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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
MumbleCrumbs · 01/01/2022 23:38

Thank you for the lovely suggestions Smile. She's just in a weird place between absolutely despising them but being obsessive about wearing them iyswim? We've found the only ones she can tolerate so will have to just stick with them and hope for the best. She also has a 45 minute commute ro school and back plus a 6 and a half hour day, so it's a lot of mask wearing Sad. Dreading telling her in the morning.

user1471443411 · 01/01/2022 23:38

I'd rather have secondary schools closed for a couple of months than bring this in, just thinking of the children's comfort.

blameitonthecaffeine · 01/01/2022 23:40

You’re right, a fabric mask won’t stop it but it helps. That’s why European countries are insisting on FFP2 or higher for all, not even a surgical is acceptable and they accept far less exemptions than us and you have to prove it not just self declare

Yes, I would feel more support for this is it was FFP2 masks as that would have a real health benefit to counter the educational negatives.

However, I just looked on Amazon to see if I could get any and it's £25 for a pack of 20 and they're disposable! That's a 3 week supply for one person - way too much money for most people, I'm sure.

blameitonthecaffeine · 01/01/2022 23:42

I'd rather have secondary schools closed for a couple of months than bring this in, just thinking of the children's comfort

I think the vast majority of secondary aged children would disagree with you on that one. They don't seem overly bothered by masks probably because they don't wear them properly enough to cause discomfort anyway

I'm against this policy but it's got to be 1000x better than online learning.

whittingtonmum · 01/01/2022 23:46

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maddy68 · 01/01/2022 23:46

I teach in Spain. All students and staff have to wear masks at all times indoors and outdoors. It's not an issue and schools have remained open and functional with minimal incidences of covid

AlexaShutUp · 01/01/2022 23:51

@user1471443411

I'd rather have secondary schools closed for a couple of months than bring this in, just thinking of the children's comfort.
I find this very hard to understand. Few teenagers I know have a problem with mask wearing but they all hated it when schools were closed! I honestly can't believe that you'd prefer kids to miss out on their education for a couple of months over them having to wear a bit of cloth on their faces. The mind boggles!
rrhuth · 01/01/2022 23:53

@user1471443411

I'd rather have secondary schools closed for a couple of months than bring this in, just thinking of the children's comfort.
My children would not agree with this, even if I might rather they were home whilst things are so bad.
bert3400 · 01/01/2022 23:55

My son has been wearing one for 1.5 years (Spain) Not an issue at all. I struggle to get him to take it off, even at homeGrin

blameitonthecaffeine · 01/01/2022 23:55

Google seems to suggest you can actually reuse an FFP2 up to 5 times if you hang it up outside for a week between uses. There's enough in a box to allow for that so I've just ordered some for me and my secondary age kids. If we have to do it, we might as well do it properly.

I spend most of my teaching day singing or dancing so the added breathing space in them looks quite attractive!

To make it even more pointless where I work though - it's an age 3-18 school so half the school won't be wearing them. Unless we go into bubbles (not saying I'm hoping for that, I'm definitely not!), the older ones really might as well not bother!

supersonicginandtonic · 01/01/2022 23:55

My kids have been wearing them since before October half term. We're in the midlands

VaccineSticker · 01/01/2022 23:56

And zero safety measures for primary kids. Because they all have super natural immunity along with all their staff. They are all going to have 100% attendance 🤣

BitterTits · 01/01/2022 23:57

We (teachers) can't make them and many of them don't.

Shitfuckcommaetc · 01/01/2022 23:58

We only get surgical masks working with covid patients in hospital so I very much doubt they'll make kids wear ffp2

blameitonthecaffeine · 01/01/2022 23:58

maddy68 Is Performing Arts on the curriculum in Spain? Is there a mask exemption for that? If not, I'm surprised you don't find there is an impact. It really is a tough subject to teach when the children are in masks. Just about doable if the teacher is but still not ideal (I'm late 40s now and get really breathless dancing in a mask).

