Mildred Gould taught the eighteen students in this mixed age classroom, all of whom lived within two miles of the Rockville, Maine school. Gould embraced this educational model for the earlier grades (her students stayed with her through 5th grade), knowing that exposure to the advanced work being done by the older kids served as a stimulus to the younger ones. The photos suggest that she was a natural at fostering a fun learning environment. The day often included singing, group projects, and games.

The school was located near Dodge Mountain, where Ruohomaa spent his adolescence; he attended briefly when his family first moved to Maine from Vermont.