Will your DC wear mask to school when Youngkin lifts school mask mandate next week?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another teacher for whom this will be a deal-breaker. I will quit as soon as masks are no longer required in my school. We don't need the money and my health is more important to me than dealing with a bunch of whack jobs with anxiety who refuse to wear masks.

Yay I love learning that our amazing graduate-level teachers are so completely unable to read data. And I love knowing you view my kids as vectors of disease.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually follow the science and know that the r naught of kids is low, risk of severe illness is low, so I dont need a magical paw patrol mask on my students’ faces. I’d like them to be able to see mine when I’m reading to them but my guess is teachers will be the last to get to unmask but that’s fine for now.

Also, if you saw how the students actually wear them you’d realize that ‘universal compliance’ is so low it’s a joke and the students have been fine without outbreaks or death for a year.

Deep breaths. It will be okay.

You doing your own research on the Internet is not the way I want public health policies set. And I have been in the schools and see good wearing of masks by most and poor wearing by a few.

Okay take this to the logical conclusion. Did any of those kids die? The ones with ‘poor wearing’? If every RCT done on masks can find no statistical significance in kids what are you basing your public health policies on? If we don’t see a difference in schools with indoor lunch, snack time, circle time, cloth masks, kn95s, etc. then what is the logical conclusion? It’s that kids spread is low, risk of severe illness is low and that these facial decorations are just that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually follow the science and know that the r naught of kids is low, risk of severe illness is low, so I dont need a magical paw patrol mask on my students’ faces. I’d like them to be able to see mine when I’m reading to them but my guess is teachers will be the last to get to unmask but that’s fine for now.

Also, if you saw how the students actually wear them you’d realize that ‘universal compliance’ is so low it’s a joke and the students have been fine without outbreaks or death for a year.

Deep breaths. It will be okay.

You doing your own research on the Internet is not the way I want public health policies set. And I have been in the schools and see good wearing of masks by most and poor wearing by a few.

Okay take this to the logical conclusion. Did any of those kids die? The ones with ‘poor wearing’? If every RCT done on masks can find no statistical significance in kids what are you basing your public health policies on? If we don’t see a difference in schools with indoor lunch, snack time, circle time, cloth masks, kn95s, etc. then what is the logical conclusion? It’s that kids spread is low, risk of severe illness is low and that these facial decorations are just that.

But we do see a difference in schools with those policies.

[Anonymous]

I just read this from a lifelong progressive who has been advocating throughout COVID for platforms of the progressive party during the pandemic like paid leave, universal health care, etc. ALL things that SHOULD have come out of this pandemic if we actually believed in our principles and I thought this was great. I don’t know why we abandoned following European policies, especially when it comes to kids: Masking kids—let’s start with school age kids. Do you think it is a good idea? If so, what ages?

At this point, with vaccines available to all children five and older and significant natural immunity in the population, I think masks should be optional at all levels for both children and teachers. For those who want to wear them, schools could provide free surgical masks (students and teachers) and medical respirator masks (older students and teachers) through the end of the academic year. Prior to widespread vaccine availability, I think the WHO, UNICEF, and ECDC guidance made sense: no masks for children under five, limited masking for children under 12, and masking like adults for children 12 and older.

Masking is problematic for literacy instruction and socializing, so I think it was never appropriate to mandate student masks in pre-K or primary school classrooms.

Now let’s talk about masking 2-4 year olds. Only the USA, under the guidance of the American Academy of Pediatrics and CDC does this. Is it sensible?

I think it’s absurd to require children under five to mask. The French explicitly prohibit student masks in their nursery schools. It’s probably even unwise for staff and teachers caring for and educating children this young to mask. One French study shared by the European Commission found that young children in child care and pre-K settings often responded negatively to masked teachers. Of course, I think teachers should always have the choice to mask, but let’s not pretend that there were never harms associated with masked teachers and caregivers interacting with young children.

It’s also worth noting that masked educators are particularly problematic for children with special needs. A child with an IEP for a language delay will be served by a mask speech therapist in New York — is it a good idea for a child already suffering from a language delay to receive interventions from a masked therapist whose speech will be muffled? Norwegian guidance explicitly advises speech therapists and special educators — professionals meeting one-on-one with students — against masking. https://vinayprasadmdmph.substack.com/p/anthony-lamesa-the-interview

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually follow the science and know that the r naught of kids is low, risk of severe illness is low, so I dont need a magical paw patrol mask on my students’ faces. I’d like them to be able to see mine when I’m reading to them but my guess is teachers will be the last to get to unmask but that’s fine for now.

