Teachers are warning classrooms are feeling the strain of Queensland's most recent COVID-19 wave, with some schools considering a return to online learning.
The warning comes after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk issued a plea for children to wear masks in schools but stopped short of issuing a mandate.
Cresta Richardson, president of the Queensland Teachers' Union (QTU), backed the Premier's plea, speaking after the Creative Generation schools' concert at the Convention Centre on Saturday.
"If people want to grab a mask, then please do so. We don't want to be doing macrame with masks in three years' time," she said.
Ms Richardson said a number of teachers were isolating while infected with COVID-19 and influenza.
"Our teachers are professionals and they're experts -- and they're doing the best that they can to ensure a continuity of education for kids in their school. But it isn't without its challenges," Ms Richardson said.
She said schools were putting up online resources for when students become sick, but they may need to look at other measures if the outbreak worsens in coming weeks.
Terry Burke, Queensland Branch Secretary of the Independent Education Union (IEU), said staff at independent schools were struggling with absences just one week into term three.
"We've had one week of school. It's been a pretty tough week, and I think people are a bit apprehensive about going back for the second week," he said.
Mr Burke said the staffing shortages were hitting non-government schools hard, with some schools even considering a return to online learning.
COVID-19 cases are rising across Australia and Queensland has the second-highest number of hospitalisations.
On Sunday, the state reported 5,989 new COVID cases and 132 new influenza cases.
Weekend COVID deaths will not be reported until Monday, but in the 24 hours to Saturday, 22 people died. Hundreds remain in hospital for both COVID and flu.
"The best way to slow this wave down is to wear a mask," Ms Palaczszuk said.
Return of masks in schools?
Mr Burke said schools with high numbers of COVID-19 and influenza cases would likely look at bringing back masks, but a state-wide mandate would not be appropriate.
"I think [schools] would also appreciate that they're not being mandated to do that — that becomes just another task, when sometimes it actually doesn't make any good sense to actually insist on the mask-wearing," he said.
"There are a number of classes and class contexts where mask-wearing can readily be done and it can be done effectively.
"However, there are still situations where the mask-wearing is very, very difficult — it's highly problematic.
"Any process of group work which requires a lot of conversation is particularly problematic," Mr Burke said.
Some parents had mixed views on the return of masks to school.
One parent at South Bank in Brisbane told the ABC on Saturday he understood why they were necessary.
But others said they would not be heeding the Premier's advice.
"I feel like they're too little and it's already stressful for school kids as it is just trying to get back to normality — and I just think masks are not the right way for kids anyway," said one parent.
Another worried it would hinder the relationship between their child and their teacher.
"I think kids and teachers need to have relationships where they can see their full facial expressions and express their thoughts, like connect with each other really well," he said.
Ms Richardson said she hoped the Premier's message for students to wear a mask would sink in, in time for the start of the school week on Monday.
Opposition leader David Crisafulli said he supported the decision to encourage mask-wearing in Queensland schools.
He said he was concerned about potential staff shortages in schools and the potential transition to online learning.
"Health is important but so too is education, and during a pandemic, we want to make sure our kids aren't left behind."
"The government promised to make a plan to deal with that and we want to see that plan, so does every single parent in this state and every teacher as well."
