This is an important point and I feel torn about it. On one hand, I agree with the idea that forcing kids to be quiet and do their work will be unhealthy for s

This is an important point and I feel torn about it. On one hand, I agree with the idea that forcing kids to be quiet and do their work will be unhealthy for some of them. (Certainly I know people who were unable to deal with the system and left as soon as they could.) On the other hand, I also know plenty of people who grew up in very high-pressure situations (some from stereotypical first-generation asian families, some not) whose souls turned out just fine, thank you. I hate the pervasive notion that such families were somehow crushing their children's "true self" or whatever. My guess is that there's no one-size-fits-all solution. Smart parents and ideally-designed school systems will adapt to kids' needs: allow the hard workers to grind boundlessly, let the meanderers meander without (while still trying to challenge them and spark their curiosities).