The teacher is Uncle Sam, a popular U.S Cartoon Figure throughout history. He is trying to teach/discipline the new students/territories (Cuba, Porto Rico, Hawaii, and Philippines). However, the new student are shown as displeased or unhappy with their new authority figure (the U.S). Other figures in the picture is the black student cleaning the window in the left hand corner, the Indian student in the back reading a book with ABC upside down, and an Asian student beside the door. The other figures in comparison with the students on the right side (California, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska, etc) are old students(minors) that were mistreated or ignored. The board in that back says, “The Consent of the governto is a good thing in theory, but very rare in fact. England was governed her colonies whether they consented or not. By no waiting for their consent she has advanced the world’s  civilization. The U.S must govern its new terri-tories with or without their consent until they can govern themselves.”

Dalrymple, Louis. School Begins / Dalrymple. N.p., 1899. 2012647459. Web. 26 Oct. 2016.