I think it's strange to see this sort of conflict crop up as a cultural, racial division. Providing time to goof off, unwind, relax, and release tension isn't really a "dumbing down" of curriculum.<p>Hyper-competitive atmospheres, based on an immersion in a perpetuity of dictated, goal-oriented projects, where objectives and achievements are assigned, and not chosen, without any opportunities for... (dare I say?) "fun" won't provide for memorable experiences that last beyond childhood. This sort of thing voids the personality, wouldn't you say?<p>A childhood of constant, unrelenting cerebral challenges, and compulsory learning, is going to produce some real fuckin' jerks down the road, I'd say.