Masking off-ramp coming soon?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I don't think the unmasking will be happening soon. There is still too much volatility in outbreaks within schools and kids 5-11 won't be anywhere near herd immunity until at least May or June judging by the adult process.

We're okay with masks continuing indefinitely. Kids are all wearing them fine. Their parents may be berserk with anxiety but the kids are fine and going along to get along.

We are not okay with masking indefinitely. So how about in January, you continue to mask, and we are allowed to not mask.

~HS teacher (with MS and HS aged kids)

How about no thanks to this because you will be putting my kids at risk.

(I hope you don't teach science)

How will I be putting your kids at risk? Aren't they vaccinated? If they are immuno-compromised, then they are free to continue to wear high quality masks for as many months or years as preferred. (I teach math, so I understand risk analysis.)

+100 I feel like I have done my civic duty. Once the younger kids have had a chance to be vaccinated, then I feel like I should not be required to mask anymore.

~Another HS teacher

+1
I don’t know what else we could possibly do and our area is already in relatively good shape even without that age group being vaccinated.

ES Teacher

Parent of a first grader here who is getting vaxxed this week. I have the luxury to work from home, so I don’t have to mask all day. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to project your voice across a classroom while masked for hours on end. I appreciate the sacrifices you’ve made to help keep our kids safe, but I agree that now that all school aged kids will be able to be fully vaxxed by year end if they wish, it’s time to let people unmask if they wish. And it’s not about “freedom” like a PP said. It’s about comfort. Sure some people don’t mind masking, but some of us find them genuinely uncomfortable. It’s one thing to sacrifice comfort for a set period of time until others can protect themselves. But I don’t think it’s reasonable for much longer.

And before people exclaim but surgeons and nurses wear masks, I will say that medical professionals knew going into their career path that PPE may be a part of it. Teachers did not. And also the job duties of teaching (which include voice projection, demonstrating phonetics, nonverbal communication that is part of child development, etc.) are much different than interacting with one patient or being in a surgical theater.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I don't think the unmasking will be happening soon. There is still too much volatility in outbreaks within schools and kids 5-11 won't be anywhere near herd immunity until at least May or June judging by the adult process.

We're okay with masks continuing indefinitely. Kids are all wearing them fine. Their parents may be berserk with anxiety but the kids are fine and going along to get along.

We are not okay with masking indefinitely. So how about in January, you continue to mask, and we are allowed to not mask.

~HS teacher (with MS and HS aged kids)

How about no thanks to this because you will be putting my kids at risk.

(I hope you don't teach science)

How will I be putting your kids at risk? Aren't they vaccinated? If they are immuno-compromised, then they are free to continue to wear high quality masks for as many months or years as preferred. (I teach math, so I understand risk analysis.)

+100 I feel like I have done my civic duty. Once the younger kids have had a chance to be vaccinated, then I feel like I should not be required to mask anymore.

~Another HS teacher

+1
I don’t know what else we could possibly do and our area is already in relatively good shape even without that age group being vaccinated.

ES Teacher

Parent of a first grader here who is getting vaxxed this week. I have the luxury to work from home, so I don’t have to mask all day. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to project your voice across a classroom while masked for hours on end. I appreciate the sacrifices you’ve made to help keep our kids safe, but I agree that now that all school aged kids will be able to be fully vaxxed by year end if they wish, it’s time to let people unmask if they wish. And it’s not about “freedom” like a PP said. It’s about comfort. Sure some people don’t mind masking, but some of us find them genuinely uncomfortable. It’s one thing to sacrifice comfort for a set period of time until others can protect themselves. But I don’t think it’s reasonable for much longer.

And before people exclaim but surgeons and nurses wear masks, I will say that medical professionals knew going into their career path that PPE may be a part of it. Teachers did not. And also the job duties of teaching (which include voice projection, demonstrating phonetics, nonverbal communication that is part of child development, etc.) are much different than interacting with one patient or being in a surgical theater.

