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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:
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10
MarshaBradyo · 02/01/2022 15:51

@Newyearoldyou

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...

I can see people pushing for this but really no, this level of control isn’t right.

An adult can still access food shopping if they don’t comply. Or go on public transport. We can’t just put exclusions on children because we don’t like their decisions.

Dghgcotcitc · 02/01/2022 15:53

Well I look forward to the super low rates in schools by the end of January that the magic masks will provide, if that doesn’t happen we could maybe reassess if it makes a difference or is window dressing?!

And Italy had over 100,000 covid cases yesterday, so they are not my definition of low but if that is the aim (to get cases to around the 150,000 mark) maybe masks will make the difference!

To be honest i actually Don’t care whether they do wear masks or not but I have seen no evidence of any country that has maintained low rates in any group by mask wearing alone. So that people think there is suggests that it’s more about an pro-mask wearing ideology than anything else to me.

But as I said we have them now so we will be able to look at the evidence In January and know.

MarshaBradyo · 02/01/2022 15:53

And if they claim exemption how will you prove they are not?

herecomesthsun · 02/01/2022 15:53

More of an option than an exclusion

MarshaBradyo · 02/01/2022 15:55

@herecomesthsun

More of an option than an exclusion
Like opting out of food shops or going on a bus..

People’s reactions to others and level of control to exert is concerning.

MrsHamlet · 02/01/2022 15:56

@MarshaBradyo

And if they claim exemption how will you prove they are not?
We won't. But most students will wear masks with a minimum of fuss. Some parents will claim exemption. Some will make a huge fuss about it. The most "interesting" thing will be when an exempt student chooses to wear a mask.
noblegiraffe · 02/01/2022 15:56

I don't think anyone who thinks masks might be useful ever suggest that they be used on their own.

More usually a part of a set of mitigations (which schools won't have).

Thickasmincepie · 02/01/2022 15:57

I live in Wales.

No packed pubs and clubs for me. Sad

Watapalava · 02/01/2022 16:00

Kids do not need to 'prove' an exemption because the masks are ''recommended' and advisory. They are not law like they are in shops and other indoor areas. They cannot be forced and kids do not have to explain. The guidance makes it clear the difference between should, advice and must. They also make it clear that masks are not a requirement for being allowed on site.

MarshaBradyo · 02/01/2022 16:02

@Watapalava

Kids do not need to 'prove' an exemption because the masks are ''recommended' and advisory. They are not law like they are in shops and other indoor areas. They cannot be forced and kids do not have to explain. The guidance makes it clear the difference between should, advice and must. They also make it clear that masks are not a requirement for being allowed on site.
Good. I wouldn’t want what was asked for below to happen.
herecomesthsun · 02/01/2022 16:02

If there is no medical reason for an exemption then not wearing a mask is a choice. And in schools, choices have consequences.

Last time masks were being encouraged, our secondary said that wearing a mask or not was a choice.

But students choosing not to wear a mask were asked to stay 2m away from their teachers (this was pre vaccine).

I think that was entirely reasonable.

Not sure exactly how this will be managed this time.

WouldBeGood · 02/01/2022 16:03

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herecomesthsun · 02/01/2022 16:03

also, the government did say previously that masks were an internal disciplinary matter for schools

entirely happy to support schools on this

Newyearoldyou · 02/01/2022 16:04

But a child not wearing a mask is in danger of controlling those around them to a much more detailed degree by giving them covid and therefore confining them to their house?
Then impacting by domino effect their families?

And the degree of control will be much worse if the infected classmate or teachers end up in hospital??

herecomesthsun · 02/01/2022 16:04

yes

LetsGoFlyAKiteee · 02/01/2022 16:05

@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?
Love the comments underneath! Like someone said..its been said for years lol. I dont get it. They want schools to stay open but when given something that should help a bit suddenly its war on children or something dramatic. Odd lot. Quite fun read though
Watapalava · 02/01/2022 16:05

You cannot disciple a teen for something that is advisory.

Watapalava · 02/01/2022 16:06

Here - no the didnt - it was in the news in OCT that sschools are not allowed to send kids home, given detention etc. It made the news as there was uproar over kids being told off

mumsneedwine · 02/01/2022 16:07

Well once again, we tried. We tried to keep schools open, we tried to protect people from getting ill. All we asked was for some ventilation, masks and some screens. This term is not going to be education, it's going to be firefighting. Again. Poor bloody kids.

MrsHamlet · 02/01/2022 16:08

@Watapalava

You cannot disciple a teen for something that is advisory.
Of course you can. We can discipline a teen for not having a pen, so we can discipline them for not following the rules.
WouldBeGood · 02/01/2022 16:08

Just get jagged and stop stressing

herecomesthsun · 02/01/2022 16:10

@Watapalava

Here - no the didnt - it was in the news in OCT that sschools are not allowed to send kids home, given detention etc. It made the news as there was uproar over kids being told off
If it is permitted for schools to have rules, then they can discipline according to those rules; our school is very well disciplined and has a strong ethos of respect for teachers.

So, whereas students did not have to wear a mask, they did need to follow the rule of not coming close to a teacher if they weren't wearing one Grin

Not sure where we are with that now, but of course I'd fully support that.

cansu · 02/01/2022 16:11

Most schools ask parents to phone or write to the school to let them know they wish their child to be exempt. Then a list of students is circulated. All these who think that their child's freedom is being curtailed just need to do this. I don't necessarily have lots of confidence in masks as a way of keeping transmission low but it is all we have so we make the best of it. I find it hard to teach in a mask. It is harder to hear students. I don't however make a huge fuss about it and most students don't either. Many have chosen to wear them even when the rules were not in place. Most of Europe manage this without any of this hysteria.

WouldBeGood · 02/01/2022 16:13

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herecomesthsun · 02/01/2022 16:15

Our school is even keener on testing and keeping positive or symptomatic individuals away from school.

That + masks would help