A sniveling young student with his back turned to his teacher, who is sitting behind him wearing a square headgear, called a banggeon in Korean, is the focal point of this painting. He is surrounded by his fellow students, who seem to find the situation amusing. The circular composition of the painting, the omission of background, the use of simple brushstrokes to capture the folds in clothes, and the facial expressions help viewers feel the atmosphere of this old classroom.