FWIW I took it in the 80s (also around 7th grade though I forget exactly) and it was not like that for me. I wish I'd had more contact with real math that early

FWIW I took it in the 80s (also around 7th grade though I forget exactly) and it was not like that for me. I wish I'd had more contact with real math that early -- school was such a waste of time.