I think you're reading too much into my commentary.

I'm not talking about China or comparing myself to them. There are much bigger issues than what was quoted.

But I just find it funny that someone would say "Is it even possible to not be broken by something like this?" about something that happened to me, in a western school.

I guess it's an interesting question to wonder how broken elementary students are ending up. We wouldn't probably notice anything wrong because everyone would be broken.

My schooling was very similar and I didn’t get to go home. Australian private boarding school. Toilet time was scheduled, you had your designated bed, designated desk, designated table at mealtimes. Timetables handed out at the beginning of each fortnight telling you which building to be in at which time. Alarm for waking up, showering, chapel service, national anthem, first session, cleaning duty, etc same time each day. Didn’t leave the school grounds for two years.