School staff not allowed to wear masks

Same in my old school. A friend still teaching there (in her early sixties ) says she’s really scared.

I'm going back to teaching in Switzerland. Much lower risk but will wear a mask as much as possible.

If there is no risk in the UK, WHY do they find it necessary to force staff not to wear masks? If there was really no risk, no one would think they needed to.

Playing Russian roulette in schools. Nice. Maybe when the first child dies, the media will pick it up.

Poor children listening to a covered up face! That’s if they can hear okay but what about hearing difficulties of children reliant on lip reading.

I thought masks only stopped you passing on Covid and do little to stop you being infected.

In Wales the scientists believe that people will touch masks that could be loaded with infection after a few hours and then touch their eye area and the infection has found a way in.

Staff can choose whether to wear masks in the school in my daughter’s area. She has been running the schools scheme for key worker and vulnerable children and they’ve not had a one single case of CV in either children or staff in all these months, despite part of the area being one of the first hotspots.

I do think teachers should have a choice - I realise that the masks are to prevent you passing bugs on to others, but it seems a bit Draconian to ask them to sign a document.

Britain has many female Muslim teachers who choose to wear face covering. Will they have to sign something too?

I despair!

There's a whole thread on Politics disparaging teachers for not being 'can do' enough and now we have a school putting everyone at more risk than is necessary... any wonder that teachers are 'cautious'?

AGAA4

I thought masks only stopped you passing on Covid and do little to stop you being infected.

In Wales the scientists believe that people will touch masks that could be loaded with infection after a few hours and then touch their eye area and the infection has found a way in.

I thought so too.

When DD went back into the classroom after teaching online, I said I hoped she'd be wearing a mask but she said 'of course not, I can't teach through a mask'.
They are not little children, however.

Teachers weren't wearing masks throughout all this time of teaching the children of key workers, although there was PPE in a cupboard in case a child had an accident and needed close attention.

Surely since teachers are usually intelligent, they should be allowed to decide whether or not to wear a mask?

AGAA4

I thought masks only stopped you passing on Covid and do little to stop you being infected.

In Wales the scientists believe that people will touch masks that could be loaded with infection after a few hours and then touch their eye area and the infection has found a way in.

Yup!

Obligatory here, with stiff fines for bot the school and teacher if not obeyed.
The teachers get 4 disposable masks a day, plus hand sanitiser at doors and in places around the room and school.
New sinks have been installed at all the entrances to the school and the children have to wash their hands every time they go in and out.
Not back here until September but these were the measures in place before the holidays.

I understood that masks only prevented you infecting others. I agree with Luckygirl it seems a draconian step.

Where is the information about schools imposing a no mask rule?
I have searched online and cannot find anything other than a comment saying that at present the Government does not recommend the wearing of face masks in schools, but that was posted in July.

eazybee

Where is the information about schools imposing a no mask rule?
I have searched online and cannot find anything other than a comment saying that at present the Government does not recommend the wearing of face masks in schools, but that was posted in July.

My information is purely from two teachers working at local school so straight from the horses mouth as it were.

I think it's absolutely appalling if they're "not allowed", but surely this can't be true?

The obvious question: which school?

Lucca

eazybee

Where is the information about schools imposing a no mask rule?
I have searched online and cannot find anything other than a comment saying that at present the Government does not recommend the wearing of face masks in schools, but that was posted in July.

My information is purely from two teachers working at local school so straight from the horses mouth as it were.

But only two teachers in one school?
So anecdotal evidence.

The Governments last advice was that masks will not be mandatory.
The Children's Commissioner may advise that children should wear them.

What does their union say about this demand?

I have no idea mcem. I don't work there anymore, but the two ex-colleagues I'm friends with have both said the same thing. 'The school has made us sign a document to say with the level of measures they've put in place we don’t need to wear masks.' Except their role before the summer holidays was unusual, because they were only responsible for the children of key workers and even then they said it was impossible to socially distance.

eazybee, I'm not prepared to name the school on here. But I worked there until Christmas. And the people that told me wouldn't lie. It's a school in an academy chain.

And AGAA4 and lemongrove, they told us that because the UK had insufficient PPE for medical staff, let alone the public. It was always a lie and they've reversed their opinion anyway.

I have taught, exercised and slept in a mask in the past (in China). It's harder in summer when it's hot, but it's doable. And at the very least in school, it should be personal choice. To BAN staff from wearing masks is disgusting IMO.

Again though, where is the proof that this is going to be the case in UK schools?

AGAA4

I thought masks only stopped you passing on Covid and do little to stop you being infected.

In Wales the scientists believe that people will touch masks that could be loaded with infection after a few hours and then touch their eye area and the infection has found a way in.

Masks stop the wide spread of the droplets and aerosols which carry the virus*. Logically they would only become 'loaded' with virus particles if you were in prolonged contact with an infectious person who was not wearing a mask. Or if you, yourself, were infected, in which case touching it and then your face really wouldn't make any difference to you, would it?

(* I do realise that they don't stop everything, but they reduce the viral load in the air)

I don't understand what the Welsh scientists were thinking..

lemongrove

Again though, where is the proof that this is going to be the case in UK schools?

This is happening in my old Northumberland school. What proof are you expecting? A copy of the document they were forced to sign?

Before having any such document forced on me, I would consult my union rep. Don't understand why they haven't.

It isn't any that simple in schools now they're not state owned/run. Workers rights have been eroded. Staff are scared to stand out.