Is anyone concerned about the health implications of mask-wearing in school?

[Noodlevonstrudle]

Just that really. With the best will in the world children and teens are likely to be touching their face way more wearing a mask than they ever would otherwise. There will be masks dropped on the floor, stuffed in pockets, left in the bottom of bags and then put back on again. It worries me a lot that not only will they be ineffective against Covid but that they will actually be harmful.

@nitsandwormsdodger

Stop fussing and get on with it

Comply comply comply

That seems to be the only sentiment that is parroted about such topics.

Comply comply comply

Do not question and do not defy

That is what I fear our children have learned in the last 12 months.

OP you think you’re so much cleverer than the rest of us but yet you’re not clever enough to disguise your agenda. Your faux ‘innocent concern’ to push your dangerous and misguided anti-mask agenda was laughably transparent from the first post.

We see you.

Yeap I am concerned, I'm concerned there may be children not wearing masks in my Dc's class .My Dc was leaving their mask on anyway previously. I am cev and my Dc is desperate to get back to school and see their friends. I am just hoping that parents are sensible and realise that some pupils have a very vulnerable parent. Like I say I can hope .

If they were a problem then we'd see kids in other countries getting ill. In other countries 5 year olds are wearing them all day. I read a thread on here about over 2s wearing masks in the US.

The best that you can do is ensure that your child has clean masks (our school suggests 2 per day minimum) Chances are it's only until Easter so if it bothers you that much then you can home educate until then.

Most kids wear masks fine and are hindered by anti-maskers who use inflammatory language like face nappy, muzzle etc

The government won't pay for ventilation and air filters in school so the only free mitigation measure left is masks. Masks won't stop transmission but it's one measure that can help in the fight against a Covid- especially in places like schools where social distancing isn't possible. Many teens work in part-time jobs while wearing masks and suck it up just fine.

@lunarlife

I live in a masks for 5 year olds country and I'm not concerned because it isn't going to be forever. ( also chicken pox is vaccinated against)

Well yeah, what is there to be concerned about the loss of non-verbal skills and difficulties in the understanding of body language in others. It's not like young children rely on people's facial expressions and tone of voice to regulate their responses toward people and new situations, is it?

All totally fine.

OP don't ever debate with noblegiraffe who is always right.
Otherwise, yes I am worried. They won't be able to hear or speak as well, will be breathing their own hot breath all day and not drinking as much, not communicating as well non verbally. Of course this will impact on mental health.
Teenagers are jumping through endless hoops and giving up so much for people who look on their concerns with disdain.

*That seems to be the only sentiment that is parroted about such topics.

Comply comply comply

Do not question and do not defy

That is what I fear our children have learned in the last 12 months.*

If you use state schools, you have to take what you're given and follow the rules. They educate children as a group, not just your kid. Parents and kids who won't follow the rules waste the time of everybody else.

Home education or private education is available if you don't agree with the ethos of your school.

The disdain for teenagers seems to be coming from the ones who think that they can't possibly use hand sanitiser or make sure they have a clean mask.

*Well yeah, what is there to be concerned about the loss of non-verbal skills and difficulties in the understanding of body language in others. It's not like young children rely on people's facial expressions and tone of voice to regulate their responses toward people and new situations, is it?

All totally fine.*

Masks are only going to be used in secondary schools.

It's possibly only for 3 weeks and I struggle to believe that teenagers will lose non-verbal skills if they are masked at school when they will be unmasked at break, lunch, walking to and from school plus when they chat to each other after school via technology like gaming headset and FaceTime.

@DipSwimSwoosh

OP don't ever debate with noblegiraffe who is always right. Otherwise, yes I am worried. They won't be able to hear or speak as well, will be breathing their own hot breath all day and not drinking as much, not communicating as well non verbally. Of course this will impact on mental health. Teenagers are jumping through endless hoops and giving up so much for people who look on their concerns with disdain.

Seriously they are being asked to protect them spreading to vulnerable people like me .How is that jumping through hoops being asked to keep people safe. Honestly sounds like you are projecting your views onto how every teenager is going to feel .Teenagers mental health has suffered much more being stuck inside than every wearing mask ..

*Comply comply comply

That seems to be the only sentiment that is parroted about such topics.

Comply comply comply

Do not question and do not defy

That is what I fear our children have learned in the last 12 months*

@hamstersarse and what exactly do you think you were taught or have you grown up and founded a new leaderless island somewhere?

