No more masks in classrooms - hurray!

[TeddingtonTrashbag]

Hurray!
I am a secondary teacher and just hope it really happens.

www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/05/06/exclusive-end-masks-classroom-boris-johnson-defies-unions/

There is no "safe" / "not safe"

There are complex algorithms of risk reduction / impact / harm

The impact on an adult of wearing a mask in the supermarket for half an hour is, mostly, very low.

The impact on a child of wearing a mask all day when trying to learn and interact with their teachers and peers is likely to be much higher. I know it has made my own DC miserable.

MrsH
For what its worth i think masks should be gone completely not just for teachers

I’d agree with that meg, I’ve no issue in wearing them in the supermarket - bit of a pain but doesn’t stop me doing my weekly shop.

I don't care either way at this point.
But I do think it's barking to have them everywhere BUT schools, especially when we're still trying to get y11/13 through. The very last thing they need is to have to go back to remote learning at this stage.

it's the farce of removing the requirement for the classroom though yet insisting on wearing them around the rest of the school that gets me. You have sustained contact in the classroom so it will spread easily in rooms with 30 plus unvaccinated young people. We'd all prefer no masks but if the aim is to avoid disruption as far as possible and limit transmission then they are still required.

Pastanred

yes some teachers worry - but it's misplaced - if they were at any real risk they'll have been in a priority group

The government have vilified teachers at every turn during this pandemic.
The DfE has been useless.

They have not followed the science or trends of the virus, to the extent that they were going to sue schools for having to close before Christmas. They then U turned in January.

Given this and the massive fuck up that is this years grading system do you really think that they any concern for teachers health or for the education of children?

Personally I'd rather keep the mask and stop the close contact/ bubble isolating if there was an option of the 2 im aware im being hypothetical and no such choice exists sadly

we cannot keep masks just because some teachers can't assess their risk and suffer with health anxiety

Has got to be one of the most crass and condescending remarks I have seen on Mumsnet.

You spend whole days and weeks in close proximity to up to 30 non mask wearing teenagers/young adults in poorly ventilated rooms and see how anxious you feel about your health. Very many teachers have yet to have their first vaccination.

‘yes some teachers worry - but it's misplaced - if they were at any real risk they'll have been in a priority group’

Funnily enough, in some countries, teachers are in a priority group along with healthcare workers.

I think in MOST countries teachers have been prioritised. Somehow not here.

Just another in a long list of cock ups and harm to education. Because - guess what - there were plenty of schools that had to close pre-Xmas due to lack of staff. If staff are sick they can't teach.

I am also sick of the utter bollocks around 'anxiety'. Plenty of teachers have been really ill, some have died and some have long covid. It's not anxiety if it's a real risk.

If you saw an out of control truck hurtling towards you as you crossed the road, is the surge of fear 'anxiety'? No, it's bloody not.

And the thing is, it really doesn't cost much to anyone to have to wear a mask if you can - with exemptions for those that need it.

It's a small sign of respect and value for teachers and the wider community. Which this country seems to lack.

I know a child (aged 6, but started when he was 5) in the USA who's worn a mask in his classroom since Sept and is happy to do so because he knows it's part of being kind and community spirited and it's something everyone is doing to protect the most vulnerable from harm. He is PROUD of his contribution, he feels like he's doing something really positive to help beat covid (and his state has done so much better at preventing death than we have). And he's had no problems with it at all.

There are kids in his class with exemptions, of course and everyone understands that.

I think one of the longer term harms of this pandemic is that state school kids in this country have seen how little the government and wider society care about their education or their teachers (most kids care about their teachers and don't want them to get ill).

Cases are low now and - if we're not too impatient - we are close to the end of this. Masks for a little while longer seems a small price to pay.

No one is being ‘unkind’ by saying that masks can make things difficult. But in a classroom, unfortunately, they can. I’m not sure any primary schools are enforcing mask wearing in the classroom and it seems a shame.

We need to remove all the mask laws. Eg my son who works outside driving and delivering food has not had to wear a mask right through the last year but now they have imposed them on the drivers when leaving the van, even though they deliver the food to doorsteps only and do not go inside. It is a huge nuisance and with no justification.

With respect Xenia when you have an CEV or CV relative that you may understand why people prefer masks.
You have the privilege to find them a nuisance. There’s a quote I am reminded of that goes something like ‘the measure of a society is how they look after their vulnerable’.

The delivery drivers delivering our food have worn masks from the beginning...I thought most did.

I agree with @Xenia in her given example that a mask is totally unnecessary.

However; in schools it’s very necessary

If it's "not safe" to be unmasked in the supermarket/ on the train / name your space, it's clearly "not safe" in a classroom

Or if it's safe for dozens of adults to exercise in a gym together sans masks then it's safe for children in a classroom surely 🤷‍♀️

You have to social distance in gyms.

Masks not required in class from next Monday - just been confirmed. Hurrah! Not a moment too soon.

Please remember all the cv pupils and teachers and respect that they will not be celebrating x
Be kind towards them

@Zandathepanda

With respect Xenia when you have an CEV or CV relative that you may understand why people prefer masks. You have the privilege to find them a nuisance. There’s a quote I am reminded of that goes something like ‘the measure of a society is how they look after their vulnerable’.

Excellent way to put it, Zanda

Cv teachers will be vaccinated so the fact they’re cv is no longer relevant

There have been hardly any uk child deaths at all so even if cv, the risk to those kids is ridiculously low

Masks in classrooms, worn 99% of the time ineffectively where social distancing isn't possible are pointless anyway, and I'm all for masks in general.

Those who think we should continue wearing masks in schools should really try teaching in them. I do not believe they are helping otherwise I might support their use in spite of the problems they cause.

Did Boris say masks are not needed in communal areas of schools either. I'm a bit 😕