DP. Thank you for the interest in teachers' comfort. All the teachers I know have bought those voice amplifiers off of Amazon. They're crazy cheap and work wonderfully. We're happy working with our masks and the amplifiers. This is the first one that popped up when I put "voice amplifier" into the search bar. https://www.amazon.com/Voice-Amplifier-Portable-Shopping-Rechargeable/dp/B07FDPZX35/ref=asc_df_B07FDPZX35?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=79920806880926&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583520384330553&psc=1 They would make a great gift for any teacher who for some weird reason doesn't already have one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I don't think the unmasking will be happening soon. There is still too much volatility in outbreaks within schools and kids 5-11 won't be anywhere near herd immunity until at least May or June judging by the adult process.

We're okay with masks continuing indefinitely. Kids are all wearing them fine. Their parents may be berserk with anxiety but the kids are fine and going along to get along.

We are not okay with masking indefinitely. So how about in January, you continue to mask, and we are allowed to not mask.

~HS teacher (with MS and HS aged kids)

How about no thanks to this because you will be putting my kids at risk.

(I hope you don't teach science)

How will I be putting your kids at risk? Aren't they vaccinated? If they are immuno-compromised, then they are free to continue to wear high quality masks for as many months or years as preferred. (I teach math, so I understand risk analysis.)

+100 I feel like I have done my civic duty. Once the younger kids have had a chance to be vaccinated, then I feel like I should not be required to mask anymore.

~Another HS teacher

+1
I don’t know what else we could possibly do and our area is already in relatively good shape even without that age group being vaccinated.

ES Teacher

Parent of a first grader here who is getting vaxxed this week. I have the luxury to work from home, so I don’t have to mask all day. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to project your voice across a classroom while masked for hours on end. I appreciate the sacrifices you’ve made to help keep our kids safe, but I agree that now that all school aged kids will be able to be fully vaxxed by year end if they wish, it’s time to let people unmask if they wish. And it’s not about “freedom” like a PP said. It’s about comfort. Sure some people don’t mind masking, but some of us find them genuinely uncomfortable. It’s one thing to sacrifice comfort for a set period of time until others can protect themselves. But I don’t think it’s reasonable for much longer.

And before people exclaim but surgeons and nurses wear masks, I will say that medical professionals knew going into their career path that PPE may be a part of it. Teachers did not. And also the job duties of teaching (which include voice projection, demonstrating phonetics, nonverbal communication that is part of child development, etc.) are much different than interacting with one patient or being in a surgical theater.

DP. Thank you for the interest in teachers' comfort. All the teachers I know have bought those voice amplifiers off of Amazon. They're crazy cheap and work wonderfully. We're happy working with our masks and the amplifiers. This is the first one that popped up when I put "voice amplifier" into the search bar. https://www.amazon.com/Voice-Amplifier-Portable-Shopping-Rechargeable/dp/B07FDPZX35/ref=asc_df_B07FDPZX35?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=79920806880926&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583520384330553&psc=1 They would make a great gift for any teacher who for some weird reason doesn't already have one.

Don’t speak for me nor the hundreds of teachers sick of this nonsense.

I’m not happy working with a chin diaper (if you really think I’m going to cave in to these tyrannical mandates you got me fkd up)
and cannot wait to hear the news that they’re no longer ‘mandatory’

Fk u and anyone else advocating for endless masking. Especially for children who are not at risk of a flu on steroids and NEED visual and facial cues for their learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mask offramp coming mid-January with Governor Youngkin! The precedent has been set by Northam - he mandated all schools statewide require masks this fall and threatened to sue them if the don't. Every district ended up complying since the laws are so pro-state control here. He knows if a "mask optional" policy doesn't get mandated statewide, school districts in NoVa will require them until 2023 or later.

Youngkin campaigned on ending mask mandates, and he has a mandate. Anyone who wants to have their kids mask to school can continue to have them mask. My kids masks' will be burned in the fire pit in celebration the day it's announced.

The kids are going to be so happy!

50.7% is hardly a mandate but okay.

It sure is when there’s a 10 pt swing in one year!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I don't think the unmasking will be happening soon. There is still too much volatility in outbreaks within schools and kids 5-11 won't be anywhere near herd immunity until at least May or June judging by the adult process.

We're okay with masks continuing indefinitely. Kids are all wearing them fine. Their parents may be berserk with anxiety but the kids are fine and going along to get along.

We are not okay with masking indefinitely. So how about in January, you continue to mask, and we are allowed to not mask.

