9 out of 20 students in my class are apparently exempt from mask wearing

[Workyticket]

Taught them in a small room with a slit of a window for 1.5 hours

6 of those 9 had chosen not to take a lateral flow test because their Mum said they didn't have to

Schools and colleges are safe though. Apparently

@noblegiraffe

Well its only the first RCT that has been done since Covid

Yes but you used it as a major point in trying to convince people that masks are useless, when in fact it only examined a small part of mask wearing (and badly, tbh, as the authors acknowledge).

Its one study in a range of studies, I didn't seize on it in exclusion to all others. It's there as a reliable academic source for people to read, interpret and make informed decisions from.

It's widely acknowledged that the research around masks is very incomplete and further research is needed. We need more RCT's stat. I used it as one study in a range of studies to inform myself and my opinion, others may read it and form a different opinion, it's there for everyone.

Nothing wrong with re-reading the specifics of the study! Refreshing your memory as to the specific words used/methodologies is a very common thing - I remember my conclusions from reading it a few weeks ago and went back to check, no-one has a photographic memory for every word printed on the page!

I'm off to work - I'll leave the ones with little else to do with their time to post endlessly and continue to fuel panic in others.

On MN there is a clutch that go over and over and over covid panic -almost died/almost needed hospital treatment (but didn't) and sat there fuelling more hysteria with fellow 'types' - almost to the point of loving it
Are you for real?
People say there's almost risk and people are hysterical, and then when other posters share their experiences that's also covid panic?

How utterly unpleasant of you.

no-one has a photographic memory for every word printed on the page!

No, but you should have remembered that the study didn't actually look at whether masks reduced transmission because that was a major drawback, acknowledged in the study.

I mean, I remembered it 🤷‍♀️

I get that people are terrified I really do, fear is a powerful emotion and the government has done a really excellent job on instilling fear into many many of its citizens (a whole other thread!).

get that people are terrified

What is it again with reframing reasonable concerns as 'terror'

'Panic'

'Hysteria'

It's really, really interesting to see the language. I wonder if it's the same people who were saying that masks/tests were 'child abuse' 'inhumane' 'dehumanising'?

@noblegiraffe

no-one has a photographic memory for every word printed on the page!

No, but you should have remembered that the study didn't actually look at whether masks reduced transmission because that was a major drawback, acknowledged in the study.

I mean, I remembered it 🤷‍♀️

Believe me my menopausal brain needs to double check - which I did! I have read a lot of studies so need sometimes to re-read them, but I remember the gist of them.

So we arrive back at the same place - there is no reliable study/RCT on whether masks reduce transmission.

You have little non-anecdotal proof they do work.

I have no proof they don't - I just state that there is no reliable evidence to say they do.

Vintagevixen
Not terrified.
I just want all workplaces, including schools, to have appropriate measures in place that don't come down to people saying "yeah but you probably won't die... I just do my best and hope I don't get it... why are you all hysterical, why are you all stirring panic".

I find the rush to the bottom during this pandemic to be quite concerning with a worrying number of people seeming to adopt the view (across workplaces) that employees should accept poor health and safety, accept poor conditions, and not raise issues.
If I was someone hoping to strip back working rights and conditions on leaving the EU then this culture of workers sniping at each other would be a gift. What's better than being able to turn workers on each other whilst they all tell each other to shut up and put up?

You have little non-anecdotal proof they do work.

Interesting.

Vintage here's the SAGE discussion about the evidence for face coverings. Perhaps they would welcome your input from having done a bit of googling?

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/957010/s1029-emg-face-coverings-distancing.pdf

@LolaSmiles

Vintagevixen Not terrified. I just want all workplaces, including schools, to have appropriate measures in place that don't come down to people saying "yeah but you probably won't die... I just do my best and hope I don't get it... why are you all hysterical, why are you all stirring panic".

I find the rush to the bottom during this pandemic to be quite concerning with a worrying number of people seeming to adopt the view (across workplaces) that employees should accept poor health and safety, accept poor conditions, and not raise issues.
If I was someone hoping to strip back working rights and conditions on leaving the EU then this culture of workers sniping at each other would be a gift. What's better than being able to turn workers on each other whilst they all tell each other to shut up and put up?

Absolutely agreed.

I would love the government to cough up some serious funding to address better ventilation in schools for example, lots of scientific chatter on the benefits on ventilation. But will they? No! Because everyone has masks now, so does that mean they can get away with not improving ventilation now?

Maybe money for school monitors on the buses - I had the misfortune to ride on a bus full of schoolchildren pre Christmas, and they spent most of the journey fighting, huddling over phones, snogging, shouting at each other etc -

Bloody Tories.

Noblegiraffe don't refer me to SAGE please, their spread of scientists and differing scientific opinions is so limited.

Modelling/transparency is not open for scrutiny and they seem to be in awe of Neil Ferguson and his dodgy code!

@AliceLives2021

IRL at my son's school the teachers just get on with it like other professions out there. In RL supermarket workers/care home workers/teachers/taxi drivers and factory workers (one of the highest at risk groups) are doing their best.

On MN there is a clutch that go over and over and over covid panic -almost died/almost needed hospital treatment (but didn't) and sat there fuelling more hysteria with fellow 'types' - almost to the point of loving it. I wonder did they miss it when schools were shut again for the last few months. Yep you almost dies just recently and live to repeat the tale on MN for fellow covid frothers to dine out on and repeat endlessly. Glad to see you are all better now.

This is a nasty, insensitive post. FYI all the school staff I work with ‘just get on with it’ as we have to. Doesn’t mean to say that many of them aren’t worried, frustrated or angry with the lack of measures in the workplace compared to many other workplaces.

