Nautigal's strategy is the one that we've used with Connections' increasing load of... hogwash.

Our eyes are on the prize (the diploma) and her actual education, and everything else can pretty much go to the devil at this point.

I will say that such a strategy can work to maintain reasonably good mental health for a gifted girl; even one who is innately an authority pleaser.

Schrödinger's cat walks into a bar. And doesn't.