why can't teachers just wear masks in the fall?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids wear shirts to school, wear pants and shoes. They'll wear masks too. Probably not N95 masks but masks.

No, they won’t. Look at the teen board and you will see hundreds of posts from frustrated parents and rebellious teens. I can demand they wear them in my class and then they will ask to go to the bathroom. Some will take them off for a break, others to vape or have time with the SO. At the end of class the 30 students will scatter in crowded hallways to go to 30 other classes. Masks are uncomfortable and most are not going to keep them on all day.

You say they wear shirts and pants. We struggle to get them to wear shirts and shorts to cover their private areas. That’s hard enough to enforce. You think they will all wear masks?

Then send them home. Tell them they can’t come back until they’re in a mask.

+1

For a global pandemic, you can enforce rules.

Take it up with administrators. As of last year they got rid of detentions, suspensions and didn’t even send the kids home who were high or suspected of selling drugs. There is not discipline anymore. It’s restorative justice. They would bring them in to speak with them and talk about their feelings. Students know rules don’t really apply anymore. Teachers do not have the ability to send anyone home.

Obviously this is a change that administrators, or possibly even higher level, would make. Teachers don't change district and school policy. There's some narrow thinking on this thread.

[Anonymous]

The idea that all school children will keep masks on is a joke. It's also illegal to vape in the school bathrooms, but we had 20+ kids suspended for doing exactly that last year in my middle school. Suppose those same 20 kids get suspended for not wearing masks--great, but the damage is done and the germs are spread in the meantime.

I mean, maybe that's a level of risk we are all willing to take, or at least some of us are. But it's absolutely not realistic to think that kids will keep masks on all day, regardless of the consequences. We tell kids they will be expelled for bringing weapons and charged by the police for distributing nude photos, but both happen every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids wear shirts to school, wear pants and shoes. They'll wear masks too. Probably not N95 masks but masks.

No, they won’t. Look at the teen board and you will see hundreds of posts from frustrated parents and rebellious teens. I can demand they wear them in my class and then they will ask to go to the bathroom. Some will take them off for a break, others to vape or have time with the SO. At the end of class the 30 students will scatter in crowded hallways to go to 30 other classes. Masks are uncomfortable and most are not going to keep them on all day.

You say they wear shirts and pants. We struggle to get them to wear shirts and shorts to cover their private areas. That’s hard enough to enforce. You think they will all wear masks?

Then send them home. Tell them they can’t come back until they’re in a mask.

+1

For a global pandemic, you can enforce rules.

Look I try not to post on this board often because I know most people on here don’t know the reality of working in a school but PP is absolutely right about middle and high schoolers wearing masks. And who is going to send them home? Part of the reason there is a teacher shortage is administration and districts don’t enforce any behavior rules. They will not send every kid home who won’t wear a mask. They don’t even send kids home who bring weapons to school.

+1
It's not easy to send a kid home from school. Maybe there could be some sort of emergency declaration that would allow schools to do that but you'd need a willing guardian to pick them up.

+ 1

We are in MCPS. Kids rarely get sent home. Even if they’ve been involved in a fight or what ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids wear shirts to school, wear pants and shoes. They'll wear masks too. Probably not N95 masks but masks.

No, they won’t. Look at the teen board and you will see hundreds of posts from frustrated parents and rebellious teens. I can demand they wear them in my class and then they will ask to go to the bathroom. Some will take them off for a break, others to vape or have time with the SO. At the end of class the 30 students will scatter in crowded hallways to go to 30 other classes. Masks are uncomfortable and most are not going to keep them on all day.

You say they wear shirts and pants. We struggle to get them to wear shirts and shorts to cover their private areas. That’s hard enough to enforce. You think they will all wear masks?

Then send them home. Tell them they can’t come back until they’re in a mask.

+1

For a global pandemic, you can enforce rules.

Look I try not to post on this board often because I know most people on here don’t know the reality of working in a school but PP is absolutely right about middle and high schoolers wearing masks. And who is going to send them home? Part of the reason there is a teacher shortage is administration and districts don’t enforce any behavior rules. They will not send every kid home who won’t wear a mask. They don’t even send kids home who bring weapons to school.

+1
It's not easy to send a kid home from school. Maybe there could be some sort of emergency declaration that would allow schools to do that but you'd need a willing guardian to pick them up.

