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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
kittensinthekitchen · 02/01/2022 17:32

Perhaps they knew it was a complete waste of time since said children are all mixing without masks outside of school anyway.

@DaisyMum40

I know some still believe in stereotyping teenagers, but the vast, vast majority of them aren't hanging out in crowds of 30 outside of school

Happypootler · 02/01/2022 17:46

@Twinklingstarface

In Scotland masks were mandatory in schools last term but my understanding from a lot of children ( mine and Friends’) is that teachers grew increasingly comfortable/ relaxed with the pupils either not wearing masks or sitting under chins etc .
Or it might have been because the teachers realised that the reticent kids were even more reticent when they were mask wearing; that kids can get really self conscious when you ask them to repeat themselves because you couldn't catch what they said; that fewer kids were volunteering to read aloud/ answer questions; that the ESL kids were finding it really tough to communicate....

Yes bring masks back if we must and obviously allow the choice to wear them but please stop minimising the impact on teaching and learning.

Watapalava · 02/01/2022 17:51

Kittens

That is exactly what most teenagers are doing!!! You only have to walk to your local shop or go into a city centre or a Saturday

As a mum of two teens I can tell you most teens are ferel.

Then it’s all the after school activities like dance, gymnastics etc that they mix in

The sleepovers
Nights out
Cinema
House parties

ontana · 02/01/2022 17:51

*Or it might have been because the teachers realised that the reticent kids were even more reticent when they were mask wearing; that kids can get really self conscious when you ask them to repeat themselves because you couldn't catch what they said; that fewer kids were volunteering to read aloud/ answer questions; that the ESL kids were finding it really tough to communicate....

Yes bring masks back if we must and obviously allow the choice to wear them but please stop minimising the impact on teaching and learning.*

Agree 100% with this

ontana · 02/01/2022 17:54

"You'd presumably be wearing a clear one like every other teacher of hearing impaired students has in situations where masks have been obligatory.
Wouldn't you?"

Not sure as masks have not been obligatory for teachers in England. Last time students wore them in classrooms, teachers stayed "behind the line"

The impact on teaching and learning was awful

Piggywaspushed · 02/01/2022 17:59

I don't think we should use terms like feral. A teacher would cause outrage on MN if they referred to kids in such a way.

Hercisback · 02/01/2022 17:59

@ontana Your lived experience of masks in classrooms isn't the same as mine.

T&L wasn't impacted. Classrooms should normally be relatively quiet places unless a practical subject. Asking students to repeat answers is done in a non masked classroom anyway. I do mostly cold call questions so didn't notice the deceased volunteers for reading. I understand you may have experienced something different, but that isn't everyone's experience.

Whitefire · 02/01/2022 18:03

kittens it has certainly been suggested on this thread that ds should stay at home, and that he is probably swinging the lead anyway. (I think one poster even talked of burly* year 9's being the only ones not wearing masks)

I don't know who is posting as a teacher or a parent or a random Joe Bloggs.

*Not that he is particularly burly, he's a bit wispy.

ontana · 02/01/2022 18:07

@Hercisback I accept that and hope you can accept that my experience was different. I do not teach a practical subject but I have lots of discussion. Often I couldn't hear the students well at all which made things very difficult, so then I had to ask them to repeat themselves and they became self conscious as other teachers on here have described

Piggywaspushed · 02/01/2022 18:09

I think one of the problems with modern teaching is the emphasis in training on constant wandering around the class micro managing. Teaching from the front has definite merits.

Silverswirl · 02/01/2022 18:17

@Tryingtryingandtrying

Leaked to the papers. It is pure theatre. And the children who suffer.
This. Pure theatre. They do fucking nothing with this varient. Literally one breath is all it takes as the song goes and breath has no problem getting through masks! Useless and damaging the kids education and socialisation
PAFMO · 02/01/2022 18:38

@Whitefire

I'm pleased that ds's school is supportive, both of him not wearing a mask and also not doing LFT's, unless of course posters think it is acceptable for two to be pinning him down whilst another does the test, twice a week.
Has anyone on this thread said they think that would be OK?
PAFMO · 02/01/2022 18:39

@Silverswirl

Well, if "breath" didn't get through masks, we'd all be dead now wouldn't we? Hmm

PAFMO · 02/01/2022 18:49

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4442676-What-s-the-point-of-masks-at-school-anymore

Somebody thought another masks in schools thread was needed. Hmm

Silverswirl · 02/01/2022 19:05

[quote PAFMO]@Silverswirl

Well, if "breath" didn't get through masks, we'd all be dead now wouldn't we? Hmm[/quote]
Not if the masks were proper filter ones,, you know, masks that actually prevent you catching or passing on a virus

kittensinthekitchen · 02/01/2022 19:07

Not if the masks were proper filter ones,, you know, masks that actually prevent you catching or passing on a virus

@Silverswirl

With attached oxygen tanks? 😂

Silverswirl · 02/01/2022 19:12

@kittensinthekitchen

Not if the masks were proper filter ones,, you know, masks that actually prevent you catching or passing on a virus

@Silverswirl

With attached oxygen tanks? 😂

No obviously not! But filters that take the virus particles out. Otherwise it’s hot breath into material and out the other side/ round the sides - same breath! Does nothing!
Whitefire · 02/01/2022 19:16

PAFMO It has been said No test. No school.

MrsHamlet · 02/01/2022 19:18

@Whitefire

PAFMO It has been said No test. No school.
Where?
kittensinthekitchen · 02/01/2022 19:21

@Whitefire

PAFMO It has been said No test. No school.
By who? Anyone of importance, or just Sheila on Facebook?
Whitefire · 02/01/2022 19:22

There are people that think that.

If one can accept that there are people who deny the existence of covid I am sure one can also accept that some people who would place restrictions on those that won't / don't / can't comply.

Whitefire · 02/01/2022 19:22

Fucking hell, it isn't the Spanish inquisition.

MarshaBradyo · 02/01/2022 19:24

@Whitefire

There are people that think that.

If one can accept that there are people who deny the existence of covid I am sure one can also accept that some people who would place restrictions on those that won't / don't / can't comply.

It was suggested below by a couple of posters

Don’t comply, stay home

MrsHamlet · 02/01/2022 19:24

@Whitefire

There are people that think that.

If one can accept that there are people who deny the existence of covid I am sure one can also accept that some people who would place restrictions on those that won't / don't / can't comply.

You're presenting it as if it's a fact though. Which it isn't.
Medra · 02/01/2022 19:26

We had masks return in classrooms before Christmas. It was fine. I still did speaking tasks with pupils. The rates of Covid dropped too.