Mask refusal in schools by pupils

[Twinklingstarface]

Seems it is the pupils rebelling now rather than the parents
apple.news/A41bZE79jR9mZVAzmNVy4uQ

@changingstages

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1033268/Respiratory_Evidence_Panel_Evidence_Overview.pdf

"No evidence...."

"More research needed...."

"The evidence specific to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still limited and does not allow for firm conclusions to be drawn for specific settings and type of face coverings"

Given we know what the negatives are of facemasks for children, anyone who has dug their heels in about this really needs to give their head a wobble.

This isn't evidence that mask wearing is ineffective or indeed that they are effective

So you take the 'precautionary principle' but do that knowing full well what the consequences are on child development and education. Nice one.

Mine tried this this week (due to laziness, not being ill-informed) and got a detention in some instant karma - which I as a parent fully support!

I’d be interested to know if mask refusal is happening in private schools too, or in state schools in posh areas. My guess is that mask refusing children are picking up this behaviour from uneducated parents.

@Alayalaya

I’d be interested to know if mask refusal is happening in private schools too, or in state schools in posh areas. My guess is that mask refusing children are picking up this behaviour from uneducated parents.

And you are one of the nice guys

@Comefromaway

I've tied everything including paying extra for anti fog lenses.

Disposable masks are the best for me in terms of not giving me headaches (I'm assuming for not making me feel so dehydrated)

Most likely because they're made to be breathable (disposable ones).

Unfortunately, we live in a capitalist society and it seems every Tom, Dick and Harry jumped on mask production (i.e. stiched some ear straps to a bit of cloth). Some masks are thick cloth so people are essentially almost suffocating themselves to have a fashionable mask.

@Alayalaya

I’d be interested to know if mask refusal is happening in private schools too, or in state schools in posh areas. My guess is that mask refusing children are picking up this behaviour from uneducated parents.

Yeah it's the thick, poor people who are to blame.🙄

@hamstersarse

This isn't evidence that mask wearing is ineffective or indeed that they are effective

So you take the 'precautionary principle' but do that knowing full well what the consequences are on child development and education. Nice one.

There is a growing body of evidence that masks contribute to a reduction in cases of 10% or more.

This research fits in with that.

There can be a positive impact of masks on education if they help education to continue in person, right in a surge of the pandemic.

I don't think there is a major "child development" issue with teenagers wearing masks, obviously if exemptions are allowed and alternative arrangements made for hearing difficulties etc.

Why is it that kids all over the world have been wearing masks for nearly two years, often at primary age, but kids in the UK can't manage it?

My Year 7 DC wears one, moans a little bit but just gets on with it because it's better than missing school through having Covid or having endless cover lessons because the staff are off with Covid. She finds the disposable ones more comfortable so I buy those.

So I guess you are disputing the BBC’s reporting of it being “not statistically significant”, along with there being not enough data concerning the more infectious Omnicron variant?

It wouldn’t be the first time the BBC got it wrong. On they other hand, they are usually fairly cautious.

Just what I said.

The trend is in the direction of supporting masks rather than the other way around.

They would have needed a bigger study to show statistical significant.

significance

I don't blame them. A lot of adults are refusing them too.

^ I am not anti-mask. I where mine when needed as does the rest of my family

My son is starting secondary in September. I'm praying things will be better by then because getting him to wear one will be a nightmare - he does have sen though!

@herecomesthsun

Just what I said.

The trend is in the direction of supporting masks rather than the other way around.

They would have needed a bigger study to show statistical significant.

So you take the precautionary principle, a trend is good enough for you.

It's not for me. I think it's an abomination to do that in an educational setting and would need clear unequivocal evidence that it has a benefit when the cost is obviously high

Different strokes for different folks

He should be exempt then.

No,what is good enough for me is the sum of the available evidence and a strong scientific consensus that masks have a positive contribution to reducing infection.

@herecomesthsun

No,what is good enough for me is the sum of the available evidence and a strong scientific consensus that masks have a positive contribution to reducing infection.

So not a trend then? Which is it?

Even if your scientific evidence shows a 1% reduction, are you happy with that? Is that enough?

My sons school have been very strict with the children wearing masks. He has said he doesn’t see any child without a mask but has said there is a number of teachers not wearing them.

He has been very grumpy the last few days as many of the other children have over mask wearing.

The extra curriculum activities after school have also had a very low attendance this week as many children preferred to go home then continue in school wearing masks.

The review for mask wearing is at the end of the month we are being told.

@bizboz

Why is it that kids all over the world have been wearing masks for nearly two years, often at primary age, but kids in the UK can't manage it?

My Year 7 DC wears one, moans a little bit but just gets on with it because it's better than missing school through having Covid or having endless cover lessons because the staff are off with Covid. She finds the disposable ones more comfortable so I buy those.

This is the point though..it may not make much difference to whether or not your child misses school. If the research shows that masks make a statistically large difference to educational disruption, we may judge they should be used. If the difference is much smaller, we should consider if the benefits outweigh the detriments. Mask wearing is detrimental to your child's engagement in classroom learning, in my experience as a teacher. But I can't quantify how detrimental, just as you can't quantify how effective. It's very difficult.

It suggested an 11% reduction, which is in the ball park of other research.

The scientific consensus comes from other studies, to which this adds.

This particular study showed a trend, that was in the direction of the other research (the other research suggests that masks are effective).

They need to do a larger study using similar methodology to get the statistical significance.

It's quite common in scientific studies to have a smaller piece of work show a trend and then a larger piece of work follows it up.

Since the decision to use masks in school was not made on the basis of this data, but on the other previous scientific consensus, the basis for that is unchanged.

@herecomesthsun

It suggested an 11% reduction, which is in the ball park of other research.

The scientific consensus comes from other studies, to which this adds.

This particular study showed a trend, that was in the direction of the other research (the other research suggests that masks are effective).

They need to do a larger study using similar methodology to get the statistical significance.

It's quite common in scientific studies to have a smaller piece of work show a trend and then a larger piece of work follows it up.

Since the decision to use masks in school was not made on the basis of this data, but on the other previous scientific consensus, the basis for that is unchanged.

Nadhim Zahawi specifically said that this is the piece of research that compelled him to bring back masks in schools. Nothing to do with Union lobbying at all, it was this evidence.

You are absolutely twisting 11%. Nowhere does it say that. I would declare that misinformation.

11% risk reduction is not worth the classroom impact of wearing masks in my view. But again I can't quantify it. And there are posters whose minds will never be changed on the issue.

If you think this decision was made on scientific research I really do despair. It was purely a political move. That was it.

You happen to agree with the outcome of that political move so are quite happy, I don't and think it is cynical and cowardly to 'pick on' children

Our school offers a choice - wear a mask or learn from home. Compulsory twice-weekly LFTs. The only exceptions are for documented medical reasons, eg Asthma.

They tried working without in early September and had 15 cases in the school within a week.

Moved to obligatory masks/testing on school premises and were down to 1 or 2 cases per week which lasted all last term, so it worked with the old variant.

Hopefully it will work with Omicron too. Fingers crossed.

Mine have been wearing masks for months now in school - most of the kids just get on with it.

TBH I think the open windows and being outside all break/lunch whatever the weather is getting them down more. It's been extremely wet since they went back.

They are finally now offically allowed to wear coats in classrooms - something most teachers had been allowing - also mine are now wearing thermal base layers as well but they still get cold especially when the seating plan puts them by the windows. I think they are just hoping spring comes soon.