+ 1

We are in MCPS. Kids rarely get sent home. Even if they’ve been involved in a fight or what ever.

+2

They sit in the office all day unless we have to call the cops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have two hearing impaired students this year. While I won’t teach them next year someone else will as well as the many other DHOH students in inclusion classes. While only some lip read, others who have partial hearing will lose quality of sound when the teacher wears a mask. Try using your phone while wearing a mask or participating in Zoom that way.

THANK YOU for thinking of these students. My younger kid is HOH and I am worried about this. I know mask wearing is for the common good, but it is going to be tough for them unless those masks with a clear window become widely available (and even then it will be harder due to lack of clarity).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m so sick people asserting that since nurses do something, then teachers should do the same. It’s a false equivalency. The job of a nurse is to provide care to sick or injured people. They are fully aware of what they’re signing up for when they decide to go to school to become a nurse. They are aware that they will be on the front lines in the event of a pandemic or whatever health issue people are facing. Same with EMTs/firefighters/police officers etc. They are first responders. It’s in the job description that they will be putting themselves in danger and they knowingly sign up for that.

In what world are teachers in the same category as the aforementioned? No one gets an education degree assuming they will have to teach germy children in a pandemic. Let’s keep it real here. No one would care this much or be this opinionated about how teachers do their job in a pandemic if they weren’t just upset that they lost their free childcare. That’s what this is about.

And with this post, I’m out. I’m not even a teacher but I’m so so done with these threads and the teacher bashing that goes on here. It’s gross and reveals how disgusting most of humanity is when people don’t have control over a situation and would prefer for others (who didn’t sign up for it), plus their own children, to put their health at risk so that they don’t have to be inconvenienced in any way.

Good luck, all. I hope you get some perspective one day. You sorely need it.

✌🏼

That’s fine. Why do teachers then expect a paycheck if they can’t perform their duties. I would rather school districts procure online curriculum designed to work for remote learning and hire personnel that are are capable of providing remote learning supplementation. If that means a current teacher loses her job because he/she doesn’t have sufficient child care to perform a full day’s worth of remote learning work, so be it. Especially now since teachers say remote learning is not their area of expertise (their teaching degree did not provide them this training) and if remote learning is the new norm, school districts need to hire personnel who have the expertise or can obtain the expertise over the summer, weekends, and evenings if they want to teach in this new reality and receive a paycheck. Currently, the teacher’s attitude is poor me, I still deserve a paycheck and it’s the school districts responsibility in training me etc. In the real world, employees have to adapt and take initiative to keep their jobs, why should teachers be any different.

Employers absolutely train their current/veteran employees when transformations occur and new skills are necessary. DH and I are both career changers. We’ve been trained multiple times in our former careers. DH was in the military. The armed forces certainly doesn’t discard a third or more of its current force when technology or other skills change. They might recruit some new people, but they also train existing members.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids wear shirts to school, wear pants and shoes. They'll wear masks too. Probably not N95 masks but masks.

No, they won’t. Look at the teen board and you will see hundreds of posts from frustrated parents and rebellious teens. I can demand they wear them in my class and then they will ask to go to the bathroom. Some will take them off for a break, others to vape or have time with the SO. At the end of class the 30 students will scatter in crowded hallways to go to 30 other classes. Masks are uncomfortable and most are not going to keep them on all day.

You say they wear shirts and pants. We struggle to get them to wear shirts and shorts to cover their private areas. That’s hard enough to enforce. You think they will all wear masks?

Then send them home. Tell them they can’t come back until they’re in a mask.

+1

For a global pandemic, you can enforce rules.

Take it up with administrators. As of last year they got rid of detentions, suspensions and didn’t even send the kids home who were high or suspected of selling drugs. There is not discipline anymore. It’s restorative justice. They would bring them in to speak with them and talk about their feelings. Students know rules don’t really apply anymore. Teachers do not have the ability to send anyone home.

Obviously this is a change that administrators, or possibly even higher level, would make. Teachers don't change district and school policy. There's some narrow thinking on this thread.

