So as a specialist, you push in or do small pull out groups? I am a HS teacher and had a very different experience. I do not want to wear one for another year. Any of my students had an opportunity to be vaccinated. Teaching while projecting my voice to an entire class in a mask was terrible. Do you notice how so many take off their masks when they give speeches? But I’m expected to do this all day, every day.

I am an elementary (ES) specialist who has 900 students in my room each week. I wear KN-95 masks, which seem to muffle my voice less, and use a voice amplifier (like this: https://www.amazon.com/Rechargeable-Amplifier-Microphone-Waistband-Presentation/dp/B06XWV9CCQ/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=voice+amplifier&qid=1625933831&sr=8-5 ) so I can be heard clearly and never need to project above a normal speaking level.

I certainly understand your perspective. I am not advocating for policy, just saying that I will continue to wear a mask. I am sure there are other teachers who will prefer to go maskless, but I am saying in my individual situation, that is not true. Keep in mind that since you are in HS, chances are that many of your students will be vaccinated. That is not true at the elementary level and is an influencing factor in my decision. Once my students can be vaccinated, my decision may change.

Anonymous wrote:

NP. I'm not worried about their feelings so much as their willingness to keep masking when the adults around them aren't, and their ability to understand why. When my kids were in early ES they had a VERY strong sense of what was and was not fair. And yeah, it isn't fair, but who can suck it up and put on a mask to set an example? Adults, espeically adults who work with kids and set examples in so many other ways. I don't know a single teacher of 11 and under who is opposed to wearing a mask this fall.

As a teacher I totally agree. If my ES students need to be masked (and I think they should--we had few documented cases in our school but LOADS of quarantines and kids out for two weeks with 'allergies'), then I need to model the same behavior. I'm used to wearing a mask at work all day now so it's no big deal to continue it. I'm a specialist and the only students who had problems wearing masks were those in classes where the teachers clearly had trouble wearing one. They do what is modeled.

So as a specialist, you push in or do small pull out groups? I am a HS teacher and had a very different experience. I do not want to wear one for another year. Any of my students had an opportunity to be vaccinated. Teaching while projecting my voice to an entire class in a mask was terrible. Do you notice how so many take off their masks when they give speeches? But I’m expected to do this all day, every day.

NP. I'm not worried about their feelings so much as their willingness to keep masking when the adults around them aren't, and their ability to understand why. When my kids were in early ES they had a VERY strong sense of what was and was not fair. And yeah, it isn't fair, but who can suck it up and put on a mask to set an example? Adults, espeically adults who work with kids and set examples in so many other ways. I don't know a single teacher of 11 and under who is opposed to wearing a mask this fall.

As a teacher I totally agree. If my ES students need to be masked (and I think they should--we had few documented cases in our school but LOADS of quarantines and kids out for two weeks with 'allergies'), then I need to model the same behavior. I'm used to wearing a mask at work all day now so it's no big deal to continue it. I'm a specialist and the only students who had problems wearing masks were those in classes where the teachers clearly had trouble wearing one. They do what is modeled.

Anonymous wrote:I am a teacher and parent and hope the districts will let the vaccinated teachers and students go without masks. I am happy to provide proof for myself and my own kids if it means we no longer have to mask.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html

I hope people read these guidelines closely and advocate the CDC for better recommendations,

The fine print says "universal masking" if you have mixed schools or can't validate vaccinations.

It also calls for cohorting, social distance etc....all of which made offering a good education environment difficult.

All this really says is schools should be opened at all costs....but with all the layered restrictions on top.....its another year of babysitting and not much learning.


Write the CDC and ask for more!

I hope my kid’s MCPS HS will not require masks for vaccinated kids.