> Because mathematics, like most tertiary disciplines, has always been taught in a teaching style suitable for the 5% of the audience who aim to go on to be mat

> Because mathematics, like most tertiary disciplines, has always been taught in a teaching style suitable for the 5% of the audience who aim to go on to be mathematics professionals (who then teach mathematics). I'm reminded of Lockhart's Lament, https://www.maa.org/external_archive/devlin/LockhartsLament.pdf https://www.maa.org/external_archive/devlin/LockhartsLament....: > "Um, these high school classes you mentioned..." > "You mean Paint-By-Numbers? We're seeing much higher enrollments lately, [...]" > "And when do students get to paint freely, on a blank canvas?" > "You sound like one of my professors! They were always going on about expressing yourself and your feelings and things like that—really way-out-there abstract stuff. I've got a degree in Painting myself, but I've never really worked much with blank canvasses. I just use the Paint-by-Numbers kits supplied by the school board."