Students in Gymnasium

Students inside the Fernald gymnasium circa 1903, contrasted with a contemporary view after the school's closure. Marching to drums and music was considered an important activity, as children with a wide range of ability could follow the beats and repetitive motions. Note the corrective foot placement used by the teacher and how one child's foot has been tethered to the boy in front of him.

Historic photograph taken by William A. Webster - Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Transfer from the Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts, Social Museum Collection. Contemporary photo by Tom Kirsch, 2019.