Well said, we should be democratic with our children, and students. We should however monitor them so that they don't go astray in the course of learning.
I remember my Dad pressurised me in opting for Architecture in the university, but I stood my ground that I want to be a microbiologist, here I am, fulfilled in the field.
The younger ones can't however do this, so it is up to the parents, teachers to discover what he/she is good at and try to mentor them in that aspect