If you can’t get them to pull up their pants after a decade of the fashion how in the he!! will you get them to wear masks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m so sick people asserting that since nurses do something, then teachers should do the same. It’s a false equivalency. The job of a nurse is to provide care to sick or injured people. They are fully aware of what they’re signing up for when they decide to go to school to become a nurse. They are aware that they will be on the front lines in the event of a pandemic or whatever health issue people are facing. Same with EMTs/firefighters/police officers etc. They are first responders. It’s in the job description that they will be putting themselves in danger and they knowingly sign up for that.

In what world are teachers in the same category as the aforementioned? No one gets an education degree assuming they will have to teach germy children in a pandemic. Let’s keep it real here. No one would care this much or be this opinionated about how teachers do their job in a pandemic if they weren’t just upset that they lost their free childcare. That’s what this is about.

And with this post, I’m out. I’m not even a teacher but I’m so so done with these threads and the teacher bashing that goes on here. It’s gross and reveals how disgusting most of humanity is when people don’t have control over a situation and would prefer for others (who didn’t sign up for it), plus their own children, to put their health at risk so that they don’t have to be inconvenienced in any way.

Good luck, all. I hope you get some perspective one day. You sorely need it.

✌🏼

That’s fine. Why do teachers then expect a paycheck if they can’t perform their duties. I would rather school districts procure online curriculum designed to work for remote learning and hire personnel that are are capable of providing remote learning supplementation. If that means a current teacher loses her job because he/she doesn’t have sufficient child care to perform a full day’s worth of remote learning work, so be it. Especially now since teachers say remote learning is not their area of expertise (their teaching degree did not provide them this training) and if remote learning is the new norm, school districts need to hire personnel who have the expertise or can obtain the expertise over the summer, weekends, and evenings if they want to teach in this new reality and receive a paycheck. Currently, the teacher’s attitude is poor me, I still deserve a paycheck and it’s the school districts responsibility in training me etc. In the real world, employees have to adapt and take initiative to keep their jobs, why should teachers be any different.

You seem to believe that teachers performing their job is equivalent to you feeling totally satisfied with what they do. That is not the case and you aren’t in charge! If their actually boss doesn’t think their performance is adequate then they can put them on an improvement plan. They can’t just be let go because that’s not how teaching works. We have due process rights.
Good luck at your own job. I really hope you can keep up with expectations because I’m sure you rely on your paycheck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
That’s fine. Why do teachers then expect a paycheck if they can’t perform their duties. I would rather school districts procure online curriculum designed to work for remote learning and hire personnel that are are capable of providing remote learning supplementation. If that means a current teacher loses her job because he/she doesn’t have sufficient child care to perform a full day’s worth of remote learning work, so be it. Especially now since teachers say remote learning is not their area of expertise (their teaching degree did not provide them this training) and if remote learning is the new norm, school districts need to hire personnel who have the expertise or can obtain the expertise over the summer, weekends, and evenings if they want to teach in this new reality and receive a paycheck. Currently, the teacher’s attitude is poor me, I still deserve a paycheck and it’s the school districts responsibility in training me etc. In the real world, employees have to adapt and take initiative to keep their jobs, why should teachers be any different.

There are so many ways to respond to this but I'll just say, thank goodness that teachers like children, even children who have parents like you.

Seriously! Teachers are saints for putting up with parents like this PP. I bet this person will continue teleworking in the fall while telling teachers to suck it up.

(This is where the PP will respond and say they are an essential worker on the front lines every day... and they are probably lying.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you give speeches in mask?

Yes, we do patient rounds on them every day.

Not even close to talking for almost 6 hours straight so the kids in the back can hear..

Many people with asthma or anxiety caused by masks limiting breathing do teach and did not enter higher paying medical profession.

Put mask now for ten minutes and come back. Masks are good for those who have zero lungs, heart or related issues. Any oxygen restriction can be fatal.

Many kids and teachers won't be abe to war them 6 hours sraight. Ths can cuse serious lung issues.

