This was an issue with my high school math classes too, but the other thing that made for something of a stumbling block for me was the total absence of and ref

This was an issue with my high school math classes too, but the other thing that made for something of a stumbling block for me was the total absence of and refusal to produce practical examples of the math being taught in action. The way my mind works, in order to grasp a concept well enough to be able to actively use it, I need to see it in action by way of a non-contrived, realistic example. The way any math past basic arithmetic tends to be taught in abstract dramatically slows acquisition. It’s a quality that cuts both ways. It doesn’t work well with a lot of traditional academics, but it enables me to self-teach highly applied subjects like programming with little friction.