“...fails to teach students the internationally recognized, efficient multiplication and division.”
This is true. A few years ago I tutored students in grades 6-12, and I was shocked most of them did not know the multiplication tables and were lost on easy division problems.
The math books are filled with “fun” graphics splattered all over the pages, but very little actual math. It’s mostly a confusing presentation.
I have seen that too. What one 3rd grade teacher told me when I asked him why he didn’t teach basic math facts such as the addition, subtraction, multiplication & division tables was they were all objectionable because doing so required rote learning, and rote learning is taboo. He said that his approach was far better because it required students to “develop their own strategies” for solving problems. Nice theory taught in teacher's colleges. Problem is it doesn't work. Students need the foundation of math. If they are not given it, they are unlikely to progress to develop their own strategies.