Masks in the fall?

[Anonymous]

Who is still wearing a mask? This must be a troll.

[Anonymous]

I am a teacher and have been wearing a mask everywhere INDOORS all summer long - in the DMV and up and down the east coast, including SC where Covid basically never existed. Nobody cared or even looked at me twice. I felt safe and that's all I care about. I plan to wear it at school as well.

[Anonymous]

Another teacher here. I have worn a mask throughout the entire pandemic and will continue to do so until airborne transmission is no longer an issue. It is up to each adult to listen to the expertise of aerosols scientists. I recommend everyone check out Dr. Kim Prather’s work. We know it is very easy to get Covid. It is also very easy to not get Covid.

[Anonymous]

I hope my kids have a normal year including a teacher who doesn’t mask. Norway actually banned preschool teachers from masking. The whole mask thing is out of control. It’s f**king paper with gaps on the side and at the nose. There is a reason actual medical workers in Covid wards wore closed respirators. They just aren’t that effective and they impede learning, socialization and provide a far less enriching experience. I hate the masks and how they’ve become a security blanket for some. You haven’t gotten Covid because of luck. Not the stupid masks. It’s a free country, sort of, but it’s sh**y to hide 70% of your face from people trying to learn from you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a teacher and have been wearing a mask everywhere INDOORS all summer long - in the DMV and up and down the east coast, including SC where Covid basically never existed. Nobody cared or even looked at me twice. I felt safe and that's all I care about. I plan to wear it at school as well.

Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope my kids have a normal year including a teacher who doesn’t mask. Norway actually banned preschool teachers from masking. The whole mask thing is out of control. It’s f**king paper with gaps on the side and at the nose. There is a reason actual medical workers in Covid wards wore closed respirators. They just aren’t that effective and they impede learning, socialization and provide a far less enriching experience. I hate the masks and how they’ve become a security blanket for some. You haven’t gotten Covid because of luck. Not the stupid masks. It’s a free country, sort of, but it’s sh**y to hide 70% of your face from people trying to learn from you.

So true. The negatives are real. All for the wearer to “feel safe” yet as we all know, most of us have had Covid and returned to work or school in 5-10 days. And that was only because of policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who is still wearing a mask? This must be a troll.

Where do you live?

[Anonymous]

Non-DC area responses aren't really helpful. DC has been way more cautious than elsewhere in the country. Went to Target yesterday and 75% of people were masking in MoCo. I am the poster in the K-8 that announced starting the school year with masks. I am not completely surprised given the protocol at the camp and other area camps at schools (from talking to my friends and having my kids at a couple, some are mask required, some are mask optional). I expect teachers are going to mask if they haven't gotten covid yet. I would like my kids to have a choice, definitely not have to wear them outside and adjust if this next wave shows up. I am skeptical of the wave. I know so many people who have had covid in the last few weeks. All people who hadn't had it yet. But the cases aren't reported. The tide has been high all summer. And covid is coming for everyone it missed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope my kids have a normal year including a teacher who doesn’t mask. Norway actually banned preschool teachers from masking. The whole mask thing is out of control. It’s f**king paper with gaps on the side and at the nose. There is a reason actual medical workers in Covid wards wore closed respirators. They just aren’t that effective and they impede learning, socialization and provide a far less enriching experience. I hate the masks and how they’ve become a security blanket for some. You haven’t gotten Covid because of luck. Not the stupid masks. It’s a free country, sort of, but it’s sh**y to hide 70% of your face from people trying to learn from you.

I agree. Anyone traveling, or otherwise enjoying life that hasn’t gotten covid is just lucky. For a teacher to say they are doing all those things, but still threatening to mask at school is disheartening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another teacher here. I have worn a mask throughout the entire pandemic and will continue to do so until airborne transmission is no longer an issue. It is up to each adult to listen to the expertise of aerosols scientists. I recommend everyone check out Dr. Kim Prather’s work. We know it is very easy to get Covid. It is also very easy to not get Covid.

Lots of people that wear masks and have gotten COVID. And lots of people that don't wear masks haven't gotten it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can wear a mask if you want, just don’t force everyone to do it.

Masks all the way!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All this means is we will have masked classes an unmasked classes for those who choose. Students can choose whether or not they want to wear a mask, and they will be placed in the appropriate class.

Isn’t this dynamic? We were strict mask wearers until we got covid. Then, not reason to wear a mask. Probably 50% of my friend group has had covid since school got out. How do you know who still masks? Almost no one is masking in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. We are sorting classes based on who will be wearing masks, and which families unmasked last year. If you don’t get the teacher you want, too bad.

I know it’s been a very difficult few years for teachers but this is unnecessary. Wear your mask if you want, I’ll still be wearing mine, but no reason to be nasty about those who make another choice.

Well, except that we’re probably at the start of a big new wave and 150,000 extra Americans will probably die in the next couple months.

Likely not school age children, but we won’t know till we know.

I doubt this highly. Cases may rise but excess mortality is flat. US Covid related deaths have been less than 2,000 per week for several months. Back in December that number was over 11,000. So 150,000 excess deaths is just not happening. Unless you plan on counting everything over the next 9-12 months as a “surge”.

You may not agree, but after two years the levels we’re at now are levels most people are willing to live with.

[Anonymous]

At the end of the day, there's nothing you can do about other people's masking choices. If you are opposed to your child's teacher wearing a mask, then ask around and find out which schools have 100% unmasked faculty, and explain to them why you feel it's important for your child to join that school. If, on the other hand, you would feel more comfortable if your child's teacher wore a mask when teaching your child, all you have to do is ask. Though almost every teacher at my school wears a mask, I can't imagine any who don't would be against it if asked.

[Anonymous]

Almost every teacher at my child’s school was not wearing a mask by the end of the year. There were a few hold outs but only a handful.