my attitude is learning can't be forced, or forced learning is something else but not learning.
Hmm. Most teachers would disagree with you. How many kids absolutely love learning History? Yet they must. Most learning is forced.
Kids don't like homework; it's called home - "work" for a reason. It is very beneficial to be involved in helping a child manage their time and emotions associated with homework through roughly the third grade, but I completely stopped only by the time they entered high school.
It depends on the child (their maturity/trustworthiness, etc.) and the parent (are they helping or hindering? Are they giving the kids the tools to learn by themselves or tearing them down? Etc.)
I wouldn't consider myself to be a helicopter parent, but I was passionate about their overall education, so I was very involved.