Decision on masks for primary in Ireland?

[SuperDuperC]

Hi all, we're in Cork! Just keeping an eye on the news today that they may be deciding on whether children in primary will have to wear masks. Just wanting to see how everyone feels about it? I will personally feel really sad if it comes to this, they've been affected so much already and wearing a mask for 5 odd hours will be uncomfortable and block all facial expressions between each other 😕

@PleasantBirthday so we have to lay down the law and punish the vast majority of children and not give them the freedom of choice because of a tiny minority?

So it seems. If everyone was doing what they're supposed to be doing all the time, I expect it wouldn't have come to this point. But you know, whatever, we are here. There's no point in barking at me about it, I'm certainly not making the decisions, but I can see why they're being made.

@PleasantBirthday funny I thought we were just having a healthy discussion about it. I shall bow out now and go chew on a bone woof woof :)

@Radyward You said: "If you are a vaccinated adult and are vulnerable its up to you to stay at home and let us all live our lives as we see fit."

I have a compromised immune system, I'm also a carer for family members in two seperate houses. Do you have any tips on how I can stay at home? Practical tips on how I can look after my loved ones, do all their shopping, bring them to their hospital appointments, and look after their homes. It would be great if you could let me know how to do all this while, uppermost in mind, is making sure your child doesn't have to wear a mask?

Glad to see some posters taking a more measured view on this topic. Reporting from my school, two families out of the entire senior school haven't permitted their children to wear masks. Everyone else is happily wearing them. Are they all wearing them properly all the time? Mostly yes, but occasionally no. Are they touching their faces, hence their masks? Yes, while they get used to the novelty, but do they touch their bare faces anyway? Yes, a lot. Two children with sensory issues decided with their parents that they wanted to try to wear masks like everyone else - we've checked with them frequently throughout the day if they're comfortable and they've been absolutely fine, which I was surprised about but they were so proud of themselves and so was I. Do I feel safer in my room of 30 unvaccinated people, actually I do.

@PleasantBirthday

But they're not going to anyway are they? It doesn't matter if it's mandatory or not, they won't adhere to it.

And they'll be at home. That's why there has to be a line. Because there are people who will not follow any guideline unless there's a very severe consequence.

They won’t be at home. The few I know are arguing for exemptions and for those who can’t get one, would any decent school punish a child for the “sins” of their parents (I can’t imagine my school doing so but I have been impressed all round with how they’re coping in these very stressful times. Kids have been given til next Monday for a start - surely we can all agree that the Government communicating a decision for immediate effect the next day was an absolute disgrace). For the pp who’s job requires one to be worn - that’s fine, your choice to work in such a job, you’re an adult. I too wear a mask without complaint where required, doesn’t mean I’m happy for my 8 year old child to do so. What’s the problem with masks for children?

1. I think where a restriction is being placed on children there should be a strong evidence base for doing so. Factors other than covid should be taken into account in the decision-making, Government has completely abdicated all responsibility to NPHET which has as its single focus covid. Why were new restrictions placed on children at a time when hospitalisations are falling and covid deaths are considerably less than they were 2 months ago?
2. Masks are not comfortable to wear for long periods of time, I’m always delighted to remove mine when sitting down when in the office or a restaurant. Why do this to small children in their learning environment.
3. Masks impede clear communication. Voices are muffled and facial expressions obstructed. This is particularly difficult for those with hearing difficulties or certain processing disorders and the problem isn’t solved by exempting those children from mask-wearing - it’s the masks on other peoples faces that are the problem.
4. Masks place responsibilities on small children to protect their elders, who should be protecting themselves through vaccination and caution in their activities (if they deem in necessary). I think pp talked earlier about telling their children to do their bit. What happens if the child does catch covid despite these bullet-proof masks, even passes it to a vulnerable adult? Will they feel shame, guilt, anxiety? I have worked extremely hard to make covid barely talked about background noise over the last 18 months so they can be as happy and non-anxious as can be despite the restrictions on their childhood. These masks are a complete backward step in that regard. Maybe you’re happy to make your children anxious and neurotic - i most definitely am not.
5. It’s causing division. My parents WhatsApp saw it’s first fight ever yesterday. This is the most heated thread I’ve ever seen in Craicnet. Adult mask-wearing has lead to visible classification of people into “good, moral” people and “bad” people. Are we going to divide children into “good” and “bad” children? My son will wear a mask from next Monday, as I don’t think it in his best interests to stand out on this issue. I will be positive to him about it, but it doesn’t sit easy with me when I usually encourage independent and critical thinking in my children and I don’t think there is a good rationale for introducing masks for children at this time.

