Yechiel Michel Epstein

“ Rabbi Yehuda feels that the suffering does not compare to the essential spiritual pleasure of learning the Tora of Hashem, even though one is not pleasuring the body in actuality, regardless, the Jewish Soul is gladdened with this.
This like the Rambam ob"m explains in chapter 2 of {hilchot} Gerushin in the matter of "Coercing him until he says 'I want it'", since in truth each and every Israelite soul wants to perform the wishes of his maker, even though the body does not.
Regardless, it is permitted to learn gloomy topics, for the soul also suffers in the troubles of Israel. ”

“ Rabbi Meir permits to read and learn in a place where one is unfamiliar, for in these topics one will have discomfort trying to understand, however Rabbi Yehuda forbids it, and the law is according to Rabbi Yehuda, and according to the {textual} reading of the Rif and the Rosh, they also argue regarding school children, where {similarly} Rabbi Meir permits {study} and Rabbi Yehuda forbids it, and the law is like Rabbi Yehuda as well. ”

“ School children - are idle on it. It requires understanding why we prevent the children learning: If it is because of joy - they certainly have no pleasure in learning! The midrash on the verse "They traveled from the Mountain of Hashem" (Bamidbar 10:33) says this means like a child running away from school!
There are some who say that reason for the prohibition {of children} is because it gladdens the heart of the teacher (Taz subsection 1) . This does not make sense, for how can we make all school study cease out of conccern for the joy of the teacher? ”