In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become paramount for schools to ensure that faculty, staff, and students are safe and can focus their attention on education and the learning process with effective face masks. While masks are not required for all classrooms in 2022, many students and teachers choose to remain masked, as many immunocompromised people remain vulnerable to COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. While using surgical quality facemasks provide a variety of benefits, without a clear window, it can impede communication for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the classroom. 

At Safe‘N’Clear, being a woman-owned and a certified DOBE (Disability Owned Business Enterprise), we market the The Communicator™ surgical face mask with a clear window. This mask allows classrooms to stay safe and prevent the spread of infectious diseases, while making learning accessible for everyone. We find that in all of the schools and educational institutions we work with, that using face masks with clear windows can bring key benefits to teachers and their classrooms. With that in mind, we’ve created this guide with 4 key reasons schools should have masks like The Communicator™. Learn all of our reasons below! 

1. Makes Sure Everyone Can Be Understood 

Learning is a collaborative experience. From taking notes in a lecture to breaking out in groups to do hands-on experience— verbal communication surrounds learning. Yet, when masks don’t have a clear window, many students and teachers can be left out of the conversation. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, around 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 children in the United States are born with a detectable level of hearing loss in one or both ears. For many students, staff, and teachers, being able to do lipreading is essential for communication. 

Having clear facemasks in the classroom, for both teachers and students, ensures that everyone can communicate and learn together. This will allow for deeper learning and connections made by students. When everyone is a part of the discussion, teachers will be surprised what creative connections and solutions students can create. 

2. Provides Needed Facial Cues 

Face-to-face communication is crucial in child development, as facial cues can help them build emotional and communication skills. When students lose so much of the face to masks without a clear window, it can be harder to fully absorb and fully engage in learning. As Monica Gori, Lucia Schiatti, and Maria Bianca Amadeo report in their study on masking in the classroom for Frontiers in Psychology, 

 “Designing devices for personal protection that allows visibility of the lower part of the face may be crucial in all environments important for developing social and interaction skills in children, such as in education or rehabilitation, especially for those suffering from sensory or cognitive deficits” 

Having a face mask with a clear window like The Communicator™ allows students to be able to see facial cues and get the full impact of the work teachers are doing in their lectures. Whether or not students have hearing loss, students can reap benefits from being able to see more of their teacher’s faces. 

3. Allows Teachers to Fully Connect with Students 

Having a clear face mask that allows students to see teachers’ faces and having a FDA approved mask that can be safely used to do in-person classes, can help facilitate strong connections that improve educational outcomes. As Education Week reports, 

“strong teacher-student relationships were associated in both the short- and long-term with improvements on practically every measure schools care about: higher student academic engagement, attendance, grades, fewer disruptive behaviors and suspensions, and lower school dropout rates. Those effects were strong even after controlling for differences in students’ individual, family, and school backgrounds.” 

The Communicator™, as a ADA-effective and FDA approved mask with a clear window, allows teachers and students to truly connect. By being able to do learning in-person, safely, teachers can become that mentor that students need to truly inspire them to accomplish great things. Good teachers can make a huge impact on a child’s life, boosting academic achievement and personal growth. Masks with clear windows can help facilitate that important relationship. 

4. Builds Safety for Everyone in the Classroom 

Beyond the connection facial expressions can build in the classroom, FDA approved masks like The Communicator™ Surgical Facemask with Clear Window ensure that wherever masks are required, everyone can prevent the spread of COVID-19 or other infectious diseases. While learning and teaching in the classroom, the mask with a clear window protects from transfer of microorganisms, body fluids, and particulate material. 

Now and through the pandemic, K12 schools, colleges, and universities have been securing The Communicator™ facemask to meet the ADA needs for their IEP’s, 504’s, and student accommodations. Even as some restrictions are lifted, for those that wear facemask per school requirements or to protect immunocompromised staff and students— you can ensure a safe classroom for everyone. 

Ready to Order Safe‘N’Clear Masks for Your School?

Of course, these are just a couple reasons masks with clear windows bring key benefits to teachers and classrooms. If you’re making sure that your school has all the PPE needed in the year to come, we hope you’ll consider Safe‘N’Clear for your masking needs. 

At Safe‘N’Clear, we market The Communicator™ surgical face mask with clear window, which is the first FDA-approved medical facemask. The mask is 100% sourced and made in the USA and ADA-effective, allowing schools to serve students with accessible, transparent, and clear communication. If you’re ready to get started, shop The Communicator™ mask here. You can also learn all about Safe‘N’Clear here.