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/

@IloveJKRowling

Getting rid of them altogether in secondary schools is asking for trouble - in the form of a vaccine resistant variant, probably.

Yes quite.

Sometimes it feels like the government actually want everything to go wrong again!

It always interests me when other teacher are all "no masks! I can't wait! Hate wearing one and Covid doesn't worry me!"
Demonstrates an amazing lack of solidarity with their colleagues who are anxious about catching Covid.

If it’s safe to go no masks then it should be no masks everywhere. If they are still needed on public transport, shops etc then they are most certainly needed in school where contact is prolonged and many staff not vaccinated.

That's how I see it too. There is no logic to say masks in classrooms are no longer required but then still need to be worn in corridors and travelling to and from school. The classroom, where you have 30 plus people in a small room with limited ventilation for a hours, is the perfect environment for the transmission of an airborne infection.

The government cannot pick and choose, either masks are required or they are not.

I can't get worked up about this anymore ; for a start wearing masks has never been enforceable anyway and the majority of pupils don't wear them anyway and as the prevalence drops are less and less concerned about wearing them properly in corridors etc.

The government has always gaslighted people about how COVID spreads through schools and this is unlikely to change now.

I'm a secondary teacher and am sad the masks are going. I feel much more comfortable when the kids are wearing them. I do have a lot of medical appointments though so I live in constant fear of my treatment being cancelled. I'm hoping I'll feel less anxious once I'm vaccinated.

I asked my ks3 form about this and two thirds were happy masks might be going, but a third wanted them to stay.

@Mistressinthetulips

It always interests me when other teacher are all "no masks! I can't wait! Hate wearing one and Covid doesn't worry me!" Demonstrates an amazing lack of solidarity with their colleagues who are anxious about catching Covid.

I sympathise with my colleagues but my priority is obviously going to be my own teaching.

Really? You would prioritise how easy/comfortable you find teaching in a mask over the potential long term illness of your many unvaccinated colleagues?
How unfeeling.

Walksen all pupils in my class wear masks unless known to have an exemption and although I can't control how often they are changed, I can control hand sanitising and proper wearing of the mask in my room.
I don't recognise the idea that the majority don't wear them at all, maybe it is different where I am.

I will wear my mask in my classroom until I deem I am safe.

@Mistressinthetulips

Really? You would prioritise how easy/comfortable you find teaching in a mask over the potential long term illness of your many unvaccinated colleagues? How unfeeling.

Why are you getting all ‘really’ about a teacher wanting to teach as effectively as possible?

Children get one shot at school. Adults have options children do not.

Besides I don’t think masks make any difference.

So you would prefer staff who feel concerned about teaching an unmasked class left? How would that be any better for the children?

teacher wanting to teach as effectively as possible?

With the kids and myself in masks I circulate the classroom, looking at their work and correcting misconceptions. This has made a massive difference in my ability to teach effectively.

Without masks, I'll be staying at the front for the time being. I'm not convinced that the benefits of them being able to see my mouth outweigh the downsides of me not being able to see their work..

You do what you’re comfortable with and I’ll do the same giraffe

@Mistressinthetulips

So you would prefer staff who feel concerned about teaching an unmasked class left? How would that be any better for the children?

Don’t twist my words.

That's fine, but don't argue that removing masks will automatically improve education for children.

I believe it will giraffe

Can you imagine arriving in the country in January 2020 unable to speak English and then trying to decipher a completely foreign language with masks on?

That’s a rhetorical question by the way. I’m not really interested in a debate. You have one view and I have another. By the way I’ll gladly send MNHQ a photo of my staff lanyard to prove I’m a teacher so don’t start with the ‘you can’t be a teacher if you don’t believe X’ line.

I don't teach any kids who have just arrived in the country unable to speak English, so your argument doesn't hold up for my classes who will get a worse educational experience in my lessons from masks being removed.

By the way I’ll gladly send MNHQ a photo of my staff lanyard to prove I’m a teacher so don’t start with the ‘you can’t be a teacher if you don’t believe X’ line.

Weird.

Good then we agree. You’ll do what’s best for your classes and I’ll do what’s best for mine.

Can you imagine arriving in the country in January 2020 unable to speak English and then trying to decipher a completely foreign language with masks on?

That's why masks with clear panels exist

@bungabungaboo

Thank you Boris

Dd and Ds have been wearing them all the time since last September and Dd still caught covid.

They are a liability and nonsense, let's hope our head follows the rules this time

Maybe they were touching their mask and not wearing it correctly. Maybe it had nothing to do with mask effectiveness?

Ive been wearing mine all the time. Maybe I haven't caught it because it is effective or maybe it it because Covid didn't come into my class.
The point is, you will never know!

Can't wait for DD to ditch her mask. Personally I will be burning mine on June 21. If masks aren't worn like they are in hospital (which they aren't) then there's no point to them.

and you cannot make that assumption! Neither can I!

@Toomanymuslins

Good then we agree. You’ll do what’s best for your classes and I’ll do what’s best for mine.

Well I can't, can I? Best for mine would be for masks to stay.

"Can you imagine arriving in the country in January 2020 unable to speak English and then trying to decipher a completely foreign language with masks on?"

That's a very weird example. If the child cannot speak/understand the English, can/cannot see the teachers mouth move/hear the words clearly don't make much difference, but teacher being able to pay close attention do, imo. I was that child, of course we weren't wearing masks back then, but I can imagine.