Our state is coming up with guidelines, one of which is that everyone will wear a mask on school premises.
Once again I wonder if the people who come up with these ideas have actually ever met a child. It seems they sit in their child-free (many miles from actual young humans) offices and just make shit up.
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On the other hand, this person seems to get it. This is credited to Lori Wenthe Crick on Facebook (no I don't know her)
She had this to say:
Here's how I think requiring masks might work in elementary.
Please don’t snap Billy's mask in his face.
Your mask is not a necklace, bracelet, or any other form of jewelry.
You should not be using your mask as a slingshot. Please put it back on your face.
Please do not chew on your mask.
Your mask should be on your face, not on the back of your head
I’m sorry your mask is wet, but that's what happens when you lick the inside of it.
I’m sorry you sneezed. Here's a tissue. Wipe out the snot as well as you can.
No, you may not blow your nose in your mask.
Why is your mask soaking wet? You just came back from the bathroom?
And you put it back on your face after you dropped it?
I’m sorry you broke the elastic on your mask by seeing how far the band would stretch. Now you'll have to hold the mask on your face ... or use this duct tape.
Please take the mask off your eyes and watch where you're walking. I don’t care if you have X-ray vision.
Please take the mask off of your pencil and stop twirling it.
I know the mask fits over your pants like a knee pad, but please take it off of your leg and put it on your face.
What do you mean you tried to eat your lunch through your mask?
Please don't share your mask or trade masks. I don’t care if you like Ingrid's mask better than yours.
I’m sorry, but your mask is not school appropriate.
We're not comparing our masks to other kids' masks… everyone’s mask is unique and special.
No, you may not decorate your mask instead of doing your work. I don’t care if you have a Sharpie.
You're not a pirate, please take your mask off your eye.
Try to get the gum off as much as you can.
Please don't use your mask to pick your nose.
I’m sorry you tripped, but that’s what happens when you put your feet inside the elastic of your mask.
No, your mask doesn't make it hard to get your work done.
Your Mom will need to get you a new mask since you chewed a hole in that one.
Why is there a shoe print on your mask?
No, you cannot eat the snow through your mask.
I don’t care if you were in art class and being creative; we do not decorate our masks.
We do not beam other kids in the face with balls. No, their masks don’t make it not hurt.
Please don't plug your nose holes with your mask.
Who's making that noise?
I’m sorry your ponytail is stuck, that’s what happens when you see how many times you can wrap it around your mask.
I’m sorry to tell you, but your child thought her mask made her a superhero. She tried to fly off the jungle gym at recess …
I’m sorry your breath stinks in your mask, maybe we should all try to brush better.
Please take those cookies out of your mask. No, you are not a chipmunk.
Please don’t snap Billy's mask in his face.
Your mask is not a necklace, bracelet, or any other form of jewelry.
You should not be using your mask as a slingshot. Please put it back on your face.
Please do not chew on your mask.
Your mask should be on your face, not on the back of your head
I’m sorry your mask is wet, but that's what happens when you lick the inside of it.
I’m sorry you sneezed. Here's a tissue. Wipe out the snot as well as you can.
No, you may not blow your nose in your mask.
Why is your mask soaking wet? You just came back from the bathroom?
And you put it back on your face after you dropped it?
I’m sorry you broke the elastic on your mask by seeing how far the band would stretch. Now you'll have to hold the mask on your face ... or use this duct tape.
Please take the mask off your eyes and watch where you're walking. I don’t care if you have X-ray vision.
Please take the mask off of your pencil and stop twirling it.
I know the mask fits over your pants like a knee pad, but please take it off of your leg and put it on your face.
What do you mean you tried to eat your lunch through your mask?
Please don't share your mask or trade masks. I don’t care if you like Ingrid's mask better than yours.
I’m sorry, but your mask is not school appropriate.
We're not comparing our masks to other kids' masks… everyone’s mask is unique and special.
No, you may not decorate your mask instead of doing your work. I don’t care if you have a Sharpie.
You're not a pirate, please take your mask off your eye.
Try to get the gum off as much as you can.
Please don't use your mask to pick your nose.
I’m sorry you tripped, but that’s what happens when you put your feet inside the elastic of your mask.
No, your mask doesn't make it hard to get your work done.
Your Mom will need to get you a new mask since you chewed a hole in that one.
Why is there a shoe print on your mask?
