I agree with that. I will also counter my own previous point with alternative argument. There are cases abound of kids that achieve great things then have tragic ends.
Mostly because doing something "great" typically means winning some sort of competition, and when the talent pool is deep enough, hard work becomes a significant determining factor, at which point the arms race is on, and whoever is most willing to destroy themselves is the winner. When the stakes are high enough, and the child's will falters, the adults around them are ready to impose a will of their own.
A hundred grand for college is pretty big stakes, sooo...
I've seen the show, and it's a mixed bag as far as parenting goes. The last one I saw, some parents were exerting an unhealthy pressure on their children to study, some were just checking in with their kids while worrying privately, while another was arranging for a sleepover for her DS instead.
But yeah, I don't see the benefit of cramming to memorize random facts. That's why we write them down.
