Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Masks in classrooms secondary

517 replies

Hummmmming · 01/01/2022 23:01

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
herecomesthsun · 02/01/2022 15:22

We have a very strong science department and a very scientifically qualified head...

Broadlyskinny · 02/01/2022 15:25

Oh dear @Fairylights25 

What are you on about?! Hmm
Many teachers are parents just like yourself - doing their best, working long hours and trying to stay safe. I know teachers who are trying to work out how to open their school safely next week, with a number of slt, teachers and TAs currently off with covid - they decided not to attend gatherings over Christmas to keep safe and be available.

Hopefully your teens have more sense and will follow guidance that is put in place, to try to keep everyone safe and schools open.

CallmeHendricks · 02/01/2022 15:26

@Fairylights25

Seriously callme you clearly know precisely nothing about the damage this is causing children, poor you, so ill informed.
I'm going to venture to suggest I know a tad more about schoolchildren than you do, but anyway.

What is your job, incidentally?

Newyearoldyou · 02/01/2022 15:27

I wonder if parents and students who don't want to comply can be allowed to stay at home? Isn't that the perfect solution, obviously making sure the child isn't in a vulnerable category /situation?

And student's who play up and refuse in class to wear one, constantly moan about windows, why not just let them go home.

I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with covid. Unless some nasty dangerous mutation occurs I think by summer we will be in the home straight in many many ways.

But... We are facing a crisis again, we have got about 10 weeks ahead of us of problems due to mainly staff issues!

We need to pull together and do what we can to get through, keep schools open, keep dc socialising, learning etc and for everyone to feel safe and to do that we need to do small measures.

If students and parents don't want too, don't come to school.

herecomesthsun · 02/01/2022 15:28

Makes sense

BiggerBoat1 · 02/01/2022 15:30

@newyearoldyou children have a right to an education even if they have idiot parents telling them not to wear masks. If they were at home teachers would still have to set and assess their work - how do you expect them to do that?

Newyearoldyou · 02/01/2022 15:30

Here comes, that makes sense! Although I'm very poor when it comes to maths and the sciences but I understand that the symptoms don't match the reality Confused

I find it so frustrating when a student is presenting with a cold and is told they are fine by unqualified teachers instead of asking them to test to be sure.

Or the stronger suspicions that students are pretending.

noblegiraffe · 02/01/2022 15:32

[quote BiggerBoat1]@newyearoldyou children have a right to an education even if they have idiot parents telling them not to wear masks. If they were at home teachers would still have to set and assess their work - how do you expect them to do that?[/quote]
They could do the work currently being set for children isolating with covid. That's not a problem.

Newyearoldyou · 02/01/2022 15:32

Bigger the same way they do for isolating students?

My dc had covid and they just filmed themselves? Then marked work as normal.

Schools are a community and as a community no matter what peoples personal preferences are and that include teachers, we all have a duty of care to each other.

Lovemusic33 · 02/01/2022 15:33

@WhatsitWiggle

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.
Same. My daughter struggle with mask wearing, she has Autism but because of this she also has to stick to rules so although she’s exempt she will force herself to wear one. She’s in her final months of A level, I really hope they don’t have to sit exams masked Sad. Dd wears glasses too and struggles with them steaming up, she bought herself a plastic cage to go under her mask which has helped a little. I’m guessing her school will be allowing A level students to go home if they have study periods so I will be picking her up early most days.
Newyearoldyou · 02/01/2022 15:34

Anyway it's all moot because it's only "guidance" anyway.

Nothing enforceable and older students know this. We can't do anything.

BiggerBoat1 · 02/01/2022 15:35

But isolating students only need to be given work for a week or so - that is not the same as trying to provide meaningful work over several weeks or even months.

herecomesthsun · 02/01/2022 15:35

[quote BiggerBoat1]@newyearoldyou children have a right to an education even if they have idiot parents telling them not to wear masks. If they were at home teachers would still have to set and assess their work - how do you expect them to do that?[/quote]
Our secondary has been brilliant at providing work on teams with an element of real time "touch base" sessions where questions can be asked. They have this in place already for students off because of covid. (They probably have accumulated some of the on line resources over the past 2 years, so at least some of this is ready-to-roll).

So ideological mask-refusing families could access that, couldn't they? Better than having even more kids off with covid.

noblegiraffe · 02/01/2022 15:37

People who vocally bang on about refusing to wear a mask are normally the same people who suggest that vulnerable kids should be at home (for months on end) rather than in school.

herecomesthsun · 02/01/2022 15:41

@Newyearoldyou

Anyway it's all moot because it's only "guidance" anyway.

Nothing enforceable and older students know this. We can't do anything.

There is a phenomenon in our school of peer pressure. The kids are bright and motivated and would ask their peers to justify why they aren't wearing a mask like everyone else...
noblegiraffe · 02/01/2022 15:42

Oh I found the acrostic. WTF. These people have the government's ear? Can't even do something correctly that a primary kid can manage?

Masks in classrooms secondary
herecomesthsun · 02/01/2022 15:42

@BiggerBoat1

But isolating students only need to be given work for a week or so - that is not the same as trying to provide meaningful work over several weeks or even months.
it would be a choice would it not?

more of a choice than clinically vulnerable students have, as they can't choose not to be immunosuppressed.

MarshaBradyo · 02/01/2022 15:44

@Newyearoldyou

I wonder if parents and students who don't want to comply can be allowed to stay at home? Isn't that the perfect solution, obviously making sure the child isn't in a vulnerable category /situation?

And student's who play up and refuse in class to wear one, constantly moan about windows, why not just let them go home.

I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with covid. Unless some nasty dangerous mutation occurs I think by summer we will be in the home straight in many many ways.

But... We are facing a crisis again, we have got about 10 weeks ahead of us of problems due to mainly staff issues!

We need to pull together and do what we can to get through, keep schools open, keep dc socialising, learning etc and for everyone to feel safe and to do that we need to do small measures.

If students and parents don't want too, don't come to school.

I can see some people would love it but no thanks. If dc won’t comply then that’s their decision. Same for adults
herecomesthsun · 02/01/2022 15:45

yes, should be their decision

CallmeHendricks · 02/01/2022 15:46
Grin

Maybe they were off school the day that was taught, @noblegiraffe.

noblegiraffe · 02/01/2022 15:48

If it's unacceptable as a suggestion for kids who can't/won't wear masks then it is unacceptable as a suggestion for vulnerable children.

Newyearoldyou · 02/01/2022 15:48

Marsha but there has to be a compromise.
If students refuse to wear them, putting staff at risk and other students why should they be allowed in the school community?
They can learn at home.

The alternatives are to close schools again which I don't think many people are keen on?

Let's face it, masks won't stop the spread but if a super spreader child is wearing one and chats to someone at least the volume of virus might be less...

CallmeHendricks · 02/01/2022 15:48

@Lovemusic33
@WhatsitWiggle

See, I have huge amounts of sympathy with your children and applaud them for at least 'having a go' for the general good.
As opposed to the 'muzzles' and 'face nappies' drama llamas.

MrsHamlet · 02/01/2022 15:50

@noblegiraffe

Oh I found the acrostic. WTF. These people have the government's ear? Can't even do something correctly that a primary kid can manage?
What I most like about this is the claim that it was overheard. 😂
borntobequiet · 02/01/2022 15:50

teachers can happily drink every weekend in packed clubs and pubs

Wish I hadn’t retired from teaching. Things sound much more exciting for teachers nowadays.