Read on Twitter
A short thread on masks in schools.
There’s seems to me two points that the most vehemently anti-mask accounts are either missing or ignoring whilst using their access the the media to shout their message loudly...
There’s seems to me two points that the most vehemently anti-mask accounts are either missing or ignoring whilst using their access the the media to shout their message loudly...
The first is the subtlety of the government U-turn. Masks are not mandatory, they’re just no longer banned, which was always a ridiculous position to take when the school reopening guidance was first published back in June/July.
Having masks (or less emotive, face coverings) as part of an arsenal of measures available to schools to slow spread of the virus is sensible.
Having the option to use them in corridors during transitions, at pinch points or during bubble assemblies, or perhaps in some circumstances in classrooms is handy.
They are correct that for some students and their parents the option to wear a mask will reassure them and make their return to school more likely. They are also right that some students will misuse their masks. But many will not.
If infection rates in a local community are low, face coverings will likely not be worth the extra hassles that they will inevitably bring. But if/when infection rates in the community rise then it might be that face coverings can be used more widely to avoid further consequences
Because this is the second point the loudly anti-mask aren’t considering; the consequences of sustained transmission in school. What happens when a school has a positive case, two cases, five or ten, or twenty in the space of a week?
There’s clues as to what plan B is for the DfE here... https://twitter.com/whazell/status/1298236341940031491
In short, a handful of covid cases in a school or bubble will lead to teaching disruption. It might be that a rota is introduced (am/pm) or (week on/week off) to try and introduce social distancing for students (HINT: from September there won’t be any)
If infections continue to spread there will be full bubble closures and perhaps full school closures and a return to online teaching. That is the consequence that mask wearing needs to be weighed against, not “things as normal” because things are not normal right now.
Locked down teaching online for four months has been one of the most unpleasant experiences of my life. My mental health suffered and I do not want to go back there. That is why I support face coverings in school. Because I want to be teaching in classrooms.
I want us to return to as close to normal as possible. So if that means a new timetable, no in person staff meetings, weird bubbled breaktimes, not marking books (
), hand sanitizer at every room and in some circumstances the wearing of face coverings, so be it.
), hand sanitizer at every room and in some circumstances the wearing of face coverings, so be it.
I want to be back in the classroom in front of my students. I love teaching and I hope my students love learning from me. That’s where I want to be. It’s where every teacher wants to be and we need to keep our eye on this prize, even if under those eyes is a face covering.
