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/

Well lets hope the fact theyre all tested, sanitising hands and that levels are low where we are means it wont matter whether theyre next to each other or not

It’s strange that on the one hand you think teenagers are grubbily wearing the same mask for days but on the other you want us to rely on them accurately and regularly doing covid tests and sanitising their hands.

Well lets hope the fact theyre all tested, sanitising hands and that levels are low where we are means it wont matter whether theyre next to each other or not

It’s strange that on the one hand you think teenagers are grubbily wearing the same mask for days but on the other you want us to rely on them accurately and regularly doing covid tests and sanitising their hands.

@noblegiraffe

Well lets hope the fact theyre all tested, sanitising hands and that levels are low where we are means it wont matter whether theyre next to each other or not

It’s strange that on the one hand you think teenagers are grubbily wearing the same mask for days but on the other you want us to rely on them accurately and regularly doing covid tests and sanitising their hands.

The teachers make them sanitise their hands going on and out of classrooms. Their parents do the testing. The mask are about the only bit they are responsible for which most (not all) simply can't do correctly. Not medical grade. Not clean. Not changed regularly. Not disposed into clinical waste. I'd have thought working in school you would know that?

@Hanidjed7
I'm putting my hand up. I'm vulnerable and only managed to get my first jab yesterday.

@palacegirl77
parents doing tests for teenagers? Have you seen a teenager recently?

1. they are independent and don't think for a second that they'll let their parents do it.
2. They are not all idiots who can't fathom how to wear a mask or how it needs to be changed regularly.

Give them at least some credit.

about 10 of my friends had covid, with 2 still not back at work after almost 6 months. 1 might not ever work again.
But sure, ti's a hoax and let's not wear masks.

Yeah thats why I said most (not all). I know my daughter is capable of using masks properly - we are dental professionals so she takes disposable masks, medical grade and brings back the used ones in a sealed bag. Her friends however appear to like wearing those round their chins - one of her friends owns one mask - ONE MASK!

Ive never, ever said covid is a hoax. I am double vaccinated, my daughter wears a mask as do I when required. Even though we are key workers I stopped work to keep my kids off school and home learning to "do our bit" we havent broken one single rule. All I am stating is that masks, if being used, should be medical grade, disposed of in clinical waste bins, fitted properly, never reused and never worn round the chin, on the forehead, touched at the front etc etc.

If you want your child to carry on wearing one, thats absolutely fine by me, its their (your) choice - but please don't go off at people who are happy to see a little normality returning even if this change gets reversed later down the line if cases go up. At least the kids get a break for a while.

@noblegiraffe

Well lets hope the fact theyre all tested, sanitising hands and that levels are low where we are means it wont matter whether theyre next to each other or not

It’s strange that on the one hand you think teenagers are grubbily wearing the same mask for days but on the other you want us to rely on them accurately and regularly doing covid tests and sanitising their hands.

The teachers make them sanitise their hands going on and out of classrooms. Their parents do the testing. The mask are about the only bit they are responsible for which most (not all) simply can't do correctly. Not medical grade. Not clean. Not changed regularly. Not disposed into clinical waste. I'd have thought working in school you would know that?

[quote TheSunIsStillShining]@Hanidjed7
I'm putting my hand up. I'm vulnerable and only managed to get my first jab yesterday.

@palacegirl77
parents doing tests for teenagers? Have you seen a teenager recently?

1. they are independent and don't think for a second that they'll let their parents do it.
2. They are not all idiots who can't fathom how to wear a mask or how it needs to be changed regularly.

Give them at least some credit.

about 10 of my friends had covid, with 2 still not back at work after almost 6 months. 1 might not ever work again.
But sure, ti's a hoax and let's not wear masks.[/quote]
Yeah thats why I said most (not all). I know my daughter is capable of using masks properly - we are dental professionals so she takes disposable masks, medical grade and brings back the used ones in a sealed bag. Her friends however appear to like wearing those round their chins - one of her friends owns one mask - ONE MASK!

Ive never, ever said covid is a hoax. I am double vaccinated, my daughter wears a mask as do I when required. Even though we are key workers I stopped work to keep my kids off school and home learning to "do our bit" we havent broken one single rule. All I am stating is that masks, if being used, should be medical grade, disposed of in clinical waste bins, fitted properly, never reused and never worn round the chin, on the forehead, touched at the front etc etc.

If you want your child to carry on wearing one, thats absolutely fine by me, its their (your) choice - but please don't go off at people who are happy to see a little normality returning even if this change gets reversed later down the line if cases go up. At least the kids get a break for a while.

If you want your child to carry on wearing one, thats absolutely fine by me, its their (your) choice - but please don't go off at people who are happy to see a little normality returning even if this change gets reversed later down the line if cases go up. At least the kids get a break for a while.

