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.

I'm not sure how important the no touching thing is v the risks of no masks at all, but yes it does concern me that there's no way masks will be used properly in school.

Our school are taking the view that we know it won't be done right, but incorrectly used masks are better than no masks.

@Cookiecrisps

I am concerned about the health implications of not wearing a mask in school.

exactly (came on to say this)

It is a very limited help in stopping transmission wearing masks.

What do you base this statement on?

@Noodlevonstrudle

Right, well I'm off. Thanks for the "engagement".

I was hoping for a bit of reassure or advice, but no, this is obviously not the place for that. Thanks for whoever it was that suggesting bags for masks and also to keep drinking lots - will take that onboard.

If anyone has any suggestions of parenting boards where people engage respectfully when someone ask a question that is "counter" to the herd do let me know because this is obviously not it. Worth a try thought I guess.

🙄🙄🙄

🚪

Oh right Fencesplitters. I think I'd have done a swipe n swap in that case

There are none so blind as those who won't see.

I mean, we were laughing on the thread the other night about the Us4Themers on twitter with their BACTERIAL LUNG INFECTION nonsense, and it's right there in the OP's second post.

Along with other such treats as 'not blindly complying without questioning' and 'Can you point me to any research at all that shows me that it a. makes a blind bit of difference to transmission levels (spoiler alert - you won't be able to do because it doesn't)' (er, yeah it does and that research is just a quick google away).

I mean, I started a thread about anti-lockdown campaign groups catastrophising about children because what they wanted was schools open with no mitigation measures and it's pretty obviously abounding on MN at the moment. Kids dropping dead through lack of oxygen, mental health ruined by having to wear a mask for a few weeks. They can't be happy that schools are open, they have to now fight for them to be less safe (see twitter for 'the fight starts today' posts from Monday).

The vast majority support masks in secondary schools, very few don't.

Agree everyone should be able to talk. It is difficult though because at this time we risk putting fear or worry into peoples heads. Bit of a tightrope walk to balance that.

Truely hey, yep although it can work both ways. Some may be feeling unsure and could see data on how it works in other countries etc

I don’t know what the typical lines are from groups as I don’t seek it out.

I'm concerned about the health implications of not wearing masks right now. Unless there's a good medical reason, you can always elect to homeschool if you aren't happy to wear them. Frankly, I think that should be the mandated position anyway.

That last line just generally not direct to you Truely

Yes it does. I’m not sure we have much evidence for soppy bits of cloth worn for hours.

But this is MN so good luck even mentioning it

Why is the alternative to not wearing masks to close schools? I don't understand that jump

Erm, because that's exactly what happened after Christmas. If you remember, cases of covid in schools went through the roof.

They want the alternative as 'no masks in schools'

They don't give a shit that no mitigation measures in schools led to a hugely disrupted education for many young people from Sept to Dec due to covid running riot and secondary kids ending up most infected subset of the population.

@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.

Good for you! And me too. This year has been the final straw for our profession. I wish you every happiness in what you do next.

This thread literally makes me despair but thank you to all those calm, reasoned posters like nobelgiraffe who have presented the evidence. Some people just won't listen to reason and facts.

When people say masks can be worn and COVID can still be transmitted - yes, but it does reduce it. I don't know why people think it's all or nothing thing. Mitigation helps - whether it's better ventilation, limiting time spent with people, or masks.

I don't understand the sentiment of parents who want to send their children back into the school without any measures to reduce the spread. Do they want endless disruption, or do they even have children, I wonder.

Has anyone noticed 18.5m people who are most at risk have been vaccinated?

I think some people are never going to ditch their masks. I’ve tried to fathom why, but there is no logical reason. We’ve been repeatedly told that schools are not a source of high transmission, and we all surely know this virus is not harmful to children.

Yes it does. I’m not sure we have much evidence for soppy bits of cloth worn for hours

Sounds like a solid foundation for any opinion.

But this is MN so good luck even mentioning it

Or maybe your just wrong?

Also there is TESTING at school

You do have to have the virus to transmit it 🤷‍♀️

The same people who think that kids wearing masks is INHUMANE are also arguing against a cotton bud up the nose.

Kids dropping dead through lack of oxygen

Does it make you happy to misrepresent what people say? It seems too deliberate to be a mistake.

I gave the example of two Chinese kids dying in China as an example of why Chinese parents are concerned, and why the meme of ‘East Asians do it so why are you complaining?’ doesn’t work because they have concerns too, just like anyone else. I’m not even British citizen, have family all over the world, and I can tell you they have pretty much the same concerns as the Brits do.

You come off as unnecessarily aggressive, you could do with genuine engagement on these threads—it’s not just a place to mindlessly push your opinions.

hamstersarse, the virus may not be harmful for children, but if they tested positive, they need to SI, along with others around them. That is very harmful for children.
And they may test at school, but there are parents who aren't willing to consent, so the spread is inevitable. Those who are willing to consent to be tested and agreeing to children wear masks, we just want our children in school, safely.

You come off as unnecessarily aggressive

To people who are actively campaigning to make my workplace less safe, to allow unmitigated covid spread in schools and a potential repeat of the shitshow that we had before Christmas?

Why might that be, do you think?

@noblegiraffe

You come off as unnecessarily aggressive

To people who are actively campaigning to make my workplace less safe, to allow unmitigated covid spread in schools and a potential repeat of the shitshow that we had before Christmas?

Why might that be, do you think?

You turn people off with this attitude, not sure you are very good at this persuasion thing, but you do you.

I’d say lockdowns and on and off school has more implications on kids than wearing a mask for a few hours at school

This, so much this. If there are no masks in classrooms and no social distancing (which is impossible in UK schools if everyone's in) I predict another lockdown by May / June at the latest. Unless the vaccination program seriously speeds up to cover the 40-50 yr old parents and teachers at a minimum. Our local rates are increasing despite the fact we are still in lockdown. Doesn't really bode well for schools opening.

This isn't the old variant, it's the new one.

In other countries where they've worn masks from age 6 in schools they've avoided having to close schools again.

I'm just fed up with everyone telling kids what they have to do without ever seemingly caring about what it is they want, all in order to protect other people rather than themselves.

Will they get any thanks for all of the things they have had to do (or not do), all the stress they've had to endure, the life-building experiences they have had to give up, from grateful older generations? Will they fuck - they'll get exactly the same as they get now - sit down, do what you're told and if you're lucky you'll get some crappy insecure job with no chance of enjoying the same things their parents unless they're either A. Very lucky or B. Have wealthy or well connected parents.

I imagine wearing or not wearing masks is fairly low down their list of things to worry about.

In other countries where they've worn masks from age 6 in schools they've avoided having to close schools again

See it’s this sort of stuff. How can you possibly know the school response in all the countries outside Britain? Or even just the EU? You don’t even specify which country?