The cost of masked students is not just the purchase price of the masks. It’s that plus the reduction in learning (academic, linguistic, and social) from wearing the masks (and the masks being fussed over).
That total cost may (or may not) still support the decision to have a mask mandate for kids, but let’s not get confused and think the only cost is measured in dollars.
Re:The case against masks at school
by michaelmrose on Thursday January 27, 2022 @06:07PM
(#30108337)
Do we have any evidence of any kind that there is a reduction in learning?
What is the cost of masked students, it's the cost of the masks.
It's much more than that.
The other problem that i've been hearing from my public school teacher friends is that there are so many staff absences due to covid
Sure, and that's happening in schools with and without mask mandates. Unless you go into full hermit mode, you are going to be exposed to Omicron. And if you're young or vaccinated, that's very unlikely to be a big deal.
Re:The case against masks at school
by jimmyjazz14 on Thursday January 27, 2022 @05:11PM
(#30107587)
ah, so you didn't read the article I guess, because it never says that they don't work 100% just says the evidence that they do isn't great, it also covers what the writer sees at downsides (cost) to masking children. Its fine to have differing views but you should probably focus your arguments on the substance of article. The author laid out several very compelling paragraphs to back up her point along with sources cited, so I'm sorry, but if the only counter argument you can come up with is "its bullshit" you should probably quit the debate club.
Re:The case against masks at school
by sleepybrett on Thursday January 27, 2022 @05:49PM
(#30108131)
1% effective is better than 0% effective. The best defense is defense in depth.
Re:The case against masks at school
by jimmyjazz14 on Thursday January 27, 2022 @07:09PM
(#30108943)
I mean that is generally referred to as "safetyism" and while I guess its a fine personal choice it is not something that should be applied in public policy.
> Now granted our schools are, frankly, criminally underfunded.
They’re not, they’re one of the best funded schools in the world.
Re:The case against masks at school
by sleepybrett on Thursday January 27, 2022 @05:55PM
(#30108212)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_spending_...
the US is 66th by % of gdp
Yes, we're not at the top of spending on education as a percentage of GDP. Similarly, we're spending less on food as a % of GDP than Mexico, and much, much less than Somalia. Does it mean that US is not spending enough on food? That we're underfed compared to Mexico or Somalia? No, it just means that using percentage of GDP as a measure of something being over/underfunded is ridiculously wrong.
This 'they don't 100% work so we shouldn't even bother' bullshit .. is just that. Bullshit.
What is the cost of masked students, it's the cost of the masks. Now granted our schools are, frankly, criminally underfunded. However that PPE could be supplied from outside the school's budget for those students that don't take care of the costs themselves.
The other problem that i've been hearing from my public school teacher friends is that there are so many staff absences due to covid that more and more students are stuffed into the classrooms of those teachers that are there. So if you, as a teacher, have a class that is down 50% of students due to an outbreak but somehow you managed to avoid it. Well your 50% empty class that allows for better distancing will not last, you will be at 100% or grater capacity simply because another teacher is out, there are no available substitutes and you can't leave kids unsupervised.