This is such a blasé attitude as if it does get 'reversed later down the line if cases go up' that could mean we're in a whole load of preventable shit. As a country we are only really starting to open up and mingle indoors from next week. Why not just keep schools as they are until the end of this year and assess how cases go up following the relaxing of the other restrictions first?

*should have said 'end of this academic year.'

I think because schoolchildren wearing masks just isn’t popular, mrshoho

@noblegiraffe

Teacher vaccination data. If they weren’t vaccinated on 26th April then they won’t be properly protected on 17th May. Younger teachers won’t be vaccinated for some time.

And of course that’s only the first dose.

Removing masks where the vast majority of people are unvaccinated and in extremely close contact with each other (as anyone who has been in a school corridor will tell you) seems a bit of a gamble in terms of infection rates.

And yet anyone under the age of 70 is it at very very low risk of getting ill with covid. Vulnerable teachers already vaxxed.

Why not let your immune system keep you safe?

I for one can't wait for 17 May, along with my daughter. I'm no covid denier, I've had my first jab, but by god after the last 12 months I'm burning my mask on 21 June!

Haven't rtwt but guidance received today and no changes 🤷

And yet anyone under the age of 70 is it at very very low risk of getting ill with covid

And yet that's not why govt scientists are concerned about letting infection rates rise in the unvaccinated population, is it? So it's not the killer point you think it is.

@noblegiraffe

The teachers make them sanitise their hands going on and out of classrooms. Their parents do the testing. The mask are about the only bit they are responsible for which most (not all) simply can't do correctly.

Oh bloody hell I do wish that people who are not in schools wouldn't tell people who are in schools what it's like.

Sanitising hands in and out of the classroom is not in the
DfE guidance. If your DD's school is doing it, it is doing so above and beyond what is required (which is merely to advise regular handwashing). Lateral flow tests are also not mandatory. And despite what you have suggested twice, neither is pupils keeping any distance from each other.

So to you in your comfortable position of being double vaccinated, telling others who are not, whose working conditions it is, that it is acceptable for masks to be abandoned in schools, your opinion is not only worthless because you don't know what you're talking about, but patronisingly I'm alright Jack, and against govt scientific advice.

Patronising "woman". How on earth do you even know WHY I'm double vaccinated or what my families position is re vulnerabilities? I realise that no-one on here can say anything about school with your opinion on knowing absolutely everything in every school being shouted about. My daughter goes to school. I'm talking about her school, her position and our families take on masks. Just leave off the personal insults hey?

@Toomanymuslins

I think because schoolchildren wearing masks just isn’t popular, mrshoho

It's not popular for most of the general public really but we've adapted albeit begrudgingly by lots of us.

This decision will only lead to further arguments, as when cases rise, we won't know whether the no masks in secondary schools is to blame or the general relaxing of restrictions. It would make more scientific sense to make changes in stages. I believe the government instigates this confusion deliberately.

Don’t worry palace I got shouted off for being off on maternity leave!

@Toomanymuslins

Don’t worry palace I got shouted off for being off on maternity leave!

It's unacceptable!

Being double vaccinated means you are at far lower risk now than unvaccinated teachers - especially those who cannot be vaccinated due to ttc. So it is a bit of a pisstake to start telling unvaccinated people they need to be prepared to accept a higher risk than you are currently experiencing.

If masks are so useless / unnecessary then surely they should be getting rid of them in shops, pubs, churches etc on the 17th too. But they are being kept in those places, so clearly this isn't about following science so much as pandering to public opinion.

I say all this as someone desperate to get rid of masks. I'm happy to take the risk for myself but worry about what it will do to spread across the country if covid is allowed to go largely unchecked in many (if not most) schools.

Our teaching staff are pretty much all under 40, ageing mainly between 24-30 (apart from SLT, who are hiding in their offices anyway) so we are all way off getting vaccinated, let alone second vaccine.

Luckily, our academy is continuing with masks until they feel like it’s safe not to. Our rates are under control, most kids are happy to wear them.

Since it’s airborne sanitising hands just doesn’t cut it.

So easy to be a home worker, or someone socially distanced in an office to say suck it up to those working in school.

It’s fucking criminal what’s we’ve gone through.

@Toomanymuslins

Don’t worry palace I got shouted off for being off on maternity leave!

Yet your still here.

So how did you get "shouted off"

Maybe because you didn't.

Not really chloe

It’s always going to be a balancing act. In some environments masks cause more harm than good. For instance I didn’t have to wear one on the labour ward, nor did DH. That doesn’t mean that risks magically disappear for midwives, it just acknowledges that giving birth is one of those things that would be rather horrible to do with a mask on.

I understand both sides here. On the one hand it seems more sensible to keep masks until everyone is vaccinated or at least had the option. On the other hand, masks do limit communication which is obviously far from ideal in teaching.

It was a mistake on my part - off should have read at

@Toomanymuslins

Don’t worry palace I got shouted off for being off on maternity leave!

Where were you "shouted off?"

OK, where were you shouted "at?"