This makes me wonder if you actually read the whole article. Reading and writing were the second component of that system, so those activities you participated in were also crucial. But more importantly, they were not at the expense of collaboration. The author isn't saying alone time and contemplation aren't central towards bright minds. The author is saying that collaboration is a critical component to a largely social creature. It's not about forcing interactions, but about learning how to handle those numerous interactions with other people. Children spend all day with others at school and with their family, so it's good to focus on how they can work together with others so that they may develop better both socially and intellectually.