~HS teacher (with MS and HS aged kids)

How about no thanks to this because you will be putting my kids at risk.

(I hope you don't teach science)

How will I be putting your kids at risk? Aren't they vaccinated? If they are immuno-compromised, then they are free to continue to wear high quality masks for as many months or years as preferred. (I teach math, so I understand risk analysis.)

+100 I feel like I have done my civic duty. Once the younger kids have had a chance to be vaccinated, then I feel like I should not be required to mask anymore.

~Another HS teacher

+1
I don’t know what else we could possibly do and our area is already in relatively good shape even without that age group being vaccinated.

ES Teacher

Parent of a first grader here who is getting vaxxed this week. I have the luxury to work from home, so I don’t have to mask all day. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to project your voice across a classroom while masked for hours on end. I appreciate the sacrifices you’ve made to help keep our kids safe, but I agree that now that all school aged kids will be able to be fully vaxxed by year end if they wish, it’s time to let people unmask if they wish. And it’s not about “freedom” like a PP said. It’s about comfort. Sure some people don’t mind masking, but some of us find them genuinely uncomfortable. It’s one thing to sacrifice comfort for a set period of time until others can protect themselves. But I don’t think it’s reasonable for much longer.

And before people exclaim but surgeons and nurses wear masks, I will say that medical professionals knew going into their career path that PPE may be a part of it. Teachers did not. And also the job duties of teaching (which include voice projection, demonstrating phonetics, nonverbal communication that is part of child development, etc.) are much different than interacting with one patient or being in a surgical theater.

DP. Thank you for the interest in teachers' comfort. All the teachers I know have bought those voice amplifiers off of Amazon. They're crazy cheap and work wonderfully. We're happy working with our masks and the amplifiers. This is the first one that popped up when I put "voice amplifier" into the search bar. https://www.amazon.com/Voice-Amplifier-Portable-Shopping-Rechargeable/dp/B07FDPZX35/ref=asc_df_B07FDPZX35?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=79920806880926&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583520384330553&psc=1 They would make a great gift for any teacher who for some weird reason doesn't already have one.

Don’t speak for me nor the hundreds of teachers sick of this nonsense.

I’m not happy working with a chin diaper (if you really think I’m going to cave in to these tyrannical mandates you got me fkd up)
and cannot wait to hear the news that they’re no longer ‘mandatory’

Fk u and anyone else advocating for endless masking. Especially for children who are not at risk of a flu on steroids and NEED visual and facial cues for their learning.

Chin diaper? And F U to parents of kids who want masks in schools? And an anti science minimization of the risks of Covid? If you're really a teacher, I hope you never come anywhere near my children (one of whom has a high risk medical condition so would be put at high risk if there wasn't universal masking in school and both of whom really need in person school).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I don't think the unmasking will be happening soon. There is still too much volatility in outbreaks within schools and kids 5-11 won't be anywhere near herd immunity until at least May or June judging by the adult process.

We're okay with masks continuing indefinitely. Kids are all wearing them fine. Their parents may be berserk with anxiety but the kids are fine and going along to get along.

We are not okay with masking indefinitely. So how about in January, you continue to mask, and we are allowed to not mask.

~HS teacher (with MS and HS aged kids)

How about no thanks to this because you will be putting my kids at risk.

(I hope you don't teach science)

How will I be putting your kids at risk? Aren't they vaccinated? If they are immuno-compromised, then they are free to continue to wear high quality masks for as many months or years as preferred. (I teach math, so I understand risk analysis.)

+100 I feel like I have done my civic duty. Once the younger kids have had a chance to be vaccinated, then I feel like I should not be required to mask anymore.

~Another HS teacher

+1
I don’t know what else we could possibly do and our area is already in relatively good shape even without that age group being vaccinated.

ES Teacher

Parent of a first grader here who is getting vaxxed this week. I have the luxury to work from home, so I don’t have to mask all day. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to project your voice across a classroom while masked for hours on end. I appreciate the sacrifices you’ve made to help keep our kids safe, but I agree that now that all school aged kids will be able to be fully vaxxed by year end if they wish, it’s time to let people unmask if they wish. And it’s not about “freedom” like a PP said. It’s about comfort. Sure some people don’t mind masking, but some of us find them genuinely uncomfortable. It’s one thing to sacrifice comfort for a set period of time until others can protect themselves. But I don’t think it’s reasonable for much longer.

