Victorian students being guilted into wearing masks despite no state government mandate

Natalie Hutchins insists she’s not aware of any government schools enforcing mask mandates as it’s revealed students are being guilted into wearing masks by teachers.

Education Minister Natalie Hutchins has stressed the wearing of masks by school kids is “a choice for parents, their kids and teachers” as some public schools enforce mandates.

Ms Hutchins said she was not aware of any government schools actively enforcing their own mask mandates despite the Herald Sun revealing that some Victorian public school students are being ordered to wear masks by their teachers.

“It’s predominantly only independent schools (enforcing mandates),” she said.

“I’m not aware of any government schools that are looking to mandate it.

“Certainly some principals are encouraging their teachers and their students to wear masks.

“In the public schools sector, we’ve made it a recommendation.

“This is a choice for parents, their kids and teachers. It is not a mandate but we strongly recommend it to really lower the spread (of the virus).”

Education Minister Natalie Hutchins insists she’s not aware of any government schools actively enforcing their own mask mandates. Picture: Aaron Francis

Ms Hutchins maintained her Department had received “really good” feedback from school communities, but acknowledged mask use wasn’t being embraced as much by secondary students.

“I’ve been out and about to five schools already this week and I’m seeing a really high usage of masks indoors, particularly by teachers,” she said.

“I think the message is still getting out to students, particularly at secondary schools it’s more of an issue.

“I think the primary school kids have actually really stepped up in this space.

“We want to see parents having the conversations with their kids.”

Ms Hutchins comments come after it was revealed many schools are handing masks out in class and making students feel under pressure to wear them, even against their parents’ wishes.

Such actions appear to go against the spirit of the non-mandatory mask recommendation adopted by the state government.

The advice from the acting chief health officer Ben Cowie – which suggested masks were mandated in schools – was tabled in state parliament.

Andrews foresees no change to Covid rules

On Wednesday evening, however, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he didn’t anticipate that Covid restrictions would likely change anytime soon.

Despite mass confusion in recent days, the Premier reiterated that Victorians weren’t subject to mask mandates — other than in a variety of settings, such as healthcare and on public transport.

“There’s no mandate. It’s not compulsory. There’s no sanction if you didn’t (wear a mask), it’s strongly recommended. Nothing more, nothing less. That’s the fact of it,” he said.

As to whether that could be updated to include more indoor settings, Mr Andrews said: “If you’re asking me if it’s my view that these rules are going to change, no they’ve only just been made.”

“I think it’s fair to say ... you’re not going to see mask mandates anywhere in the country,” he added.

“But you will see consistent advice from the national government and state and territory governments that it’s highly recommended that people wear masks inside, people act on their symptoms, get tested and isolate.

“We’d all like to change the iso period down to less than seven days but right now is not the time to do it.

“I think there’s unity around all of that, and that’s obviously a good thing.”

Students are being told by teachers and principals they have to wear a mask in class. Picture: Mark Stewart

Schools enforce their own mask rules

Meanwhile, the advice on masks is being followed by some schools, but not the government, leading to confusion and frustration.

A parent from a primary school in Hampton said his grade four son was in tears after being told to put on a mask in class even though his father said he didn’t have to.

“I’d told my son he didn’t have to wear one but he said he said he had to and that at school there’s no choice and that kids have to do what they are told.”

“The state government hasn’t mandated masks in schools but schools are mandating it,” he said.

The Herald Sun has also spoken to a parent from an inner-west school where a language teacher ordered children to wear masks and another teacher handed the masks to kids who then all put them on thinking they had to.

At Taylor’s Lakes Primary School, parents were told students eight years and older “should be wearing masks at school”.

Another primary school in Melbourne’s southeast is providing students with masks when they enter the classroom.

Private schools are taking a harder line, with Gippsland Grammar telling parents there was a “requirement for students in year four and above and all of our staff to wear masks indoors”.

At Overnewton College parents were told “all students from years five to 12 and all staff and adults on-site are to wear masks when indoors”.

The letter notes that “as an independent school, it is within our power to mandate this policy for our community and this is the decision that we have made”.

Many private schools are preferring to follow the advice of Ben Cowie, Victoria’s acting chief health officer, which was tabled in parliament on Wednesday.

Private schools are taking a harder line and enforcing their own mandates. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Professor Cowie wanted masks to be imposed on all students from grade 3 to year 12, as well as for all school staff, including those at early childhood services.

Prof Cowie also wanted face coverings to be worn by all retail and hospitality workers, and staff in public facing areas of airports.

“Face coverings remain a low impost intervention that have been demonstrated to reduce the risks of Covid-19 transmission when applied with high uptake and coverage,” he said.

“I acknowledge that face mask requirements are not universally supported in the community, and it is open to the Minister to consider other means to achieve higher levels of mask use.”

Professor Cowie also “strongly recommended” that people work from home, where practical, during July and August.

He also urged the state government to “take efforts to promote uptake” of the fourth dose vaccine for all Victorians aged over 30, following fresh ATAGI advice.

Andrew Dalgleish, president of the Victorian Principals’ Association, said many school staff had masks available at entry points and in classrooms.

Acting CHO Ben Cowie says masks are a low intervention method proven at slowing the spread of Covid. Picture: Nicki Connolly

But he said he did not believe children were being forced to wear them.

“If children are saying they are not wearing them then it’s their choice and the school is not making them wear them,” he said. “Schools are taking a more educative role.”

It comes as the state government seeks feedback on the wearing of masks in schools, with parents of children aged eight and over from selected schools asked to complete a survey by Sunday night.

It is designed to “better understand the use of masks by children at school”.

Parents are asked if their children wear masks, how often and why or not.

Reasons for not wearing masks include “It is not mandated to wear masks in schools”, “Masks are uncomfortable and students should not have to wear them” and “My child doesn’t want to wear a mask”.

Reasons for kids wearing masks include: “My child’s school encourages everyone to wear masks”, “Wearing a mask is a small inconvenience for a large benefit” and “My child is happy to wear a mask”.