Masks in classrooms secondary

[Hummmmming]

www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/01/schools-in-england-told-wear-masks-in-class-as-fears-mount-of-omicron-surge?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Until the 26th of January

I'm dreading telling DD. She's having panic attacks already about going back, was diagnosed with asthma last month and wears glasses - so all round, she struggles with the mask. Was ok with wearing it for short periods such as corridors between lessons, but last time it was all day she got an exemption. She hates being different though, so if all the kids are wearing them she'll try to wear it.

Announced on a bank holiday weekend, the day after the Health Secretary says more restrictions would be a last resort. Not joined up government.

Seems a 'must be seen to do something' measure. Or one of the few that the 90 or so Tory backbenchers who objected to vaccine certification will not oppose.

Just got an email from our school.

We are having masks in classrooms, but they are even keener on regular LFTs done by the students and pupils staying at home if they have any of the old or new symptoms of covid (including cold symptoms).

@Fairylights25

But the clubs and pubs are packed full of maskless revellers.

I am fucking furious.

Our children are yet again being muzzled, stunting their communication skills, their ability to express themselves, causing breathing issues for those with anxiety, creating an atmosphere of silence in the class room (according to both of my children) affecting speech and friendships.

I am livid.

Such emotive dramatics.

@ChloeDecker the Scottish govt has been criticised multiple times for statistics release including by the statistics authority they still don't release the data.

Many on Scotnet use the travelling tabby website although a bit crude as includes 18-20 year olds actually the number difference here per population rate between England and Scotland for 0-20s is about the same. You can flick between national data and Scottish data it's quite handy ONS Scotland is not however! Scotland has masks in schools since schools returned, it did not reduce the peak at all and more then one occasion Scotland has topped the Europe infection rate.

Up until early Dec delta was dominant which also had a low reinfection rate. The Scottish numbers peaked in early Sept at over 800 per 100,000 way more then England's reached for the peak a large percentage of this peak was under 20s.

Scottish children have been living under much stricter rules for far longer. So few scout groups have been able to return, our soft plays were shut for 18 months continously, parents banned from schools completely (including nativity, graduations) there are no assemblies, contact sport was banned for far longer etc etc etc. There still hasn't been much difference in case numbers between Scotland and England as a percentage of the population.

@llantwitminor

Announced on a bank holiday weekend, the day after the Health Secretary says more restrictions would be a last resort. Not joined up government.

Seems a 'must be seen to do something' measure. Or one of the few that the 90 or so Tory backbenchers who objected to vaccine certification will not oppose.

Apparently the email arrived at 7am

Told my eldest this morning, she muttered "great" and asked me to get her a new box of masks. Not much else to say really.

Never been an issue with ds who doesn't wear one either. Was just an email and he has a sticker on his I'd badge.

Us4Them really are obvious aren't they?

muzzled

[quote Scottishskifun]@ChloeDecker the Scottish govt has been criticised multiple times for statistics release including by the statistics authority they still don't release the data.

Many on Scotnet use the travelling tabby website although a bit crude as includes 18-20 year olds actually the number difference here per population rate between England and Scotland for 0-20s is about the same. You can flick between national data and Scottish data it's quite handy ONS Scotland is not however! Scotland has masks in schools since schools returned, it did not reduce the peak at all and more then one occasion Scotland has topped the Europe infection rate.

Up until early Dec delta was dominant which also had a low reinfection rate. The Scottish numbers peaked in early Sept at over 800 per 100,000 way more then England's reached for the peak a large percentage of this peak was under 20s.

Scottish children have been living under much stricter rules for far longer. So few scout groups have been able to return, our soft plays were shut for 18 months continously, parents banned from schools completely (including nativity, graduations) there are no assemblies, contact sport was banned for far longer etc etc etc. There still hasn't been much difference in case numbers between Scotland and England as a percentage of the population.[/quote]
Thank you so much. Really interesting! Does that website split between Primary and Secondary aged children or does it include all up to age 20? Is there any data on school staff increasing or decreasing their positivity rate? Sorry for the questions.
I definitely still think that masks without any other mitigations are not enough, I agree.

@MumbleCrumbs

I know it's the right thing to do, but I feel so desperately sorry for DD(13) she has aspergers and her glasses getting steamed up/the sensation of the mask on her face etc causes her so much distress. She also won't use any exemption as she doesn't want to stand out . The whole thing is a bloody mess and I can't believe we're back here again.

I hear that the streaming up isn’t the only problem, but this might help a bit. My BIL bought a product that has completely stopped his glasses streaming up, I’ll try to find out what it was.

Hopefully your teens have more sense than you @Fairylights25. I can’t imagine the horror and embarrassment in my teenage DS’s face if I started going on about muzzles

This attitude is the reason why it's all gone on this long!

Well not really, it is still going on over the world, a few objecting UK parents are not the driving force.

I wear the Cambridge masks which protect to about the level of a FFP2 and are reusable. They're fairly comfortable and mould around my nose so that my specs don't steam up.

@Fairylights25

I will be telling my teens not to wear masks, why should they if the teachers can happily drink every weekend in packed clubs and pubs. And there is no way on gods earth we are going back to doing LFTs all the time.

I am done with all of this, and not doing anymore restrictions. Not now, not ever.

What poor parenting.

Good for you if it doesn't bother you but some children and adults in school are genuinely anxious either because they. or a member of their family, is medically vulnerable.

Are you not interested in teaching your children respect or a sense of responsibility?

Also, all the teachers I know are far too knackered by their job to be spending every weekend in clubs and pubs!

The post trying to whip up non-compliance with restrictions has been deleted and I would suggest reporting is the way forward.

DS1 is a teacher. In the last term before Christmas he was the only member of staff in his department who didn't get covid after it went through the entire year 11. He didn't have a Y11 class as he teaches mainly Y12 and 13. Delta presumably so whether they can all be reinfected I don't know. It may be coincidence but he stuck to the principle of windows open at all times . Many classrooms don't have windows that open.

They were supposed to have masks in corridoors but around 30% claimed exemption and of the remaining 70% compliance was low. Unless this changes, a policy of masks in class is not going stop transmission of a varient that is considerably more infectious.
There is substantial evidence now that masks work to protect others as well as the wearer.

His school had always planned remote lessons for some year groups this week in order to phase everyone in and test.

Here comes the sun.

Our settings ridgedly stick by cough, temp, loss of smell or taste and will not budge from the those at all.

Your very lucky to have an enlightened leader who has expanded symptoms.

Our setting pushes the fact its only guidance and we can't force them. No sensible in between.