And before people exclaim but surgeons and nurses wear masks, I will say that medical professionals knew going into their career path that PPE may be a part of it. Teachers did not. And also the job duties of teaching (which include voice projection, demonstrating phonetics, nonverbal communication that is part of child development, etc.) are much different than interacting with one patient or being in a surgical theater.

DP. Thank you for the interest in teachers' comfort. All the teachers I know have bought those voice amplifiers off of Amazon. They're crazy cheap and work wonderfully. We're happy working with our masks and the amplifiers. This is the first one that popped up when I put "voice amplifier" into the search bar. https://www.amazon.com/Voice-Amplifier-Portable-Shopping-Rechargeable/dp/B07FDPZX35/ref=asc_df_B07FDPZX35?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=79920806880926&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583520384330553&psc=1 They would make a great gift for any teacher who for some weird reason doesn't already have one.

Don’t speak for me nor the hundreds of teachers sick of this nonsense.

I’m not happy working with a chin diaper (if you really think I’m going to cave in to these tyrannical mandates you got me fkd up)
and cannot wait to hear the news that they’re no longer ‘mandatory’

Fk u and anyone else advocating for endless masking. Especially for children who are not at risk of a flu on steroids and NEED visual and facial cues for their learning.

Chin diaper? And F U to parents of kids who want masks in schools? And an anti science minimization of the risks of Covid? If you're really a teacher, I hope you never come anywhere near my children (one of whom has a high risk medical condition so would be put at high risk if there wasn't universal masking in school and both of whom really need in person school).

Yes, chin diaper. You really think I’m going to suffer anxiety and not breath freely because of your paranoia? This is a scam. There’s no pandemic. Turn your tv off. If your kids are soooo at risk then they do not belong in a public setting.

[Anonymous]

I think you’re an anti mask troll not a teacher

[Anonymous]

Let’s hope not an English teacher, science teacher or health teacher, or lord help us all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I don't think the unmasking will be happening soon. There is still too much volatility in outbreaks within schools and kids 5-11 won't be anywhere near herd immunity until at least May or June judging by the adult process.

We're okay with masks continuing indefinitely. Kids are all wearing them fine. Their parents may be berserk with anxiety but the kids are fine and going along to get along.

We are not okay with masking indefinitely. So how about in January, you continue to mask, and we are allowed to not mask.

~HS teacher (with MS and HS aged kids)

How about no thanks to this because you will be putting my kids at risk.

(I hope you don't teach science)

How will I be putting your kids at risk? Aren't they vaccinated? If they are immuno-compromised, then they are free to continue to wear high quality masks for as many months or years as preferred. (I teach math, so I understand risk analysis.)

+100 I feel like I have done my civic duty. Once the younger kids have had a chance to be vaccinated, then I feel like I should not be required to mask anymore.

~Another HS teacher

+1
I don’t know what else we could possibly do and our area is already in relatively good shape even without that age group being vaccinated.

ES Teacher

Parent of a first grader here who is getting vaxxed this week. I have the luxury to work from home, so I don’t have to mask all day. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to project your voice across a classroom while masked for hours on end. I appreciate the sacrifices you’ve made to help keep our kids safe, but I agree that now that all school aged kids will be able to be fully vaxxed by year end if they wish, it’s time to let people unmask if they wish. And it’s not about “freedom” like a PP said. It’s about comfort. Sure some people don’t mind masking, but some of us find them genuinely uncomfortable. It’s one thing to sacrifice comfort for a set period of time until others can protect themselves. But I don’t think it’s reasonable for much longer.

And before people exclaim but surgeons and nurses wear masks, I will say that medical professionals knew going into their career path that PPE may be a part of it. Teachers did not. And also the job duties of teaching (which include voice projection, demonstrating phonetics, nonverbal communication that is part of child development, etc.) are much different than interacting with one patient or being in a surgical theater.

