As soon as Greece gained its independence, in the early 1830s, the government spent considerable efforts in organizing a system of public education. They adopted the method of mutual instruction, and all school buildings were selected based on the rudimentary requirements of this pedagogical theory. Soon, though, it became obvious that the conditions in these buildings were deplorable and utterly unsuited to the needs of the teachers and the students. Health standards were low, classrooms were often overcrowded, and no care was taken to ensure that school buildings were adequately lighted and heated.