[Anonymous]

Actually I do telework but don’t have children that require supervision; therefore, my work responsibilities are still accomplished. For my employees that do require them to supervise their child during they day, they have the option to take leave, leave without pay, or make up hours if feasible during nights or weekends. If they can’t do their job, they aren’t entitled to a paycheck. As for employers providing training, its a business proposition they need to decide if it worth retraining employees or cutting bait. As for due process etc, teachers CBU agreement has a clause for both performance and conduct. I agree, your supervisor has the say to put you on a performance improvement plan but the tax payer has the right to lobby their councilman to reevaluate the teachers CBU. You are not entitled to a job or paycheck especially if you can’t fulfill your part of the agreement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
That’s fine. Why do teachers then expect a paycheck if they can’t perform their duties. I would rather school districts procure online curriculum designed to work for remote learning and hire personnel that are are capable of providing remote learning supplementation. If that means a current teacher loses her job because he/she doesn’t have sufficient child care to perform a full day’s worth of remote learning work, so be it. Especially now since teachers say remote learning is not their area of expertise (their teaching degree did not provide them this training) and if remote learning is the new norm, school districts need to hire personnel who have the expertise or can obtain the expertise over the summer, weekends, and evenings if they want to teach in this new reality and receive a paycheck. Currently, the teacher’s attitude is poor me, I still deserve a paycheck and it’s the school districts responsibility in training me etc. In the real world, employees have to adapt and take initiative to keep their jobs, why should teachers be any different.

There are so many ways to respond to this but I'll just say, thank goodness that teachers like children, even children who have parents like you.

Seriously! Teachers are saints for putting up with parents like this PP. I bet this person will continue teleworking in the fall while telling teachers to suck it up.

(This is where the PP will respond and say they are an essential worker on the front lines every day... and they are probably lying.)

Gigantic amount of people reporting lung issues wearing masks, not being used to them , delivery, stock, restaurants,
maks are not meant for long eriods beyond 30 minutes with the excetions of operating rooms etc. and the hyave valves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you give speeches in mask?

Yes, we do patient rounds on them every day.

Not even close to talking for almost 6 hours straight so the kids in the back can hear..

Many people with asthma or anxiety caused by masks limiting breathing do teach and did not enter higher paying medical profession.

Put mask now for ten minutes and come back. Masks are good for those who have zero lungs, heart or related issues. Any oxygen restriction can be fatal.

Many kids and teachers won't be abe to war them 6 hours sraight. Ths can cuse serious lung issues.

If you can’t wear a mask on this new environment, don’t teach. Find another job. There is no reasonable accommodation in this situation. Either adapt or look for a new career opportunity. As for kids who can’t wear them, public schooling may no longer be an option and virtual learning/home schooling may be the route they might have to go. It’s not ideal and some would say not fair, but these are new realities. I know people don’t want to hear that but we can’t design a new system based on exceptions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids wear shirts to school, wear pants and shoes. They'll wear masks too. Probably not N95 masks but masks.

No, they won’t. Look at the teen board and you will see hundreds of posts from frustrated parents and rebellious teens. I can demand they wear them in my class and then they will ask to go to the bathroom. Some will take them off for a break, others to vape or have time with the SO. At the end of class the 30 students will scatter in crowded hallways to go to 30 other classes. Masks are uncomfortable and most are not going to keep them on all day.

You say they wear shirts and pants. We struggle to get them to wear shirts and shorts to cover their private areas. That’s hard enough to enforce. You think they will all wear masks?

Then send them home. Tell them they can’t come back until they’re in a mask.

+1

For a global pandemic, you can enforce rules.

Take it up with administrators. As of last year they got rid of detentions, suspensions and didn’t even send the kids home who were high or suspected of selling drugs. There is not discipline anymore. It’s restorative justice. They would bring them in to speak with them and talk about their feelings. Students know rules don’t really apply anymore. Teachers do not have the ability to send anyone home.

Obviously this is a change that administrators, or possibly even higher level, would make. Teachers don't change district and school policy. There's some narrow thinking on this thread.

If you can’t get them to pull up their pants after a decade of the fashion how in the he!! will you get them to wear masks?

A decade? Kids were sagging their pants 30 years ago.

[Anonymous]

What would happen to masks at snack time or lunch?
My friend teaches at a school where they eat breakfast in the classroom.
How is this really going to work?
How about when a student needs to blow his nose? What happens to the mask then? Imagine an 8 year old trying to negotiate this.
How do you get the younger students to respect each other's space?

I think it would be good to reopen schools, but how do we do this in a way to protect the students, faculty and staff?

And how do we get the students picked up by parents immediately if there is any fever?
And what will be the policy..one positive covid and the school shuts down? For how long?
So many unanswered questions.