Coronavirus NSW: Majority of parents vote ‘yes’ to sending their child to school without a mask
The majority of parents who have so far voted in The Daily Telegraph’s poll – “would you send your child to school without a mask?” – said “yes”. Almost 3000 votes have been cast after news broke of one elite Sydney school’s “no mask, no play” rule. POLL STILL OPEN
NSW
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Channel 10 hosts Joe Hildebrand and Natarsha Belling have had a heated blow up about the “no mask no play” policy introduced by Sydney girls’ school Wenona, with Hildebrand saying the move was “idiocy” that stoked the public versus private school debate.
The topic was brought up for discussion between the two TV personalities as well as Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Angela Bishop and quickly got heated as Hildebrand spoke over a visibly agitated Belling.
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Hildebrand claimed Wenona principal Briony Scott introducing the policy was spreading hysteria and going against government health guidelines.
“To have people going out on their own and just making it up as it goes along does nothing but create more confusion, create more panic and it is precisely this sort of – I won’t say idiocy – but this sort of over-reaction and people thinking that they know better than the experts, which led to a lot of the anxiety that we’re seeing, as well as the de facto school shut down policy, which has caused so much disruption to families and probably hurt the economy very very deeply.”
Bishop reminded Hildebrand that Dr Scott was one of the most respected leaders in Australian schools and that he could not label her an idiot.
“She may well be, but is it a terrible mistake,” he replied.
“You can’t dismiss her as an idiot,” Bishop said.
“I did not, I said ‘this is idiocy’ and she has made a mistake,” he said, before his argument took a sharp turn into private schools versus public schools territory before Belling got a chance to jump in an squash the theory, issuing a smack down to wound up Hildebrand.
“Joe, this is not a public versus private school debate,” she said.
“That is exactly how it happened Tarsh,” Hildebrand said, his volume increasing again.
Belling again tried to communicate her point as Hildebrand continued to speak over her.
“If I could talk that would be really good,” she said, and Hildebrand quickly quieted down.
“I have many friends who are teachers that work in public schools and they of everyone, because often school is essential for people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, want to make sure that it is safe for those children to go to school. Just because someone disagrees with you, does not mean they are an idiot.”
“But it is safe Tarsh,” Hildebrand retorted.
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Premier Gladys Berejiklian today said Dr Scott’s rule was “not backed up by health advice” and is unnecessary.
“It certainly isn’t consistent with what the health advice is telling us,” Ms Berejiklian said.
But the Premier stopped short of criticising the elite girls’ school in North Sydney.
“If any independent school goes over and above (the health) advice, that’s a matter for them,” Ms Berejiklian said.
The school told students they must wear face masks and undergo temperature checks while parents are banned from campus under strict rules for the term 2 return.
Wenona School principal Dr Briony Scott wrote to parents last Friday advising of a “no mask, no play” rule from next Monday, during a staggered return at the North Sydney campus.
The new rule was condemned by some parents, with one mother telling The Daily Telegraph yesterday “it’s a bit OTT”
The no mask, no class ruling was also criticised by federal education minister Dan Tehan, who last night told Sky News presenter Sharri Markson there was no need for children to wear masks in the classroom or playground.
“We have been following the advice of the medical expert panel and they have said there is no rationale for this,” Mr Tehan said.
“They have been very clear in their advice … that we do not need either teachers or students wearing masks.”
It comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison also last week said social distancing was not required in classrooms, with Dr Scott late yesterday saying she would now review her stance. But not before upset parents had voiced their concerns over the mask rule, and Mr Tehan warned that it could cause students to worry more about coronavirus risks. “I think children would be asking why is it necessary to be wearing masks,” Mr Tehan said.
In her letter, Dr Scott said the rule would feel “awkward” at first but the school would remind girls of the importance of protecting themselves from the bug. “All students must have a mask — if there is no mask, there is no class. If there is no mask, there is no play,” she wrote.
“I appreciate the limitations of masks (handmade or otherwise) but they are a clear reminder to the students about the need to keep distance, and to protect themselves. This will feel awkward to start with, and that’s OK.”
She also said students would have temperature checks at “limited points of entry” around the campus before being allowed in, while adding: “Parents will not be allowed on campus.”
“We are not a hospital and will not be able to care for sick people,” the letter said.
Wenona term 2 starts tomorrow with students learning at home according to the letter. The girls will then begin a staggered return to campus from May 4, with kindergarten to Year 6 on campus one day a week and Years 7 to 10 once a fortnight and for onsite assessments.
Years 11 and 12 will increase from one day a week to two from May 18.
Originally published as Coronavirus NSW: Majority of parents vote ‘yes’ to sending their child to school without a mask
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