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In 1902, co-founder Dr. Augustus Thorndike wrote. “Will you, gentle reader, bring your friends to see the School? They will be amply rewarded.”

His generous invitation to “you, gentle reader,” to visit the school appeared in the 1901 Annual Report. Dr. Thorndike knew the school would be a place of contradictions and surprises for the visitor. He recognized that sometimes things are not always what they appear to be. Visitors to the school in the 19th, 20th or 21st centuries might have expected to see children who were cheerless and staff who were tired. From his experience, Dr. Thorndike knew the opposite would be true, for at Cotting School, the students are happy and thriving, and the staff is energized and creative. He understood, too, that by meeting students, visitors would learn to appreciate the unique gifts and strengths of each child, as he or she was fully and productively engaged in all aspects of learning. The above photo was taken at the turn of the 20th century.