Oh man, I was SO like your son when I was six. Until I was about 18, actually. Very "smart" (did well in school) ... but SO stubborn and close-minded. I think for kids, the key is to praise them for their effort, creativity, growth -- and not make a big deal out of grades, right answers, even wrong answers. Mindset by Carol Dweck explains this way better than I can.

It would be a wonderful world. Let's start that movement in our own lives, and hope it spreads :)