I think this is backwards. The public at large are pretty honest that they don't know math. The world would be a much better place if they were able to do pract

I think this is backwards. The public at large are pretty honest that they don't know math. The world would be a much better place if they were able to do practical algebra, even if the higher truths of abstract mathematics never enter their minds. I really don't see people being confidently wrong about abstract mathematics as an issue. I certainly don't know the rigorous definitions of an integral, but I can apply the concepts of calculus to everyday life perfectly fine. People who care about rigorous math can do rigorous math, and I'm glad if they teach me an intuitive understanding that lets me live a happy, productive life. Personally, I find layers of abstraction necessary for learning. Maybe there are people who don't, I suspect they would have to be prodigies though. Tell me how to add fractions practically, then teach me the principles when I need to know them. Framing that as a lie seems wrong to me, I'd call it "bounded knowledge".