No, you cannot eat the snow through your mask.
I don’t care if you were in art class and being creative; we do not decorate our masks.
We do not beam other kids in the face with balls. No, their masks don’t make it not hurt.
Please don't plug your nose holes with your mask.
Who's making that noise?
I’m sorry your ponytail is stuck, that’s what happens when you see how many times you can wrap it around your mask.
I’m sorry to tell you, but your child thought her mask made her a superhero. She tried to fly off the jungle gym at recess …
I’m sorry your breath stinks in your mask, maybe we should all try to brush better.
Please take those cookies out of your mask. No, you are not a chipmunk.
I know it's difficult but aren't we trying to teach them something? It was awful to sit still, not slap the brat next to me too but you made rules for me and told me over and over again to sit down, stop talking, don't touch her, etc. I hated all the rules and tried like hell to break them. But my teachers persisted. I know it will be stressful and added grief but this one I think we can agree to disagree. I'm sorry this is added stress for teachers.
ReplyDeleteThere are a million ways to learn. The least effective? Forced incarceration.
DeleteBut regarding masks... it's not just rule breaking and kids who don't like following instructions. It's actually life-threatening. So if my choices were to keep my kid home or send them to school wearing a mask, I'd keep 'em home.
Here in tiny Belgium (where the numbers have been high, because we were honest and took into account all "possibly related to" cases...) primary/elementary schools have started again this week. All adults have to wear a mask. The children don't have to wear a mask. Week one is over. Will keep you posted how it goes!
ReplyDeleteSecondary schools opened a month ago for those who needed it most (those in difficult family situations for example) and everyone has to wear a mask (on top of the keeping distance and desinfecting hands every x ...). It worked (but it is not easy to talk, or hear what they all say wearing a mask... not easy at all). And we have not had any rise in the numbers. So far so good.
Thinking of you! (and your kids! and your other readers)
I think a huge part of the problem is that no one is being 100% honest. We don't know who to believe. We know who's probably lying and full of shit, but looking for truth is more difficult.
DeleteI hope everyone in your life is safe and well, too.
That was hilarious and NO, they have never met a Real Child if they think any Child, of any Age, can wear or will wear a Mask all day! The Grandchild I'm still raising is 14 and she can tolerate a Mask only in small increments or she has an Anxiety attack and thinks she's going to suffocate and pass out because she can't breathe well with it on... and it's 115 degrees... and she's a Diva so it covers up her Face and Vanity, after she's spent hours getting Beautiful just won't allow her to hide it all under one!
ReplyDeleteSounds like she needs a clear face mask instead. I've seen quite a few people wearing those. I prefer the mask I made out of a t shirt... no sewing and the loops, instead of going behind the ear, go in front. A little adjustment is necessary, but it works well.
DeleteI shared it on FB but it's been taken down, not sure why. That's okay, I have it copied here instead. :-D
All of you dealing with our youth deserve combat pay. Not because of the kids, but all the adults in the "educational" system, and the occasional parent.
ReplyDeleteI can tell you that 'my' parents in the last 16 years have been amazing and supportive and kind and wonderful. Well, except for that crazy bitch who tried to run over me. The principals and school personnel have been wonderful, too. I've been treated like I'm part of school staff. But as soon as you get to district level people no longer have any respect for me or what I do. There are many reasons I refer to them as educrats.
DeleteI know that teachers don't always get the respect they deserve. Sometimes they're jerks who shouldn't be around kids in any capacity and screw them... but there are many good people in the system.
The system itself isn't healthy or beneficial to most, unfortunately. A factory model of education. If you haven't already, read the history of modern education. Horace Mann really messed things up... and it's been downhill ever since.
It's hard to think about the trauma kids are going through right now. The people who have control over their lives have no control. If my children were still young, I'm pretty sure that I'd be doing all I could to home school for a year.
ReplyDeleteYes, the sense of continuity and safety in the people who take care of you is SO important for kids. It's part of the reason I'm so dedicated to what I do. I want to be the person who is a constant in their 'work' lives.
DeleteSo being home with family right now is the best thing, I think.
Of course I think that anyway. Not a fan of school.
Little kids are never going to keep their masks on. Never gonna happen.
ReplyDeleteNope. I think they're actually more likely to transmit germs/pathogens because they won't be able to keep their hands away from their faces.
Delete