> would de-emphasize calculus <
While agreeing with your comment that calculus is not so necessary, I found that when I took calculus, I really, really learned algebra. When I took Physical Chemistry, I really, really learned calculus. Then these capabilities become integrated into one’s view of reality and, without realizing it, help one to understand what is observed.
In my mind, the most valuable math-type class is statistics. So many frauds are pulled on people by lying with statistics.
> reject the idea that some children are naturally gifted <
Wow! We see the ignorance of the politicians in this comment. They are saying that no-one is a genius. But... Five year olds are composing complicated musical compositions, for example; other five year olds are making change playing Monopoly. I have observed these minds to be especially gifted, the mind of a/an: musician, artist, engineer, mathematician. (These are the really creative types.) Both the needy and the gifted should be accommodated with an appropriate educational opportunity.
Mathematicians have, for decades, struggled with the premise that all students should be able to learn mathematics. Reality is that only a few excel. But the mathematicians can’t live with that.
There was only one Mozart, Bach, Beethoven... one von Braun, one Einstein, one Newton... Plus a number not as gifted. Where would civilization be without the gifted.
I found that when I took calculus, I really, really learned algebra.
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The same experience I had. I personally think that the difficulty of calculus is overrated but I agree that to be good at it you need to really master algebra. It needs to be automatic. Algebra mistakes become calculus mistakes otherwise. And there is a lot of algebra in calculus.