Yeah but what's to lampoon For the student who doesn't understand, one rote algorithm is as boring and stupid as any other. That student is plugging and chuggi

Yeah but what's to lampoon For the student who doesn't understand, one rote algorithm is as boring and stupid as any other. That student is plugging and chugging all the same, whether or not they have heard of a "tens place". For the student who does understand, the "new" algorithm at least is elucidating and actually makes sense as a direct application of the basic principles of our number system. The "tens place" is in fact a real thing, regardless of what you call it.