would any decent school punish a child for the “sins” of their parents

I don't know, do they really have a choice if that's the instruction from the department? God I feel sorry for principals right now, with having to cope with staff and student absences and next week having every shouty parent coming at them demanding exemptions.

I'd say they'll be licking the covid off the walls in coppers this weekend.

@Puppalicious I agree with everything you have said in your last post. I read a really good letter in the paper today ( I absolutely don't blame schools btw) and it was basically pointing out that school children are in classrooms that are freezing cold (feel air viltration systems should be the way forward) , in masks which hinders their expression , ability to hear, is uncomfortable for most), a lot prob anxious with all of this, well then maybe they shouldn't be there at all... that's what we are starting to feel in our house tbh.. We have to work but I am flexible at the mo, the whole thing doesn't sit right with me at all.. the masks are part of a much bigger picture of blame and constant disadvantage to children throughout this. Swimming classes being cancelled here.. for kids obviously.....again

Haven't seen any shouty parents just people complying but utterly worn down and fed up tbh..

@anyname1 ill mind me and you mind you. Thats your business .what my kids are forced to wear is v much my business. Children should not be co erced by principals to "mind society " i object strongly to my parental rights ridden rough shod over.

To re iterate -

No risk assessment done atall !!

Principals policing or rather told to police who is allowed an education.

I am fully aware its a pandemic we have now lived with and scientists have studied for 19 months. 94% vaxxed now. Fgs what is this new measure / why now ??

. How dare they decide this with no consultation.if you arent scared of that i dont know what to say.
Tony Holohan needs to go. Nphet needs to go. Let us live our lives please.
Life is now joyless. Controlled at every step.
We all stepped up to the mark and got vaccinated to protect us / the general population/ our shambolic HSE but now what !!
Oh no my irish people , just do more / ACTUAL children do more / not 1 word has been mentioned about restoration of personal freedoms.
I hate mask wearing as its ABNORMAL but will do it til the laws change but object strongly to NO END PLAN .

This is not living in my book.
Not 1 word about MENTAL HEALTH
Not 1 word about anyother illness except the covid show. I dont see anyone dropping dead in S Africa. A mild illness. Obvs some poor person will react badly to omicrom and RIP but like why should the whole worlds population live in a near constant state of fear for a small number of people. People die every yr from flu and thats accepted yrly. Covid is here forever. I sure as hell do not want my children or me masked for ever !!!
Every single Nphet forecast has been so wide off the mark its madness. Its like nPhet is on a power trip and all though the last 19months i have had no issue with anything but the fact restrictions are affecting my kids contentment in school /Restrictions have come into my childrens lovely home which has been sacrosanct the last 19 months I am furious !! l
Shame on MM / LV / the ineffective stupid opposition / INTO and the dept. Shame on them

My poor 8 yr old this morning had the mask on under his nose( what a crime !!) i said thats alright you have it on. Stressed over having a pouch. Lost one the first day wearing the poor little fella. The poor child. I will not forget this at the ballot. So ill be positive to him to help him / support him the poor lad until this nightmare ends . Just watch -the demonstration in dublin tomorrow will be scantily reported if any thing / looked down on and passed off as loonys NOT concerned parents . The narrative controlled. Just watch climate/ hospitality covid leaks will be out tomorrow to shove this to the middle pages of the news and there you go its in FOREVER

One of my colleagues worked in Japan for 3 years. As we all know, for decades Japanese people, including very young children, have been wearing masks when they have colds. My colleague was talking to some of her friends there last night and she was telling them about the resistance here among some people to masks for children in schools. Her friends were completely baffled as to why children haven't been wearing masks all along and can't understand why it's only from age 9 up. All have themselves worn masks since early childhood when they've had colds and flus and have had no ill effects when wearing them.

