OneOfMany, you would be surprised to know how much kids learn when they are NOT forced to. Once you are on your own you can read, speak to other people, choose your own topics and subjects, join groups, lectures, shiurim, classes etc., that you are interested in and garner as much information as your brain can take in at any given time. And this information gets stored away for later use as well.
So just to reiterate. Different strokes for different folks, so fitting in one period a day or a week, for teaching practical or fun life skills, which help kids who are NOT so academically inclined to shine, or just gives those who are a rest period for their brain is a good thing and nothing to put down or make fun of. It is only a small part of what I am sure is a very thorough program.