Yes you have to comply in society if you want to be part of it. Question it by all means but that does imply you’re going to listen to the answers you get. You’re free to ignore whatever parts of it you don’t agree with generally, but you’re not stupid and can do that in the full knowledge of what the consequences are. If there aren’t enough people who agree with you it’s not going to change - that’s not covid specific.

The vast majority of people support mask wearing in secondary schools according to a yougov poll.

@DipSwimSwoosh

OP don't ever debate with noblegiraffe who is always right. Otherwise, yes I am worried. They won't be able to hear or speak as well, will be breathing their own hot breath all day and not drinking as much, not communicating as well non verbally. Of course this will impact on mental health. Teenagers are jumping through endless hoops and giving up so much for people who look on their concerns with disdain.

You haven’t got much faith in teenagers if you think masks are going to leave them with some form of ptsd... it’s a piece of cloth that millions of people manage to wear everyday without a breakdown. Those who can’t don’t have to.

I’m not treating teenagers concerns with disdain, I’m treating the sources of those concerns with disdain. People like you make it an issue by surrounding them with an environment of fear and baseless concerns (breathing in their own breath ffs).

It's amazing how they manage in other countries isnt it? Youd think children were much the same the world over, I wonder what makes the ones in the uk so different and fragile.

Teenagers are young adults and should be treated like that.

I'd like to see someone shouting that next time there's tutting about how old Sue Radford was when she had her first child.

@hamstersarse

Personally I question everything all the time. Hated the idea of kids in masks back in the spring. Left it up to my teenager in September if he wanted to wear on in September. The school were pushing for kids to wear them. Though didn't make it compulsory. Turns out most kids don't mind them at all. My son forgets he is wearing one. Also time has moved on and this is going to be among other things the only way to keep schools open until cases are low enough. Basically do you want kids in school or not?

hamstersarse

You thing for the sake of a few months children will suddenly lose communication skills etc. You do know we are only talking about secondary kids don't you? Obviously there is an issue with sen teenagers but that will be addressed on an individual level by schools eg mask exceptions, clear masks for TAs etc

@JoeBidenIsGreat

Teenagers are young adults and should be treated like that.

I'd like to see someone shouting that next time there's tutting about how old Sue Radford was when she had her first child.

What a ridiculous response 🤦‍♀️

That simply means treat teenagers like the adults you wish they will become 🤷‍♀️

Do you know what doesn’t reassure me? Anti-mask bullshitters trying to argue against basic safety measures in schools that most other countries seem to manage just fine with unevidenced and spurious ‘concerns’.
This exactly! They manage it in many other countries without any issues.

My kids have learnt to live with no social contact outside our home.

They have learnt to worry about their father going to work.

They have learnt that they won't see grandparents for months.

They have learnt how to be stressed and anxious.

We do our best, but lockdown is not normal. I want them back in school. I want people to be as safe as possible. I have seen no evidence that mask wearing is dangerous. I have seen evidence it reduces transmission.

Missed the quote. That was as hamstersarse

@AllDoneIn

I am so fucking happy to be leaving the profession at Easter so I never, ever have to endure this shit again.

And by the way, I haven't taught a class without a mask since September. I even wear glasses. I survived, along with millions of adults and children across the world who just get on with wearing a mask and doing life.

The fact that so many of you are still struggling with this utterly basic, common-sense measure shows me that although your children undoubtedly need good teachers, I am right not to be one of them any more.

Bravo Agree 100%

@DipSwimSwoosh

OP don't ever debate with noblegiraffe who is always right. Otherwise, yes I am worried. They won't be able to hear or speak as well, will be breathing their own hot breath all day and not drinking as much, not communicating as well non verbally. Of course this will impact on mental health. Teenagers are jumping through endless hoops and giving up so much for people who look on their concerns with disdain.

Your last paragraph could also as easily be applied to school staff.

Everyone has suffered during this pandemic. Mask wearing in secondary schools is a temporary measure.

@MangoFeverDream

Were kids not encouraged to drink water and avoid acidic foods, before Covid started?

The issue is that the masking leads to dry mouth which leads to gum disease and cavities. People also tend to drink less if they are wearing a mask so it’s important to drink more water than normal
and keep special attention on diet since a mask is unavoidable for now

Yes, my DS has a condition that makes his throat very dry and he normally drinks constantly throughout the day.

I am worried he'll spend his school day getting told off and breaking rules to drink water.

Comply comply comply

To be fair, that's what they've learned from having to wear school uniform and there's no safety reason for that. Or any good reason, actually.
Masks are to prevent them and those around them getting ill.

I live in a country where children have had to wear masks in school since September.
They're fine.