So Joolsin, what age would you like them to be wearing from? I understand that in some countries (I think maybe UAE) they wear them from 2, is that what you would like, if 8 isn’t young enough for you?

Now new leaks from nphet regarding hospitality. Why is this allowed these leaks??
if you own a restaurant tonight , how mentally stressed must you be ? Its psychological torture omg how awful. The govt and nphet need to leave the public alone..so.many decisions taken away from people. Its just horror inducing. And frighteningly like an experiment.
.poor chefs / poor college students needing a few euro at a weekend / poor publicans with families.
I follow NZ news on twitter and I often thought TG i dont live in woke Nz with jacinda as leader bur hey we have the wokest govt.in the eu !! our own ardernesque govt here to be living under!! Lovely
.

The sooner they bring in the law for children to wear masks the better. It'll stop all the dithering about.

@Puppalicious

So Joolsin, what age would you like them to be wearing from? I understand that in some countries (I think maybe UAE) they wear them from 2, is that what you would like, if 8 isn’t young enough for you?

I'm happy with 9, thanks awfully, @Puppalicious - although I see no logic-based reason why some people insist our children are so very different from children in other countries who routinely wear masks. How come wearing masks traumatises/maims our children, as some would have it, when it doesn't elsewhere?

8, not 9, for certain kids in third class. Both HIQA and the ECDC did not recommend masks in under 12s www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/COVID-19-in-children-and-the-role-of-school-settings-in-transmission-second-update.pdf
I don’t think anyone is claiming masks are maiming children, but I fail to see any logic-based reason for imposing masks on our children without a very good, evidence based reason to do so. Anecdotal tales from friends of friends from an entirely different culture doesn’t really do it for me, I’m afraid.

@Radyward

If you are a vaccinated adult and are vulnerable its up to you to stay at home and let us all live our lives as we see fit. Vaccinated vulnerable should look out for thelselves and not subject everyone to this forever. So then this is it then this half life we all live now. Do us a favour also this BS i wear a mask to protect you / it shows i care / the vaccine shows i care its like a cult ! I think the socially responsible thing was to get the vaccine of course but this is a new low. A part of my kids childhood will now be sacrificed at the altar of covid/nphet !!!

What a selfish and ignorant statement.

How come wearing masks traumatises/maims our children, as some would have it, when it doesn't elsewhere?

How do you honestly know that wearing masks all day isn't harming children?
How do you know it isn't chaffing their skin?
How do you know what the long term effects will be on children constantly hearing muffled voices?
What about ASD children who struggle to read facial expressions, masks are really going to help them - level the field I suppose nobody can see faces so they won't be any different.

We are two years into covid, it's not going anywhere, we have to get back to normal not mask children.

I would like to wish everyone well who attends the protest today. I would be there with bells on only I need to stay home and take care of my sick 13 year old.

Since dropping the breather breaks from masks in school he has literally been continuously sick with colds and sore throats. His work is now starting to suffer and he is developing anxiety but hey, let's get the even younger kids masking up now.

I shall continue to email Foley and Martin.

Sure I heard a preschool teacher from the US talking about kids wearing masks from 3 years old there and sure not a bother on them @Joolsin!
I mean they have been so succesful obviously. If masks from 9 help alleviate the pressure on hospitals , that would be amazing but I don't think they will do v much tbh , third dose vaccinations hopefully will.
NEPET have said they hope schools will open after Christmas.... yes...really.

People are going to protest today? Mmmm.

So apparantly 5k at the protest. Not reported as such.
Im sick at the thought of my 3 children in for a long week in masks..hosp. numbers dropping
Michael mcgrath td saying some restrictions might be eased earlier but that pertains to the hospitality ones .
I am continuing to email norma foley / MM /LV / that muppet sean kyne stating kids like wearing masks- Pleae pipe down!!

Im worried that parental consent is being watered down.with principals now bouncers in primary schools. Its all so crazy. I will always be vehemently opposed to children in masks . Implemented over night by a knee jerk govt which affects my children day to day.

I saw our local T D was out and about at a christmas market. Well if i bumped into him.i would v calmly state my stance on his governing party doing this !!!