That's the thing, it's no one country that's a better decision maker, it's virtually *every* country making the same decision. Except the CDC. Upthread I posted a UK official explaining their reasoning. In another thread I posted a WHO report showing the guidelines of dozens of countries and only a couple of Asian countries masked preschool kids, and that was before the vaccines!
Upthread you posted a UK official explaining the removal of a mask requirement in March, so I searched for more recent decisions:
England
Face coverings are no longer advised for staff or pupils in school, although they're still recommended in crowded spaces such as on school buses.
Wales
Face coverings will no longer be routinely recommended in classrooms
Scotland
Staff and pupils to
continue wearing face coverings in school
Northern Ireland
The government has decided to
retain face coverings for post-primary students in classrooms for the first six weeks of term, subject to a review.
https://www.bbc.com/news/education-51643556France
Colour-coded four-level health protocol for the coming school year. Levels will be based on the health situation at the time.
Green & Yellow-
Masks to be worn indoors for staff and students at high school
Orange & Red -
Facemasks required indoors and outdoors for staff and students from primary school age upwards;
https://www.thelocal.fr/20210813/back-to-school-covid-19-health-rules-in-france-from-september-2021/Germany
Hamburg -
mandatory masks indoors
Schleswig-Holstein -
compulsory masks indoors for at least the first three weeks, but dropping them in schoolyards.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania -
have to wear masks in class for at least the first two weeks.
https://www.thelocal.de/20210730/masks-covid-jabs-tests-and-ventilation-how-german-children-are-returning-to-the-classroom/Italy
masks for everyone aged over six,
https://www.thelocal.it/20210705/covid-19-italian-schools-set-to-keep-using-masks-and-distancing-from-september/Spain
continued use of masks in schools for pupils aged six or older
https://www.thelocal.es/20210809/explained-spains-back-to-school-covid-plans-for-september-2021-2/I don't really see a strong basis for this claim:
Also, they should be able to back up why their recommendations for masking kids are so much more stringent than virtually every other developed country.
Even if you believe that masking is so effective that it over-rides the harm of covering faces, it's only as effective as the quality of masks and the way they are worn. Kids under 6 do not wear masks properly. They chew on them, they are always under the nose, and they get them dirty and wet, rendering them useless.
Agree, 100%. More than 100% - Adults don't wear them properly either. That definitely detracts from their usefulness, but doesn't negate it entirely. It just means that everyone needs more guidance and training in how to wear a mask, in order to derive the maximal possible value from it.