Masks all day in school

[ihearttc]

Furious just about sums up how I feel at the moment. Just had an email from DS1’s school (he is going into Y11) saying they will be required to wear masks all day long in school from the minute they get inside the school gates to when they leave. They are allowed to take them off to eat lunch but will need to be put back on immediately. Before I fire off an email to the school, just wondered how I stand legally with refusing to give permission for him to wear one all day long? It’s completely against the DofE guidance which states corridors and transitions only.
We live rurally and are in a very very low Covid area for what’s its worth, no where near areas on local lockdown.

[quote ihearttc]@noblegiraffe

There is that point, but then why have the government only suggested it in transition areas? Surely they must have got the evidence from somewhere (or maybe not!!)[/quote]
I genuinely think the government have dug themselves into a hole on this. The minute there’s any suggestion that classrooms aren’t safe entirely as they are (and this would be signalled by masks) then the whole facade crumbles. They were going to announce masks in communal areas for all schools last Tuesday and the switch to lockdown areas only was done at the last minute (from Tory MP pressure, not science advice I heard).

Matt Hancock nearly let it slip last week when he said it all falls apart if teachers don’t stay 2m from the kids (which 90% of teachers have said is impossible).

It’s a political decision. There is no genuine scientific explanation that I’ve seen that makes a classroom not a ‘communal area’ and therefore outside of the need for extra mitigation measures.

I assume the head can see this too.

[quote ihearttc]@sniggy01

That sounds completely reasonable and what I expected, absolutely no problem with that at all. I have an issue with them being told to put them on the second they get in the school grounds and only remove them when they leave so they need to wear them in every single lesson including break and lunchtime which is not what your school are doing.

My son actually doesn’t care and isn’t bothered about wearing one, this is coming from me not him because i don’t believe it is necessary to wear one for 6 hours straight.[/quote]
Why don't you trust him to make his own judgement?

If he doesn't care why are you teaching him to refuse a request he finds reasonable?

Surely what you say as a decent parent is "I'm pleased you are happy with this son. If you find it's an issue etc then make an appointment with form tutor to discuss with a reasonable alternative suggestion"

I always imagine when I hear about youngsters who start in work environment and are given instructions like "you must ask permission to leave shop floor to use facilities" and respond or strop with "they can't dictate if I use the toilet or not"

It's because they learn to be combative with rules and therefore often see a rule as more inhibitive than it is.

I've never sent an email to ds school without discussing with him first whether he wants me to, whether he needs me too and can deal with it himself or if he agrees I should.

Thanks Waltz! :)

@TrustTheGeneGenie

Maybe its because they chose the wrong time and place to have the discussion

No let's not make excuses. Secondary schools are not places for discussions. Especially in academy's. It's shut up, put up, keep our attendance and grades up or fuck off.

As much as it pains me my experience of academies is the same.

My ds was a MS secondary.

He moved from the academy. They were the same with parents and from what I observed their staff too! But that maybe anecdotal as based on the 2 academies in my town.

I suspect there's many good ones out there!

noblegiraffe

Completely agree. The nonsense is in not mandating masks in classrooms. There is no logical reason why they don't need to be worn other than the government would be admitting that classrooms aren't safe

[quote WaltzfortheMars]@WhySoMuchMess funny that Noble has always been trusted and respected teacher on MN who is always willing to help us parents.[/quote]
Completely agree.

@sniggy01

I’ve sent the email because I want them to know that I, as a parent am unhappy with what they are proposing. He is more than capable of speaking up for himself but then it will look like it’s him just being difficult rather than anything else. He is happy to wear one because despite being 15, he is a polite, well behaved boy who is desperate to go back to school. That doesn’t mean he actively wants to wear one and as his parent (he is after all still a child despite being 6ft 2!) I am also allowed to have an opinion when it’s something which will potentially have an impact on him for most of the day. I haven’t been rude in the email and I’ve made it clear it’s my opinion and not his but I do think it’s important that parents also have a voice.

I would be assuming that there are a number of very vulnerable staff and pupils in that school.

@Kidneybingo

But surely the same could be said for every other school in the U.K.?

