What’s the point of masks at school anymore?!?

[VaccineSticker]

Before anyone shoots me down, I have worn an ffp2 mask right from the beginning and never stopped, and wont be stopping, but it’s obvious now that the plan is that there’s no plan and they are letting the virus spread, so why are they asking kids to mask up?
Asking kids to mask up is like trying to build a sea defence wall to protect ourselves from a tsunami. 🤣
The horse has bolted.
Night clubs are open, packed pubs and restaurants are open, people going into poorly ventilated offices and the list goes on, all maskless especially after all the NYE parties.
But oh no, kids now need to be masked?
Do they think we are stupid?
Do they want us to believe that they are doing something to fight omicron?
Why don’t just be honest and say we are going to let it rip?
The plan is to take it on the chin people. 🙄

Remote learning, alongside school provision for key workers and vulnerable children, is by far much harder work, much longer hours and more time consuming out of school hours than being in work normally. It makes little sense for most teaching staff to want school closures. They'd be voting to give themselves more work

Exactly. Also many teachers are also parents, and they need their kids in school so that they can go to work.

You could go and volunteer to be a supply teacher, if you want to help in your own small way.

Is this genuinely an option? Because I would. I’m not qualified but if they’d take me I’d do it.

They'd have to do a DBS check or the equivalent, but they are crying out for supply right now and I'm sure some sort of supply work would be possible to come by

@Comedycook

no, there is a scientific consensus that masks help reduce infections

Yet we were told at the beginning the general public didn't need to wear masks?

Do you understand how advice and guidelines work in a pandemic?

When this began scientists didn't understand how covid worked, what type of virus it was, what would help or not help. They made best guesses. Different countries offering different information.

As time has gone in, more and more is known about covid and how it works. Guidance and advice changes accordingly.

Initially we were told that contact on surfaces could have been a big risk. As time has gone on we know that that particular risk is minimal and time constrained, so the advice changed.

Likewise the information and advice regarding masks has changed.

And some countries recommended them from the start.

We were told at the beginning of the pandemic that there wasn't a vaccine and now they're saying there's a vaccine. I don't get it.

Yet we were told at the beginning the general public didn't need to wear masks?

I think at one time in the Middle Ages, we were all taught the earth was flat, and then things moved along? Same's happened here

@BoPeeple

You could go and volunteer to be a supply teacher, if you want to help in your own small way.

Is this genuinely an option? Because I would. I’m not qualified but if they’d take me I’d do it.

Not a teacher without qualifications, but a TA perhaps or support staff.

Supply cover, both teachers and TAs, are incredibly difficult to get right now in many areas.

If genuinely interested, you could look at signing up with a TA supply agency.

You'd need to get a DBS and you'd need a minimum level of qualification generally, such as GCSE grade C or equivalent in English and Maths. Supply agencies often often reduced cost training opportunities too.

Having a supply TA in can often help classes stay open when overall staff absence is falling.

@Barbie222

Yet we were told at the beginning the general public didn't need to wear masks?

I think at one time in the Middle Ages, we were all taught the earth was flat, and then things moved along? Same's happened here

Yes well the advice changed in a matter of months not centuries...

Likewise the information and advice regarding masks has changed

And some countries recommended them from the start

So what different information and evidence did those countries have which we didn't?

@Comedycook how very odd that scientific advice can march along so quick! 🤔

@Comedycook

Because the whole debate almost insinuates that children are being unreasonable to even attend school in the first place...the initial closure of schools has changed the entire public perception of education imo.

I've never heard the first view articulated anywhere.

I'd agree about the second, schooling has become more entrenched as a species of childminding for many, though not the entire population.

[quote Barbie222]@Comedycook how very odd that scientific advice can march along so quick! 🤔[/quote]
Even odder that advice was different in different countries. Still I suppose sharing information is pretty tricky nowadays...I mean it's not like there are phones, the internet, TV, email etc....oh wait.

It's absolutely hilarious, we're meant to believe everything the government says at all times even when the advice is constantly changing and if you dare to question any of it, you're the unreasonable one...righto.

@Comedycook

Likewise the information and advice regarding masks has changed

And some countries recommended them from the start

So what different information and evidence did those countries have which we didn't?

