I am going to take at face value that the people currently posting about our children have a genuine concern for their wellbeing. Can I humbly suggest that those wishing to support our children divert their energies from concerns about children wearing masks (for which studies have identified some specific point issues for consideration but no obvious global crisis) and consider lobbying their MP around some of the following issues:
- point out that the main thing the pandemic has done in relation to education is highlight that whilst most children are weathering the storm, the children who were already most disadvantaged children before the pandemic are the ones who in many cases have suffered the most and fallen further behind. Encourage them to support longer term recovery funding and support for our most disadvantage children. Ask them to prioritise addressing structural inequalities in education as key to sustainable levelling up.
- the reversal of cuts and improved funding for mental health services for young people, recognising that the evidence suggests that early interventions yield the best results for the individual and could also save the nation lots of money in the longer term.
- support for consideration (or at least meaningful political discussion) of improved regulatory powers (and capabilities) with respect to social media firms especially in relation to use of their products and services by young people.
If you really care about the nation’s children, I truly think any one of these would be more valuable use of your time than getting upset about mask wearing.