We absolutely support encouraging mask-wearing at school

Today’s announcement that school children over the age of eight will be “asked” to wear masks indoors has been met with a wide range of responses. It’s one of many new challenges the pandemic has brought for schools and families. But some things haven’t changed. It is still critical that families and schools work together on the challenges we’re facing. Parents Victoria has consistently advocated for strong relationships between family and school over many years, and this becomes even more important in tough times.

While the state government has stopped short of mandating masks for school students, we absolutely support the effort to strongly encourage mask-wearing indoors. In fact we have initiated our own campaign to support this push, with the slogan “Mask up – it can’t hurt!”

Masks are not mandated in Victorian schools, but they’re “strongly encouraged”.Credit:iStock

We know that parents have always had to make difficult decisions and have difficult conversations with their children about what they are and aren’t allowed to do. Whether masks are mandated or not, trying to get an unwilling child to wear a mask is just one of them. Many parents will probably use strategies they have used successfully in other contexts – don’t expect instant obedience, take it slowly, listen to your child’s concerns, and where appropriate, wear a mask yourself to model the behaviour you’re trying to encourage. And look after yourself too – make sure you are OK so you can support the children when they need it.

We encourage parents to (as much as possible) stay calm and patient, and not judge themselves – or others – too harshly. Think about how you’re going to deal with the situation before you act, and to wait a bit if you’re still emotionally charged.

In some ways schools are the “meat in the sandwich” between employer and community in the Victorian government school sector. Principals have the responsibility of having to consider and care about their staff, students and the wider community. Meeting the demands and pressure coming from all sides cannot be easy.

We all do better if we’re part of a “we” culture rather than a “me” culture. Co-operation is the key. We all need to remind ourselves that those around us – teachers, school leaders, other families – are also facing difficult challenges, and the way forward is to focus on all of us, not just ourselves.

Whether mandates are being enforced, or we are being asked to take personal responsibility, the thing that makes it work is co-operation. And co-operation thrives in an environment where relationships are strong. That’s why we advocate for strong, active, respectful relationships between schools and families.

In addition, if the groundwork has been done to establish quality relationships between families and schools, where parents and teachers work and care together about the education of all children, this creates trust and that everyone has a “joint intention of care”.

Here at Parents Victoria we often deal with school complaint issues when adults don’t consider others and don’t communicate effectively – be it parents, schools or the system. All too often we see that this “me” culture brings very negative outcomes. Today we live in a society with a high sense of immediacy due to the technological world we function with today, so negative attitudes can be spread and amplified quickly.

Parents Victoria understands that the state government has difficult decisions to make too – balancing the wish to use the strongest measures possible to protect the vulnerable, with concerns about the practicality and public acceptance of measures such as mandatory masks. The situation is changing rapidly; governments have been forced to make major policy pivots in weeks or even days in recent times, and this could happen again.

But whatever happens, let’s all look after each other and, dare we say it again, mask up – it can’t hurt!

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