Quite probably yes. And that headteacher has knowledge of his particular staff and students and feels the protection is warranted.

Well done you.... pain in the arse keyboard warrior parent strikes again. The Headteacher obviously feels this is what’s best for their school and as you clearly state, there is no reason for him not to wear one aside him fiddling with it. As he’s 15/16, maybe tell him to not do that and to not touch his face.

Thanks @lakesidesummer that's really interesting

I don’t think the op sounds like that re pp. The guidance is there, and is usually followed.

[quote ihearttc]@Kidneybingo

But surely the same could be said for every other school in the U.K.?[/quote]
It is. And those schools will equally have varying rules re masks.

@MarshaBradyo

Thank you! I’m honestly not that sort of person who complains and I’m certainly not a “keyboard warrior” trying to make HT’s lives difficult. I’m simply trying to find out why they are doing something so different to the majority of schools in the U.K. when the actual guidance says otherwise.

@TrustTheGeneGenie

Maybe its because they chose the wrong time and place to have the discussion

No let's not make excuses. Secondary schools are not places for discussions. Especially in academy's. It's shut up, put up, keep our attendance and grades up or fuck off.

No excuses about it.

If a child tries to disrupt lessons by talking about a different subject it is wrong.

There is a time and a place.

If your child's school has decided that they don't want to talk about it at all then it is a problem with your child's school.

Not every secondary school

Ah yes @FrippEnos the problem must be the child

Imo the school is utter shite, but as it's my dss it's unfortunately not my choice.

Unfortunately it's the same at most secondaries as they'll all aiming to be "the best" which unfortunately doesn't include giving a shit about the students, only how they appear to everyone else. Probably much like this HT.

I wonder if they have teachers who are vulnerable and it's to protect them.

It would seem reasonable in that case.

Or pupils. Sometimes we have incredibly vulnerable children and the last thing we'd want would be to exclude them.

Trust your hyperbole just weakens your attempt at making a point I'm afraid.

@TrustTheGeneGenie

Ah yes *@FrippEnos* the problem must be the child

Imo the school is utter shite, but as it's my dss it's unfortunately not my choice.

Unfortunately it's the same at most secondaries as they'll all aiming to be "the best" which unfortunately doesn't include giving a shit about the students, only how they appear to everyone else. Probably much like this HT.

I didn't say that it was a problem with the child at all in fact I said

then it is a problem with your child's school.

did you miss that or just ignore it?

Schools have been providing teaching remotely for the gcse years haven't they

No, they definitely haven't. Some have, some have set work, some have done bee-all. So for some kids, they've been out of education for six months. And all of them have had no face to face interaction for six months (except for the odd lesson in July if they were very lucky - my son had one face to face tutor session lasting about 20 minutes).

I don't think it's reasonable to expect mask wearing in class. In communal areas and on public transport yes. And it's also really late notice, it's not that easy to get them quickly (and they are expensive). As it is, my son will need 3 a day, if you need to wear one all day you are looking at 4 a day (if you use public transport too, if you don't I suppose two a day will do).

Over 12's have to wear masks at all times in shops, museums etc when they are moving Yes but they won't be in those places for six hours.

did you miss that or just ignore it?

Considering I said the school was utter shite I'd say it's fairly obvious I read it.

@Mistressiggi

Trust your hyperbole just weakens your attempt at making a point I'm afraid.

Unless you've attended this school you e absolutely no idea whether it's hyperbole have you?

@TrustTheGeneGenie

Ah yes *@FrippEnos* the problem must be the child

Imo the school is utter shite, but as it's my dss it's unfortunately not my choice.

Unfortunately it's the same at most secondaries as they'll all aiming to be "the best" which unfortunately doesn't include giving a shit about the students, only how they appear to everyone else. Probably much like this HT.

And you've lost me again!

I agree some schools are autocratic.

Best school around here and I managed to get my ds moved to it - respects its students.

Listens to them. Runs an effective school council.
Changes policy by listening go to kids. Has inform but isn't so strict they control everything but compliance is high because if this.

The best secondaries - and there loads and loads - will listen.