

These two things are connected. If you tell your kids that it’s a nuisance but necessary to keep schools open they’ll be fine.

Does anyone know which clear masks are best? I heard some aren’t great and I teach a couple of hearing impaired students so I want to get decent quality ones.

@ChloeCrocodile, my kids will wear them. We have always worn masks when we have been asked to. I don’t like wearing them, neither do they.