I was in a Catholic grammar school in Hoboken in the early 60's and we used these desks. They were bolted to the floor, had fancy iron work and a round indentation on the top for an ink well.

Like Fields, our young man would rather be in Philadelphia!

I'm always intrigued by the varying ages in these classroom groups. The ages seem to range from eleven or twelve to girls of fifteen and sixteen. Must have been close enough to the one-room schoolhouse model that it didn't matter too much to mix.

The desks look like old Singer sewing machine cabinets. Notice that they are bolted to the floor--no group work there!

The ironwork on the desk legs is beautiful. The school system probably paid $5 per desk if that.

I'm guessing it wasn't the young man's choice to be in the class.

I love how angry and miserable the only boy in the class looks.

Looks a lot like my classroom in the early 1950s. Our principal was Miss Ver Plank -- a stern and certainly single matron of about 60 whose hair was always pulled tight into a bun. She wore long black skirts, white long-sleeved blouses and those heavy black leather Dr. Scholls shoes. We had few discipline problems -- the thought of being sent to see Miss Ver Plank was enough to keep us in line.

My third grade teacher was beautiful, and I was certain I was going to marry her. I was devastated the day she announced to the class that she was engaged.

A technical note: enlarge the photo and you'll see a little round black dot on the top moulding for the left window. This is where an air bubble clung to the film during processing. A beginner's mistake. Must have been processed by the apprentice. The irregular black spots are probably from dust on the negative when it was exposed.

[This photo was taken on glass, not film. - Dave]

Did he enroll in the class in the hopes that his slick moves would impress the ladies?

The young man in the back appears to be only male in the class, and the only student who is aware of his photo being taken.

Definitely makes a statement. Of some sort.

When I started school in 1953 this style of desk and classroom was still in use.

One thing that stands out in many of these pics is the correct use of the double-hung sash. You open the top to let heat out, open the bottom to let cooler air in. This habit has been lost, and double-hung windows made after 1960 generally have an immovable upper sash.

[If the top doesn't move, it's not double-hung. - Dave]

Clearly these were the days when lefties were forced to write with the right hand. Fun to see them painting with tins of watercolors.