Just asking because I taught a Spanish girl last term (she just came on exchange for a term) who told me that her year group's Christmas production was the first play she'd ever been in so I don't think she studies Drama at her normal school.

saraclara · 01/01/2022 23:59

@blameitonthecaffeine

You’re right, a fabric mask won’t stop it but it helps. That’s why European countries are insisting on FFP2 or higher for all, not even a surgical is acceptable and they accept far less exemptions than us and you have to prove it not just self declare

Yes, I would feel more support for this is it was FFP2 masks as that would have a real health benefit to counter the educational negatives.

However, I just looked on Amazon to see if I could get any and it's £25 for a pack of 20 and they're disposable! That's a 3 week supply for one person - way too much money for most people, I'm sure.

FFP2s are theoretically disposable, but can be worn for some time. I use four at a time and rotate them so that each one 'rests' for three days (long enough for any virus to die) before being worn again. The last at least six weeks that way (this information was given by a doctor when even medics couldn't get hold of enough of them)

If you're a family of four or five, that pack will last you all for 6 weeks or so (probably longer).

Misaki · 01/01/2022 23:59

@blameitonthecaffeine

Unsurprising but thoroughly depressing.

My subjects cannot be taught or learned effectively if masks are being worn.

Really don't want to go back to this. But it's better than not going back at all so hey ho - onwards and upwards Sad

'My subjects cannot be taught or learned effectively if masks are being worn.'

Hmmm, no.

Every single person in my country wears a mask all the time, including all day at school. For 2 years. Schools didn't close.

The cases are very low here.

People in the UK complain that cases are high but complain about wearing masks. Won't social distance. Having New Year's parties.

I never understood this about UK.

user1471443411 · 02/01/2022 00:01

I know it wouldn't suit all teenagers learning from home for a month or so, but some would prefer it to wearing a mask all day, despite what some on here say, it isn't easy.

MrsHamlet · 02/01/2022 00:02

@WeAreTheHeroes

Kids at niece's secondary school are being made to take LFTs at school, i.e. overseen by the school, not just results accepted on trust, before the start of this term.
Only the ones whose parents consent. Which, if my experience is anything to go by, won't be many.
blameitonthecaffeine · 02/01/2022 00:02

We only get surgical masks working with covid patients in hospital so I very much doubt they'll make kids wear ffp2

No, I don't see how they could do that. Financially prohibitive. Maybe other countries provide them free? Or maybe they're cheaper?

JanglyBeads · 02/01/2022 00:03

Getting an article in the Telegraph is hardly a formal announcement from a minister though, is it?

There's lots of advice on Twitter from experts about reusing FFP2 masks, as per the pp.

AlexaShutUp · 02/01/2022 00:03

@user1471443411

I know it wouldn't suit all teenagers learning from home for a month or so, but some would prefer it to wearing a mask all day, despite what some on here say, it isn't easy.
It really isn't difficult for the majority of people. And for those who have medical or psychological reasons for finding it difficult, there are exemptions.
blameitonthecaffeine · 02/01/2022 00:06

I never understood this about UK

Misaki For me personally, it's because I don't see this effectiveness around us. It does sound like it's worked in your country. But, idk, we've done masks. Some areas of the UK are still doing masks. And the cases are just as high in schools with them as without. And schools still closed. So it's hard to believe in them. Does everyone wear FFP2 or better where you are? That's the only way I could see them really being good.

saraclara Thanks. Yes, I did google and read that so have ordered a box. Also found some were cheaper than others. Amazon put the most expensive box as the first hit (of course!)

caringcarer · 02/01/2022 00:07

It was also announced on Sky news. My son goes to special secondary and they have all been wearing masks in classroom since Oct half term to try to protect multiple children who are cev and teachers too. It is really no hardship but I still think schools will go back to online learning before end of January. This year's Year 11 have had already had much of Year 9 and all of GCSE years 10 and 11 with major disruptions. As early retired teacher I can teach child at home but so many parents are working and can't or can't get their heads around all subject specifications.

saraclara · 02/01/2022 00:09

@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 Sad. The whole thing is a bloody mess and I can't believe we're back here again.
I find FFP2s so much better. They fit snuggly around the nose, so my glasses don't steam up, and the fabric at the front stands away from the mouth, so they don't feel as claustrophobic to me.

Blue masks feel wet and clammy to me after even a few minutes. My FFP2s don't at all.