Also, if you saw how the students actually wear them you’d realize that ‘universal compliance’ is so low it’s a joke and the students have been fine without outbreaks or death for a year.

Deep breaths. It will be okay.

You doing your own research on the Internet is not the way I want public health policies set. And I have been in the schools and see good wearing of masks by most and poor wearing by a few.

Okay take this to the logical conclusion. Did any of those kids die? The ones with ‘poor wearing’? If every RCT done on masks can find no statistical significance in kids what are you basing your public health policies on? If we don’t see a difference in schools with indoor lunch, snack time, circle time, cloth masks, kn95s, etc. then what is the logical conclusion? It’s that kids spread is low, risk of severe illness is low and that these facial decorations are just that.

But we do see a difference in schools with those policies.

+1

Good masks reduce spread and help keep kids in schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually follow the science and know that the r naught of kids is low, risk of severe illness is low, so I dont need a magical paw patrol mask on my students’ faces. I’d like them to be able to see mine when I’m reading to them but my guess is teachers will be the last to get to unmask but that’s fine for now.

Also, if you saw how the students actually wear them you’d realize that ‘universal compliance’ is so low it’s a joke and the students have been fine without outbreaks or death for a year.

Deep breaths. It will be okay.

You doing your own research on the Internet is not the way I want public health policies set. And I have been in the schools and see good wearing of masks by most and poor wearing by a few.

Okay take this to the logical conclusion. Did any of those kids die? The ones with ‘poor wearing’? If every RCT done on masks can find no statistical significance in kids what are you basing your public health policies on? If we don’t see a difference in schools with indoor lunch, snack time, circle time, cloth masks, kn95s, etc. then what is the logical conclusion? It’s that kids spread is low, risk of severe illness is low and that these facial decorations are just that.

But we do see a difference in schools with those policies.

Cite please?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just read this from a lifelong progressive who has been advocating throughout COVID for platforms of the progressive party during the pandemic like paid leave, universal health care, etc. ALL things that SHOULD have come out of this pandemic if we actually believed in our principles and I thought this was great. I don’t know why we abandoned following European policies, especially when it comes to kids: Masking kids—let’s start with school age kids. Do you think it is a good idea? If so, what ages?

At this point, with vaccines available to all children five and older and significant natural immunity in the population, I think masks should be optional at all levels for both children and teachers. For those who want to wear them, schools could provide free surgical masks (students and teachers) and medical respirator masks (older students and teachers) through the end of the academic year. Prior to widespread vaccine availability, I think the WHO, UNICEF, and ECDC guidance made sense: no masks for children under five, limited masking for children under 12, and masking like adults for children 12 and older.

Masking is problematic for literacy instruction and socializing, so I think it was never appropriate to mandate student masks in pre-K or primary school classrooms.

Now let’s talk about masking 2-4 year olds. Only the USA, under the guidance of the American Academy of Pediatrics and CDC does this. Is it sensible?

I think it’s absurd to require children under five to mask. The French explicitly prohibit student masks in their nursery schools. It’s probably even unwise for staff and teachers caring for and educating children this young to mask. One French study shared by the European Commission found that young children in child care and pre-K settings often responded negatively to masked teachers. Of course, I think teachers should always have the choice to mask, but let’s not pretend that there were never harms associated with masked teachers and caregivers interacting with young children.

It’s also worth noting that masked educators are particularly problematic for children with special needs. A child with an IEP for a language delay will be served by a mask speech therapist in New York — is it a good idea for a child already suffering from a language delay to receive interventions from a masked therapist whose speech will be muffled? Norwegian guidance explicitly advises speech therapists and special educators — professionals meeting one-on-one with students — against masking. https://vinayprasadmdmph.substack.com/p/anthony-lamesa-the-interview

I disagree with you about under 5 masking but your point about the downsides of masking for special needs students is valid. But the answer to that is not necessarily broad unmasking. If the service is one on one, arguably virtual can be relatively more effective (especially if the provider and the student can both be unmasked). For example, we have kept our OG private tutor virtual because she can see my child’s lips when reading since he has not need to wear a mask when virtual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No way - teacher here - this is a serious deal breaker for me. I was considering maybe we wouldnt need masks anymore last summer, but not right now when we have more cases than ever before and I have more of a chance of catching it.

So what will you do if some of your students show up with no masks? Quit?

Out of curiosity, do you teach elementary or middle/high school? Just curious if you have around 20 students total or around 100.

Kids who show up to my classroom without masks will be sent to the office to be suspended from school if they don’t comply. How is this even a question.

