Calculus is wonderful but the way it's taught is abysmal. Calculus should be taught by teaching professors, not research professors. It needs to be taught by s

Calculus is wonderful but the way it's taught is abysmal. Calculus should be taught by teaching professors, not research professors. It needs to be taught by someone who is focused full time on teaching. But wait, there's more.. There should be two levels of Calculus 1: long-term, or short-term. Short-term calculus is a regular class, taught by whomever is available and qualified. Long term classes are smaller, meet more frequently (how about four times a week), and taught by a professor whose focus is teaching, not research. To understand calculus IMHO (full disclosure I failed it three times. Fourth time was a charm) you need a mastery of algebra and trigonometry. I didn't get that, and I think less and less kids are getting that kind of mastery. Hence, a longer term of smaller classes focused on the premise that not everyone in the room has mastered algebra or trig, and teach from that perspective. Thank you for coming to my Ted talk..