LYNN — Judy Mishkin’s students surprised her when she asked them to write letters to workers on the coronavirus front lines.
“Among the many activities they could access through remote learning, letters were the most popular,” said the English High School teacher.
Mishkin’s students embraced the letter-writing assignment, drawing on their own experiences with life during coronavirus. Several students juggle at-home learning with grocery store jobs. One student has three sisters working in hospitals.
“It’s personal, and writing to essential workers at this time reflects how everyone is affected, from youngest to oldest,” Mishkin said.
A Swampscott native and English teacher in Lynn public schools for 25 years, Mishkin said she and fellow teachers searched quickly for a “plan B” when it became clear coronavirus would close schools.
Under School Superintendent Dr. Patrick Tutwiler’s guidance, they formulated remote learning plans for students. Mishkin said the transition to at-home school was easier for her English students because she regularly encourages them to contact her through electronic mail or other means with questions.
The letter-writing idea started with teachers brainstorming ways to encourage students stuck in their homes to think about and describe people, including relatives, neighbors and friends, working in essential service jobs like first response, hospitals, groceries and public transit.
“We asked them to think about people who knew their jobs were important and knew they shouldn’t be interrupted no matter the risk to their health,” Mishkin said.
The letter project grew into a plan to include letter assignments in remote learning packets sent home to Lynn high school students.
The students wrote their letters to workers in different job categories rather than a specific individual. Michaelangelo Antonetti praised all front line workers as “superheroes.”
“In these times, you all know that you could die; you all know that your families could be at risk and die too. Despite that, you all continue doing your normal jobs, to keep us safe and sound,” he wrote.
Basira Sharifi is the student who wrote about her three sisters, including one who contracted coronavirus. Her sister has since recovered.
“Sacrificing her own health for the needs of others is definitely selfless. I’m thankful for all the health care workers who work around the clock to keep us safe and healthy,” she wrote.
Shelby Geaney and Kiersten Stewart drew on their non-coronavirus hospital experiences to thank maintenance workers and nurses, including one who slipped Stewart “an extra Popsicle.”
“The work that you do on a daily basis to bring comfort and joy to
patients is exactly the reason that I aspire to become you and make patients smile, and to help ease their pain, just like what was given to me at such a young age,” wrote Stewart.
Mishkin and her colleagues are exploring ways to get the student letters to front line workers. They know that writing the letters focused students on thinking ahead during a time when defining the future is hard for young people.
“I love the idea that, hopefully, I can focus students on life-long learning,” Mishkin said.
My letter to all essential workers out there…
By Michaelangelo Antonetti
Superheroes are usually thought of as being bulky, strong, and saving the day from the sheer terror of the supervillains.
One of the major deeds superheroes do is save a mass population of people from a major threat. They usually wear a tight, rubber onesie, and a cape to go out and save the day. They have superpowers too, ranging from super speed, to super strength. Some are adapted to underwater life, some are adapted for taking out thugs from the shadows, and others are overall strong and were natural born leaders. Superheroes continue fighting no matter the odds, even if it means sacrificing their lives. They ameliorate dire situations by assuring us that they won’t be defeated. Civilians usually need superheroes in times of crisis. Throughout these crises, superheroes will always be there to save us from them. Sometimes, a crisis is when a villain wants to kill everyone, and others want to rule the world. However, this is a special time, a crisis that hasn’t been seen in almost 100 years. A pandemic that has spread across the entire world, that told everyone to stay indoors for as long as possible. These real superheroes put behind their own safety for ours. A service I can always accept.
So, to all the grocery store employees, to all the police who enforce the law, to all the firefighters who put out our fires, to all our amazing doctors who are pioneering us out of these unprecedented times besetting all of us today. To all the garbage and recycling collectors, to all the mail carriers who deliver our mail, and the chefs who cook us the food that some families need, to all the countless workers who go out to do their jobs to keep us safe, healthy and stocked up on food, I’d like to personally thank you all. Thank you for being so caring, so kind, and so amazing. Thank you for being our superheroes out there. You all are worthy of the title “superhero.”
In these times, you all know that you could die; you all know that your families could be at risk and die too. Despite that, you all continue doing your normal jobs, to keep us safe and sound; you all are helping us through these unclear times. You guys show some of the greatest courage and bravery I’ve ever seen. With the amiable heart of a superhero, and the perseverance to continue on, I’d like to thank all the essential workers risking their lives to keep us safe. Please, stay safe.
Michaelangelo Antonetti is an English High School sophomore in English teacher Judy Mishkin’s class.
