Sad...
Genius or not, people don't tend to succeed and live happy fulfilling lives unless they're more rounded individuals. I've known plenty of geniuses (top Oxbridge 1sts) who couldn't survive outside the world of academia, and struggled to articulate themselves to people below their level, leaving them comparatively lonely and isolated. Not to mention the pressure they put themselves under to succeed. It often leads to severe depression and all too often suicide.
Pushing a 6 year old to an un-natural level to succeed, and making a big deal about it in the press is sick and wrong; it's child cruelty. Nurture the child's interests, but also make sure they're rounded - get them out in the park kicking a ball around with their peers, or some equivalent - don't ostracise the poor sods by encouraging a press freak show around them.
It's about time there was some legislation in place to protect childhood; kids aren't supposed to have sex before they're 16 because they're deemed to be not sufficiently mature; how about applying the same principle to qualifications? Sure, you still need to stretch the most able and make sure they don't get bored, but at the same time they need to keep their feet on the ground so they don't turn into social outcasts...
(Disclaimer - I have a gifted 6-year old son, who would probably be capable of the same attainment if I pushed him; but I'd rather he spent his time enjoying his childhood and socialising with his peers instead; there's plenty of time later in life for him to do that kind of thing)
Biting the hand that feeds IT
