‘Banter and smiles’ in classrooms as mask requirement dropped

As students filed into their first classes of the day in St Fintan’s secondary school, Sutton, north Dublin, teachers were greeted with “smiles and banter” as mandatory face-mask requirements came to an end.

Dee Kelly, a maths and science teacher in the all-boys school, said about half of her first class began the day wearing face masks, but many became comfortable taking them off as the morning progressed. “As I would turn back from the board I would see the mask was going back in the pocket,” she said.

“There has been smiles all around, smiles between staff in the corridor and the minute you walk into a classroom,” she said.

The end of mandatory masks in schools meant a return of “banter” and joking among pupils. “It’s gorgeous, it feels really normal.”

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During the Covid-19 pandemic Kelly said she had worried about the “quieter kids” in a class, as it was harder to gauge how they were doing behind face coverings.

The school was a “happier environment” on Monday, with the “human connection” restored between teacher and students, she said. Students also appeared more eager to engage and speak up in class, she added.

Conor Fitzpatrick, a sixth-year student and deputy head boy, said there had been a “funny feeling” about sitting in a classroom without a mask for the first time in more than two years. “Seeing the whole class, my mates, smiling and laughing, it brings a bit of positivity,” he said.

Alex McGann, another sixth-year student, said he would continue wearing a face mask in school. “I would be anxious that I would catch it and bring it home, I’ve a young brother that would be at risk. It’s everybody’s choice,” he said.

Less talking

School principal Kathy Mullen said it had been “really hard” for teachers to look down at their class and “just see eyes” and masks.

Not being able to “read a student emotionally” was a big thing schools had been missing, she said. Teachers were used to watching for “tell-tale facial expressions” to pick up on whether a student was confused or sad, she said.

“You don’t get to see how are they feeling: are they confused? Are they worried? Are they happy? Are they sad? That’s very difficult,” she said.

There had also been “much less talking” in classrooms during the pandemic and Mullen said she had been particularly worried the episode had made it harder for younger pupils to make friends in school.

She estimated that about 20 per cent of students had opted to continue wearing masks. “I’ve asked that no boy would put any pressure on another boy if that boy was wearing a mask,” she said.

Overall there was a “lovely happy atmosphere” in the school and a palpable “sense of relief”, added the principal.

“Teachers throughout this pandemic have done everything they can to try help the students. If they’re told it’s okay not to wear the mask in this setting, that’s what they’ll do to make sure the student has the best possible experience in school.”

Other pandemic measures, such as hand sanitisers, additional cleaning and staggered lunch breaks would continue, she added.