The 74: One after another, like a relentless set of dominoes falling, states closed their schools as the pandemic swept across the nation last March. For America’s students and their families, so much has changed and been lost, but somehow also found in the last 52 weeks. Students learned to live without in-person classes, sports, proms, friends and teachers — and to live with remote classes on laptops, in quarantine.
Across the country photographers captured moments of loss, loneliness and fear: In one photo taken during lunch at Woodland Elementary School in Milford, Massachusetts students solemnly sat far apart, unable to socialize with friends.
They also captured glimmers of hope and humanity: A Stamford, Connecticut teacher taking on the task of caring for a student’s newborn baby brother after his family was infected with the virus.