Although education and literacy were very developed in 17^th century Holland – the first university was established in Leiden in 1575 by William of Orange – it is clear that the teacher in this work is a comic figure: the boys are giggling, his clothes are old fashioned and torn, his beret was of a type worn in the 16^th century. Comparison with another dated and signed work by Verelst suggests a dating of around 1650 for our work.