We’re not allowed masks in my school (primary) and there is no SD between children and adults with limited distancing between adults within the classroom due to space.

I’m frustrated and angry about it as we’ve carried on as normal like pre covid times within the classrooms where I work but I’d never say anything to parents or children. They get the happy, positive side to reassure them.

If people didn’t talk about their experiences on here then many would believe the BBC reporting and everything Gavin Williamson says. I know for a fact what my school is like and I have gone into school every single working day since June 1st just like many other people across all jobs and sectors.

We are allowed to have concerns and raise questions about safety in the workplace just like cleaners, taxi drivers etc.

don't refer me to SAGE please, their spread of scientists and differing scientific opinions is so limited.

😂😂😂😂 so you’re only interested in looking at your own limited research that you can’t even remember correctly?

I would love the government to cough up some serious funding to address better ventilation in schools for example, lots of scientific chatter on the benefits on ventilation. But will they? No! Because everyone has masks now, so does that mean they can get away with not improving ventilation now?
Of course they won't. The government isn't interested in having meaningful discussions and taking actions to improve school safety.

It seems obvious to me thay anyone who wants schools to be open with minimal disruption would want a strategic plan that keeps as many students in school as possible, as safely as possible.

@noblegiraffe

don't refer me to SAGE please, their spread of scientists and differing scientific opinions is so limited.

😂😂😂😂 so you’re only interested in looking at your own limited research that you can’t even remember correctly?

No absolutely not.

They provide a list of references to the original articles at the bottom as they should do.

To find out whether their statements are reliable I would need to go through, read them all at source, critique them. Which obviously takes time.

I don't take any source, including SAGE, at face value.

I don't think the fact that I cant remember an article word for word is relevant to any argument, going back and checking is fine in this context. I don't know what your problem is with that in all honesty.

cant remember an article word for word

Er, you mean made out that a minor result was far more important than it actually is in terms of mask wearing? That’s pretty big.

They provide a list of references to the original articles at the bottom as they should do.

To find out whether their statements are reliable I would need to go through, read them all at source, critique them. Which obviously takes time.

I thought you’d already done your research?

You’ll be screaming into the abyss as nothing will change which leaves you with two options

A) suck it up
B) find a new job

I was working in a primary, and did the latter.

My daughter has always complied with mask wearing, always tests, has isolated as required. She’s 12. Last week she tried to kill herself. One of the reasons was her anxiety over wearing a mask for seven hours a day. She now has an exemption lanyard. Very pleased you aren’t her teacher.

Sorry but -what do you suggest a child with epilepsy who goes into panic and has a seizure if he cannot breathe properly (with mask on all day) does?

Do you propose he should be given a detention/ sent home or punished in some way for being ‘choosing’ to not wear a mask.

Many posters here seem to want to discriminate against disability. It is very worrying.

@noblegiraffe

cant remember an article word for word

Er, you mean made out that a minor result was far more important than it actually is in terms of mask wearing? That’s pretty big.

They provide a list of references to the original articles at the bottom as they should do.

To find out whether their statements are reliable I would need to go through, read them all at source, critique them. Which obviously takes time.

I thought you’d already done your research?

I have read a lot of articles yes.

I never claimed to have read EVERY article.

I went back and checked wording on the DANMASK article - its called academic rigour. It's the biggest RCT yet done on mask wearing so pretty important at present I would say.

People in favour of masks take unreliable observational studies and big them up to make them important on a regular basis. There's an example upthread re. mask wearing in asian countries. Its one point you keep picking on, ignoring other points so not much I can do about that, I have explained myself on that.

@LucyMaxwellDM

My daughter has always complied with mask wearing, always tests, has isolated as required. She’s 12. Last week she tried to kill herself. One of the reasons was her anxiety over wearing a mask for seven hours a day. She now has an exemption lanyard. Very pleased you aren’t her teacher.

That is awful, so sorry to read this and feel for your daughter. My daughter is the same age and is also suffering from anxiety about returning to school. She is asthmatic and really concerned about wearing the mask but says she wants to wear one or the other children will be upset with her. The pressure on them is so much and its so sad that you cant question that on here without being deemed selfish by some posters - as a teacher posted above "We are allowed to have concerns and raise questions about safety in the workplace just like cleaners, taxi drivers etc." well as parents we are also allowed to have concerns over what is happening in the treatment of our children too. Hope she is OK @LucyMaxwellDM

"I don't take any source, including SAGE, at face value."

No, you only take notice of anything which backs up your rather flawed view on this.
Here are some decent links.

www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/everyone-should-wear-masks-in-covid-19-crisis-say-cambridge-researchers

www.bbc.com/future/article/20200504-coronavirus-what-is-the-best-kind-of-face-mask

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/01/children-as-likely-to-spread-coronavirus-as-adults-says-scientist

time.com/5799964/coronavirus-face-mask-asia-us/

In RL supermarket workers/care home workers/teachers/taxi drivers and factory workers (one of the highest at risk groups) are doing their best.

I can guarantee that if you went to one of those places, unless medically exempt, you, or your secondary aged child would don masks. No one seems to be arguing that it is some abuse of human rights to be asked to wear masks in a care home.

Teachers are doing their best within the parameters of the guidelines they can work with. A clutch of parents are trying their best to bring it crashing down. I think we all know what group we are referring to there. God know why since it's whole (alleged) aim was to get children back in school.

Perfectly happy to report that in RL in my school , all but a small handful of pupils (all aged over 13) are wearing masks and not complaining at all. Those who aren't have exemptions /permission.

Sadly ,the CEV and some CV pupils remain at home.