School officials in Massachusetts are apologizing after a classroom photo depicted two white third-grade students holding a black classmate with “leading strings,” an example of 17th-century clothing that some critics blasted as troubling and out of touch.

Derek Swanson, superintendent of the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District, said the photo taken Oct. 13 occurred during a lesson to third-grade students by instructors from the Plimoth Plantantion, a historical museum that replicates the original Plymouth Colony.

“Through our investigation, it was explained by the Director of Education from Plimoth Plantation that a portion of the lesson focused on 17th century attire — particularly the garments worn by parents, children, toddlers and infants,” Swanson said in a statement Thursday. “Specifically the garment worn by toddlers commonly used tethering straps to assist them when learning to walk.”

Swenson, who did not specify in which school the photo was taken, acknowledged that it “could be perceived differently” without proper context, calling it an “unfortunate incident.”

“Please note it was never the intent of the lesson to demean or degrade any one person or group,” Swenson continued. “The Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District sincerely apologizes to the students, staff and community at large for this unfortunate incident.”

Swenson declined additional comment when reached late Thursday, the Boston Globe reports.

Rob Kluin, a spokesman for the museum, also apologized for “any misperceptions or concern” regarding the photo that depicted a mother and her three children, with the black student who wore the “leading strings” playing the role of the youngest child.

“Without the proper context, the photo has understandably been misinterpreted and has caused distress for many,” Kluin told the Boston Globe. “We are deeply saddened by this, as our museum’s educational mission is to provide fun and engaging encounters with the history of the 17th-century Atlantic world.”

Rahsaan Hall of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, characterized the photo as “pretty disturbing,” particularly in a school district that isn’t diversified, he said. The district, according to state data cited by the Globe, is more than 87 percent white, 3.9 percent African-American, 2.3 percent Asian and 2.7 percent Hispanic.

The photo went viral after being posted to Facebook early Thursday, racking up more than 8,000 shares within hours.

“I grew up with Plimoth Plantation,” Chris Chaves, a parent at the school, told The Enterprise. “I went to visit there with the school. It’s education, for the kids, on American history. This has been blown a little out of proportion.”