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/

Ds doesn’t particularly enjoy wearing a mask but compared to being in pain for a year, guess what he prefers. (It’s the mask.)

I'm so sorry your son has suffered so badly SomeKindOfFloppyWeirdo

Of course there will be some children who are badly affected, the issues of long covid and PIMS are now well known. The greater the number of cases, the larger the number of previously healthy children who will be badly affected in this way. In places where covid is out of control (e.g. Brazil) the number of child deaths is not insignificant - it's not that children are more at risk it's just that more virus circulating means more infections and more children very ill. It seems a no-brainer to wear a mask for a short period (it's not going to be forever) which is hardly a true hardship to protect those children, even if you don't give a stuff about the adults they come into contact with.

But some people really don't care, that's the only conclusion I have.

Interestingly, the children I know seem to be much keener to wear masks to protect others than many adults. As a group, they seem much more altruistic to me.

This unscientific opposition to masks seems entirely adult-led.

People differ over masks. They will not be compulsory for anyone in a school from 17th May so that's that (I support that change and hope shops and trains will be next).

They weren’t compulsory before, that’s why that ridiculous court case got laughed out.

@Xenia

People differ over masks. They will not be compulsory for anyone in a school from 17th May so that's that (I support that change and hope shops and trains will be next).

So is this definitely happening in schools?

Yes, it’s on the BBC website

Our academy have said masks will still be worn until they decide otherwise

It will be interesting to see what happens. Before DfE advice was that teachers and children shouldn't wear them, and teachers were prohibited from doing so in many (not all) cases - which meant in effect in some schools they were banned. Hopefully now HTs who want to keep them will feel empowered to do so, the science is certainly behind them.

Cross post with @Onceuponatime1818

HTs do have a responsibility to protect the school community, so I suspect many (particularly those where there have been deaths, severe illness, or long covid) may continue with masks.

The DfE strategy before Xmas clearly failed schools and the wider community so hopefully more HTs will use their own common sense and do what they think is best in their local context.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-56988415.amp

I’m surprised that the change is being made at this time.

One of our local schools has said that mask wearing by teachers and students will continue.

I'm hoping that most heads decide to keep masks in class until at least half term at the end May. After half term yr 11 and 13 will mainly have left.

At the moment they are doing exams and really need everything they can do to keep covid out.

After half term there will be less people on site which will help infection control as well as it being warmer so the school will have every available window open

I don't think heads have a right to force pupils into masks if the pupils choose not to though .

If the school rules are that masks have to be worn, they will have to wear them. Most of the school age DC’s I know don’t have a problem with wearing a mask. They don’t like it but understand the benefits.

Most children will want to wear masks if others are doing so. Certainly if their teachers are leading by example.

Children who are exempt won't need to wear masks.

Just as for hand washing, I'm sure there will be those who don't do it, but I'd bet the majority will quite happily.

It's the parents who are objecting, not the kids.

@Xenia

I don't think heads have a right to force pupils into masks if the pupils choose not to though .

They force them to wear uniforms. And uniforms add nothing to public health.... Or socks. And yet nobody is raging about ties, uniforms, socks, shoes,..etc.

Academies can make their own rules, usually it’s pretty crap but this time it’s a winner.

If schools are choosing to ignore PHR and Government guidance on this (provided by the best scientific advisors available) then they need to do it properly. Medical grade masks, clinical waste bins all around (anyone seen one of those in a school?) Not allowing masks to be reused, touched, shoved in pockets etc. If kids are being forced to wear masks then what is the point in forcing healthy children to isolate too after possible contact?

@palacegirl77
If kids are being forced to wear masks then what is the point in forcing healthy children to isolate too after possible contact?

Because possible contact means possible infections. And there is a delay between getting infected and symptoms showing/infecting others.
It's pretty simple really.

Government guidance doesn't fit with public health/ scientific advice in this case (not exactly an uncommon phenomenon in this pandemic). SAGE told the Government masks were still needed.

[quote TheSunIsStillShining]@palacegirl77
If kids are being forced to wear masks then what is the point in forcing healthy children to isolate too after possible contact?

Because possible contact means possible infections. And there is a delay between getting infected and symptoms showing/infecting others.
It's pretty simple really.[/quote]
Yep get that. So the masks don't prevent that risk then.

I know @TheSunIsStillShining - all those schools forcing kids to wear clothes. It's really unreasonable.

How have we got to this point in the pandemic and people don't understand that ANY ONE THING ALONE won't PREVENT covid but lots of measures REDUCE THE RISK. The more measures the better.
The swiss cheese model.

Honestly, it's ridiculous. It's not rocket science.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-40ac92b1-1750-4e86-9936-2cda6b0acb3f

It's a bit like seatbelts won't prevent road accidents, nor road markings or traffic lights or speed limits. All those things together massively reduce the risks of harm though.

Saying masks don't completely eliminate the risk so let's not bother is like saying seatbelts and road markings and speed limits don't eradicate road accidents so let's not bother with any of those things at all.

Or locks don't prevent all burglaries so let's not bother there either.

Do you know what else eliminates the spread? Locking your child in their bedroom. They don't spread anything that way! Point is about weighing up the pros and cons! The masks being used are not medical grade and most certainly not used correctly ergo they're more harm than good.

What harm do masks do ffs?
do you know what slows spread: proper masks worn properly; distancing; proper air flow indoors.
So yes, masks work. They work really well, if enough of the population wears them.
And because of ppl like you my son is not going to school, not socializing...he is being punished by everyone else's stupidity.

@IloveJKRowling
how can you keep correcting these -nuts- after so many months? I am more than fed up. I am sick and tired on my son's behalf and just wish people could think and act responsibly and put aside their selfishness.

If schools are choosing to ignore PHR and Government guidance on this (provided by the best scientific advisors available)

No, it is the government who are ignoring the best scientific advisors available in this instance. Given that you appear to rate this opinion and think schools should be following it, doesn’t the government not following it and telling schools not to follow it concern you?