+1 And if they are sent back to my classroom then I will gather my things and leave. I will not be in a classroom with kids who are not masked. (DP)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another teacher for whom this will be a deal-breaker. I will quit as soon as masks are no longer required in my school. We don't need the money and my health is more important to me than dealing with a bunch of whack jobs with anxiety who refuse to wear masks.

Yay I love learning that our amazing graduate-level teachers are so completely unable to read data. And I love knowing you view my kids as vectors of disease.

Not a teacher. Here again is evidence that my kids' classmates have parents who don't understand data themselves but think they're smarter than teachers.

No wonder people are leaving the profession in droves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No way - teacher here - this is a serious deal breaker for me. I was considering maybe we wouldnt need masks anymore last summer, but not right now when we have more cases than ever before and I have more of a chance of catching it.

So what will you do if some of your students show up with no masks? Quit?

Out of curiosity, do you teach elementary or middle/high school? Just curious if you have around 20 students total or around 100.

Kids who show up to my classroom without masks will be sent to the office to be suspended from school if they don’t comply. How is this even a question.

+1 And if they are sent back to my classroom then I will gather my things and leave. I will not be in a classroom with kids who are not masked. (DP)

+2. I am a regular and dedicated sub (during a shortage) and this will be the end of my subbing if my district (LCPS) doesn't override this with their own mask mandate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another teacher for whom this will be a deal-breaker. I will quit as soon as masks are no longer required in my school. We don't need the money and my health is more important to me than dealing with a bunch of whack jobs with anxiety who refuse to wear masks.

Yay I love learning that our amazing graduate-level teachers are so completely unable to read data. And I love knowing you view my kids as vectors of disease.

Not a teacher. Here again is evidence that my kids' classmates have parents who don't understand data themselves but think they're smarter than teachers.

No wonder people are leaving the profession in droves.

+1 Parents with attitudes like the second poster are doing more harm to K-12 education than Covid itself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another teacher for whom this will be a deal-breaker. I will quit as soon as masks are no longer required in my school. We don't need the money and my health is more important to me than dealing with a bunch of whack jobs with anxiety who refuse to wear masks.

Yay I love learning that our amazing graduate-level teachers are so completely unable to read data. And I love knowing you view my kids as vectors of disease.

Not a teacher. Here again is evidence that my kids' classmates have parents who don't understand data themselves but think they're smarter than teachers.

No wonder people are leaving the profession in droves.

+1 Parents with attitudes like the second poster are doing more harm to K-12 education than Covid itself.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No way - teacher here - this is a serious deal breaker for me. I was considering maybe we wouldnt need masks anymore last summer, but not right now when we have more cases than ever before and I have more of a chance of catching it.

So what will you do if some of your students show up with no masks? Quit?

Out of curiosity, do you teach elementary or middle/high school? Just curious if you have around 20 students total or around 100.

Kids who show up to my classroom without masks will be sent to the office to be suspended from school if they don’t comply. How is this even a question.

+1 And if they are sent back to my classroom then I will gather my things and leave. I will not be in a classroom with kids who are not masked. (DP)

+2. I am a regular and dedicated sub (during a shortage) and this will be the end of my subbing if my district (LCPS) doesn't override this with their own mask mandate.

My kids would probably protest if forced to go to school with unmasked kids during surge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No way - teacher here - this is a serious deal breaker for me. I was considering maybe we wouldnt need masks anymore last summer, but not right now when we have more cases than ever before and I have more of a chance of catching it.

So what will you do if some of your students show up with no masks? Quit?

Out of curiosity, do you teach elementary or middle/high school? Just curious if you have around 20 students total or around 100.

Kids who show up to my classroom without masks will be sent to the office to be suspended from school if they don’t comply. How is this even a question.

+1 And if they are sent back to my classroom then I will gather my things and leave. I will not be in a classroom with kids who are not masked. (DP)

+2. I am a regular and dedicated sub (during a shortage) and this will be the end of my subbing if my district (LCPS) doesn't override this with their own mask mandate.

My kids would probably protest if forced to go to school with unmasked kids during surge.

I agree with this. I think we will see students protesting and refusing to go to school if the mask mandate is rescinded. Honestly, we are already seeing an upsurge in school refusal at my school of students who are scared of the surge and scared because some of their fellow students won't wear the masks properly. This is acerbated by a 1 or 2 teachers who are lax about following the rules themselves and who don't enforce the rules in their classrooms.

[Anonymous]

The problem is our new Governor is encouraging parents to not follow the mandates of local districts so we are not protected even if our districts are smart enough to require masks through omicron. So the staffing problems will grow even worsen.