DP. Thank you for the interest in teachers' comfort. All the teachers I know have bought those voice amplifiers off of Amazon. They're crazy cheap and work wonderfully. We're happy working with our masks and the amplifiers. This is the first one that popped up when I put "voice amplifier" into the search bar. https://www.amazon.com/Voice-Amplifier-Portable-Shopping-Rechargeable/dp/B07FDPZX35/ref=asc_df_B07FDPZX35?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=79920806880926&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583520384330553&psc=1 They would make a great gift for any teacher who for some weird reason doesn't already have one.

Don’t speak for me nor the hundreds of teachers sick of this nonsense.

I’m not happy working with a chin diaper (if you really think I’m going to cave in to these tyrannical mandates you got me fkd up)
and cannot wait to hear the news that they’re no longer ‘mandatory’

Fk u and anyone else advocating for endless masking. Especially for children who are not at risk of a flu on steroids and NEED visual and facial cues for their learning.

Wow. If you are a teacher then you are a disgrace to our profession.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's just not that big a deal to wear a mask. I can't believe how overdramatic people are about it. It's not that big of an inconvenience. I wear one at work, my son wears one at school, he often forgets he even has it on and forgets to take it off when he gets home.

I disagree. So where does that leave us? You can feel free to wear yours, or even up it to an N95. I should be free to not wear mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just not that big a deal to wear a mask. I can't believe how overdramatic people are about it. It's not that big of an inconvenience. I wear one at work, my son wears one at school, he often forgets he even has it on and forgets to take it off when he gets home.

I disagree. So where does that leave us? You can feel free to wear yours, or even up it to an N95. I should be free to not wear mine.

DP. I completely disagree with you. You have a responsibility to be a positive member of society. If Dr. Fauci says that you need to wear a mask then you need to wear a mask. Your desire to do what you want does not mean that you do whatever you want. This really isn't that hard. Try, for once, to think of the public good before you try to satisfy your own irrational need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just not that big a deal to wear a mask. I can't believe how overdramatic people are about it. It's not that big of an inconvenience. I wear one at work, my son wears one at school, he often forgets he even has it on and forgets to take it off when he gets home.

I disagree. So where does that leave us? You can feel free to wear yours, or even up it to an N95. I should be free to not wear mine.

DP. I completely disagree with you. You have a responsibility to be a positive member of society. If Dr. Fauci says that you need to wear a mask then you need to wear a mask. Your desire to do what you want does not mean that you do whatever you want. This really isn't that hard. Try, for once, to think of the public good before you try to satisfy your own irrational need.

DP. I’ve only worn a mask four times since the mandate ended in May…two plane trips, the dentist. and to vote. Fortunately, Virginia lets you do pretty much whatever you want on this front.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just not that big a deal to wear a mask. I can't believe how overdramatic people are about it. It's not that big of an inconvenience. I wear one at work, my son wears one at school, he often forgets he even has it on and forgets to take it off when he gets home.

I disagree. So where does that leave us? You can feel free to wear yours, or even up it to an N95. I should be free to not wear mine.

DP. I completely disagree with you. You have a responsibility to be a positive member of society. If Dr. Fauci says that you need to wear a mask then you need to wear a mask. Your desire to do what you want does not mean that you do whatever you want. This really isn't that hard. Try, for once, to think of the public good before you try to satisfy your own irrational need.

DP. I’ve only worn a mask four times since the mandate ended in May…two plane trips, the dentist. and to vote. Fortunately, Virginia lets you do pretty much whatever you want on this front.

Plenty of businesses still require masks and the CDC recommendation remains in effect for masking when and where community transmission is high or substantial.

[Anonymous]

I just read that about 8% of kids in our area age 5-11 now have their first dose. We are a long way off from a high percentage of kids being fully vaccinated against COVID. The reality is masks will still be around in schools for a while longer, at least where school boards rightly prioritize student health and safety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just read that about 8% of kids in our area age 5-11 now have their first dose. We are a long way off from a high percentage of kids being fully vaccinated against COVID. The reality is masks will still be around in schools for a while longer, at least where school boards rightly prioritize student health and safety.

8% in one week doesn’t seem bad. That probably doesn’t even count this weekend. Students in my school were coming in late and leaving early left and right last week for the vaccine. From what the students have said I’d bet at least half of my class has dose one done.

It will be interesting to see how this goes over the next few weeks.