My recollections of boarding school where discipline was somewhat lax and we were allowed to do pretty much as we liked. We sat in any part of the school room we chose and moved about as we liked (unless when our class was under examination) and arranged our daily programme very much as it suited our individual tastes and convenience.
It has never occurred to me until now that possibly this was beneficial to our growing bodies and minds. It certainly was not strenuous for teachers or pupils and it was very pleasant and sociable and these are good things indeed for youth to thrive upon. We were never tempted to commit suicide as so many over driven children do yearly in Germany.
Suicide in school? In the 1800s? Scary! 🙂
It does make you wonder, presumably this was well known at the time, it is presented as fairly well known fact.