Letters from the Homefront: The Classroom Edition

The following “Letters from the Homefront” account is part of our new initiative, Collecting in Quarantine. Inspired by the poignant letters in the Maryland Historical Society collection documenting past adversities from the Spanish flu of 1918, to the Annapolis yellow fever epidemics of 1793 and 1800, MdHS is calling on Marylanders to send their personal stories of how the pandemic is impacting their lives.

Our contributors today — three fourth graders from the Naval Academy Primary School — wish they were in school and with their classmates like the children in this image. Classroom scene, photograph by A. A. Bodine, undated, B1595. A. Aubrey Bodine Collection, Baltimore City Life Museum Collection, H. Furlong Baldwin Library, Maryland Historical Society.

March 25, 2020 – On this day, Casey from Annapolis writes:

Dear Maryland Historical Society,

The corona virus makes school way shorter. My teacher just sends us websites and work to do, and i normally get it done before noon. I don’t want to sound like a nerd, but I love school. My teacher makes everything fun. She makes songs to remember the times-tables, and we play games to give our brains a break. My brother’s school has way more work. Yesterday, he was working long after dinner. I’m not allowed to distract him, and I get really bored. I’m writing a book, but you can only do that for so long. I try to play, but I’m still bored. So bored that I combined Frozen, Barbie, My Little Pony, and doll! Also, I’m 9, so I’m really bored.

March 25, 2020 – On this day, Daniel from Edgewater writes:

The coronavirus pandemic affects me because I’m not able to go to the Lion King The Musical on Broadway New York, New York. It was a big thing because my whole grade was supposed to go from the Naval Academy Primary School (NAPS). I was going to take the bus up with my friend and the train back with my Dad. I also can’t have a birthday party [this spring] when I am turning 10. Additionally, I have to stay home and cannot go to school, but my teachers email my Mom work for me to do.

March 25, 2020 – On this day, Tek writes:

To whom it might concern,

This pandemic is super boring. I can’t even play with other kids. It feels like I am locked in a cage and the only things in the cage are me, a Virtual Intelligence, and a pack of croutons. I think that scientists should find the antidote quick. Here are some facts I made.

This is really bad and terrible.
This is now a worldwide pandemic.
I wish I was in school.
Considering that everything about this is flat out bad and some people have died this Covid-19 is the worst thing ever in my child life.

Please note: The views, information, and opinions expressed and shared on the underbelly through the Collecting in Quarantine project do not necessarily represent those of the Maryland Historical Society. Our staff does not verify for accuracy the information contained within these submissions. We also do not edit the content beyond minor modifications for formatting or to remove personally identifying information, if applicable. Just like the historic letters in our collection, each letter presents the writer’s own perspective. The primary purpose of this series, with the permission of contributors, is to share and collect the experiences of Marylanders living through the COVID-19 crisis at this moment in time.

To learn more about the Collecting in Quarantine project and how to share a story of your own, click here.