I think there's a logical contradiction in the conclusion: > "We don’t need Americans to be better at algebra, per se. We need future generations that can buil

I think there's a logical contradiction in the conclusion: > "We don’t need Americans to be better at algebra, per se. We need future generations that can build and repair infrastructure, overhaul energy and agriculture, develop robotics and AI." If the issue is how algebra is taught (dissociated from physical objects), well, perhaps there's a curriculum problem. The fundamental concepts of algebra - such as commutation, association, and distribution, do indeed have nice visual and physical representations: https://www.mathsisfun.com/associative-commutative-distributive.html https://www.mathsisfun.com/associative-commutative-distribut... Everything else in algebra, trigonometry, even into calculus and more abstract math relies on understanding how those rules can be used to manipulate equations, and then you can put the equation on a computer and build models of bridges, robots, power grids, etc. You can also grasp compound interest and so not be screwed over by shady mortgage brokers pushing adjustable rate loans... (although one wonders if such widespread financial literacy is really something the oligarchs who control both political parties really want to encourage). Perhaps the real problem is the failure of the America system to place the appropriate value on education and hence invest resources in educational programs, and that's the real reason for the poor performance of American children on math relative to all other industrialized countries?