Hong Kong and China had the SARS outbreak in 2003 as a pretty recent example of how to deal with an airborne coronavirus.

@Comedycook

It seems sadly that there is a huge appetite for closing the schools again judging by this thread. It is staggering that education now appears to be seen as an optional extra rather than essential.

Are you on the same thread as the rest of us?

"Almost insinuates?" Not in the slightest, you're just making that up.

Partly because we had a problem with supply of PPE equipment, so were discouraged from using masks in daily life(as they were needed in hospitals etc)

Eastern countries like Japan and South Korea used masks early on as their experience with other respiratory illness taught them that masks were probably effective.

Wearing masks was a big behavioural change for the UK (though they are quite well accepted now)

Also, it was a new virus and the mode of transmission was not immediately clear (? airborne/aerosol/ via surfaces). Though masks looked like a good option early on to be honest.

However, scientific consensus was soon reached that they do help especially in indoor crowded spaces.

@Comedycook

It seems sadly that there is a huge appetite for closing the schools again judging by this thread. It is staggering that education now appears to be seen as an optional extra rather than essential.

Where have you extrapolated this nonsense from?

Yes well the advice changed in a matter of months

Mmmm could that have been the national shortage of PPE that the government wanted to hoard for the health care services… so deemed it unnecessary for Joe public?

@Comedycook, Oh, you're "bored?!"

What a shame that this global pandemic which has killed millions and seriously disrupted the lives of billions is "boring" you.

Coz the rest of us are loving it.

@Comedycook

Likewise the information and advice regarding masks has changed

And some countries recommended them from the start

So what different information and evidence did those countries have which we didn't?

Counties that already make use of masks when dealing with pollution and other viruses.

Countries that didn't have a shortage available to health care staff who needed to be prioritised.

Countries where the government listened more to scientists rather than ignoring that covid was heading their way.

🤷‍♀️

@Abraxan

By the time people did all the training the number of cases will have dropped off a cliff and the crisis will be over. Also, do secondary schools use TAs? Mine seems to just have a teacher.

I’m wondering, why are people saying ‘go and volunteer’ when it’s not realistically possible? Seems a bit disingenuous.

We have TAs but they certainly wouldn't take classes in secondary, even as cover.

[quote BoPeeple]@Abraxan

By the time people did all the training the number of cases will have dropped off a cliff and the crisis will be over. Also, do secondary schools use TAs? Mine seems to just have a teacher.

I’m wondering, why are people saying ‘go and volunteer’ when it’s not realistically possible? Seems a bit disingenuous.[/quote]
I'm sure the current crisis in recruitment won't magically be over in a few weeks, @BoPeeple . It's lasted years and we'll still need teaching staff in February! It's a shame you are having second thoughts, what was it that put you off training?

[quote BoPeeple]@Abraxan

By the time people did all the training the number of cases will have dropped off a cliff and the crisis will be over. Also, do secondary schools use TAs? Mine seems to just have a teacher.

I’m wondering, why are people saying ‘go and volunteer’ when it’s not realistically possible? Seems a bit disingenuous.[/quote]
Training for teaching will take time.

Training for TA supply, also massively sought and difficult to find at the moment, wouldn't take long. Many people will already have the minimum requirements for a level 1/2 TA. A DBS can be sought quickly and whilst working begins.

Individual schools are still taking in volunteers. We have a number coming in for different reasons. Again a DBS is often needed. A volunteer won't keep a school open though as often they can't work with small groups of children alone, let alone fill classes. But they can help,support teachers and TAs when staff absence is high, just by being another body in the room.

They might have to in the new guidance, MrsH

@Comedycook

It seems sadly that there is a huge appetite for closing the schools again judging by this thread. It is staggering that education now appears to be seen as an optional extra rather than essential.

It reads the opposite to me. A desire to try any possible mitigation that might avoid schools closing and children being taught remotely. Not one person on this thread has suggested closing schools. Lots of teachers who desperately want to avoid school closures. A few parents who don't want to do anything to prevent widespread infection in schools.

The idea of having a hall full of children being "taught" en masse is not education it's child minding.