I like/appreciate your reply a lot (except the first line ;) and would comment more in response if I didn't have to run just now.
But let me at least thank you for this: "The primary aim of math class up through calculus is to teach kids to perform the calculations needed to do physics, which is needed to do engineering, which is generally perceived (correctly I think) to be greatly beneficial to society."
This is the best summary I have yet seen about why math is taught the way it is (in high-school, not in university) -- and by extension why many people, incl. myself, feel or felt uncomfortable with math up to high-school.
Specially because it should be economics and budgets and financial stuff the focus of math in those formative years. And statistics too!
Not everyone will be an engineer, but almost everyone will have to deal with money in their life. And the world would be 1000 times better if only people could understand a little more statistics.
But let me at least thank you for this: "The primary aim of math class up through calculus is to teach kids to perform the calculations needed to do physics, which is needed to do engineering, which is generally perceived (correctly I think) to be greatly beneficial to society."
This is the best summary I have yet seen about why math is taught the way it is (in high-school, not in university) -- and by extension why many people, incl. myself, feel or felt uncomfortable with math up to high-school.