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About your another argument, STEM is hard. This is exactly where parents are needed to push kids because many of them are not mature enough to understand.

Every serious subject or study, history, economics, math, physics....actually is hard if you want to achieve something with them. There is no easy one and no shortcut to learn. It is just that in college they make some majors easy and some hard. But God is fair. He reward hard working, not lazy working. If you work hard you will achieve more.

Take a look at introductory level courses as example:
History 101 or economics 101 (non-math based) and calculus 101 or physics 101. The first 2 may be easier, take you less hours than last 2 to study. But you really can't achieve anything after you learn the first 2. On the other hand, after you learn calculus 101, you can solve the problem that needs you to find the optimal dimensions of a rectangular box with a fixed surface area in order to maximize its volume (a typical homework of cal 101). Furthermore, together with learning physics 101, you can optimize the shape of a bridge or a building structure so that it can withstand stress by using your calculus 101 and physics 101 when you interim in an engineering firm.

You see? Hard-working will get payoff, make you easier achieve something in your career. Many kids don't understand this hard work gets payoff thing. When they become mature and finally understand this, it becomes too late. STEM skills, such as abstract thinking, math calculating, lab work... just like music and chess, have a small window to learn and are best to learn for young people before age of 25.