Should parents slow down a bit on how much pressure they put on children’s academics? For a growing number of families in the United States, the answer is “no.” Across the country, elementary-age children who already succeed in their highly-ranked schools increasingly pursue after-school enrichment centers and prepare for math competitions, spellings bees and other academics.  Professor Dhingra both answers and dispels the myths about why Asian American, white, and other kids excel at education, why parents believe in ‘hyper education,’ and whether all of this extra education is really worth it.  

Pawan Dhingra is a multiple award-winning author, former curator at the Smithsonian, and professor at Amherst College. He has published in The New York Times, CNN, Time Magazine, and elsewhere.