Schools banned from requiring masks unless Zahawi says otherwise

[RocketFire7]

Interesting news this morning that Nadhim Zahawi has banned schools or local public health chiefs from requiring masks without his personal approval.

Personally I think this is good news as there was a concern that individual headteachers may cause issues for political reasons.

www.thesun.co.uk/news/politics/17385033/plan-to-stop-kids-being-back-into-masks/

It wasn't "utterly reasonable" though to make this change, when cases are so high, just so that Johnson could save his job,most likely at the expense of more disruption to education, and significant illness for some children.

very glad to see that apart from a few frothers ('woke' headteachers - give me a fucking break) most people are pretty sensible. Yes, there's evidence, it's been linked to on this thread and it's really, really easy to find. Yes, public health officials know more about their local areas than Zahawi. Yes, not all kids wear them properly but lots do so cancelling all mitigations because some kids are a bit cocky/dim (absolutely not counting those who are exempt here, by the way, and I do feel very sorry for those with glasses as it's tricky) is daft.

Johnson's desperation to arse lick his back benchers should not put children and teachers at risk.

I hope schools keep them - they work, plenty of evidence to show that.

I think Zahawi is going against international science advice and will face law suits in future m. I hope those ableists pressurising him to ditch masks do too

Good. We've had no communication from DDs school about any of the new Covid rules. They seem to assume they can carry on as before without even having the decency to tell parents why.

Some schools will hang on to every Covid measure they can unless they are explicitly banned from doing so. A school in the next village shut down three year groups last week. Not because of lack of staff, but because they were "concerned at the rapid spread of cases". There were four children off. That's not a proportional response!

If government can tell schools to implement rules and have these rules followed, they should also be able to tell them to drop them and have those instructions followed.

@frazzledali

very glad to see that apart from a few frothers ('woke' headteachers - give me a fucking break) most people are pretty sensible. Yes, there's evidence, it's been linked to on this thread and it's really, really easy to find. Yes, public health officials know more about their local areas than Zahawi. Yes, not all kids wear them properly but lots do so cancelling all mitigations because some kids are a bit cocky/dim (absolutely not counting those who are exempt here, by the way, and I do feel very sorry for those with glasses as it's tricky) is daft.

Woke us a term for third against racism and similar oppression.

I don’t understand the usage here.

Very pleased to see this.

Although our schools are dropping them anyway.

It disturbs me to see many cheering authoritarianism. The sane people who pretend to me the opposite when opposing measures

Same. Definitely not sane

It’s an utterly reasonable position to me when so many children struggle with masks. It’s a balance just like everything else in this pandemic. My son in particular can’t hear the teacher and can’t be heard when talks and has gone backwards in all his subjects over the past year. And many of his friends too. The ones with glasses struggle with them fogging up every day.
But maybe many on here arguing for continuing with masks in the classroom don’t consider these issues to be important. That’s fine by the way, I don’t expect strangers to care and everyone will think about their own children which is utterly reasonable too.

their are a few activist head teachers who want to signal their activism and woke credentials by still insisting on masks

Woke doesn't mean what you think it does @sashagabadon

What else do you misunderstand?

I think it should be absolute free choice for students and teachers to wear a mask as they feel appropriate, as it should be in wider society.

It's up to the schools on this. My dc's schools are smarter than government ministers and still asking for masks.

Education is more important that what Johnson wants. And kids are gross and spread everything.

I absolutely think it should be down to the school to decide what is best for their school, their pupils, their teachers and their communities.

@RoseAndRose

Why should he override the advice of qualified Public Health Directors? Who are actually trained in public health matters?

A bit like Gav back in December 2020, you mean?

Masks in enclosed public spaces are widely recommended, so the public health advice on their use is there

Yes Gav was a disaster, and this education Secretary is a disaster.

I should just say the Tories are all a disaster.

The irony is lost on those who don’t want “woke” headteachers making public health decisions but happily let a nasty Tory who doesn’t have a clue do so.

Sometimes the medicine tastes bitter so take it.

@ClaudiaWankleman

their are a few activist head teachers who want to signal their activism and woke credentials by still insisting on masks

Woke doesn't mean what you think it does @sashagabadon

What else do you misunderstand?

I think it should be absolute free choice for students and teachers to wear a mask as they feel appropriate, as it should be in wider society.

Does it mention whether free choice is gone for individual?

This is more on a school basis, so choice is increased if not requested for all. If you want to I don’t see why not, but less likely all will be requested to wear it

@sashagabadon

It’s an utterly reasonable position to me when so many children struggle with masks. It’s a balance just like everything else in this pandemic. My son in particular can’t hear the teacher and can’t be heard when talks and has gone backwards in all his subjects over the past year. And many of his friends too. The ones with glasses struggle with them fogging up every day. But maybe many on here arguing for continuing with masks in the classroom don’t consider these issues to be important. That’s fine by the way, I don’t expect strangers to care and everyone will think about their own children which is utterly reasonable too.

Better masks which avoid these issues are available and are required in most of the rest of the world.

I guess you don’t consider vulnerable children and families.

DDs school is continuing with masks, they have said they can't make them compulsory but would appreciate it if people continue to wear them out of respect for others. DD is happy with this approach. Her school ethos is LOVELY we are very lucky.

But the government aren’t saying people can’t wear them
They are saying they are not mandated in classrooms. So if you want your child to wear one, that’s fine, they can.
I don’t so I won’t but he still has to wear it in the corridors and I am happy with that too.

@herecomesthsun

I think it is insane that schools are being forced to go against the scientific logic of trying to manage high infection rates in a pandemic by using the few mitigation measures easily available to them.

This

@toomuchlaundry

Wonder when the last time he spent a whole day in a school and actually understands what schools are going through

This too.

Zahawi Is a twat.

My DD’s school sent a letter home on Monday asking students to test every day as cases are so high.

Then Boris removed the mask mandate. I was a teacher 25 years. Why does Zahawi think they’ll pay any attention to him. Boris broke every rule going. Schools will just ignore this.

@Aimeehedge

I think Zahawi is going against international science advice and will face law suits in future m. I hope those ableists pressurising him to ditch masks do too

I hope there are lawsuits. They are particularly throwing vulnerable children (who can't actually get the vaccines they've been promised) under the bus for their egos and politics.

You don't get lower than that.

@MoiraNotRuby

DDs school is continuing with masks, they have said they can't make them compulsory but would appreciate it if people continue to wear them out of respect for others. DD is happy with this approach. Her school ethos is LOVELY we are very lucky.

You are lucky. AT DDs school they've said they're not compulsory any more but 80% still wearing them in the classroom (as was also true when they brought them in just for corridors).

It comes to something when the average secondary school child is much more intelligent than the entirety of the cabinet.

@EvilPea

I absolutely think it should be down to the school to decide what is best for their school, their pupils, their teachers and their communities.

Yes this, the headteacher is responsible for safety of their students. Not having a mask mandate may well go against their risk assessments. Which could make them legally liable if harm results.

They don't make fire safety in schools (or phone usage or many other things) a matter of 'personal choice' for teenagers and it should be the same for this.

Why should anyone follow the rules? The government don't.