Most basic statistics classes that I've seen don't require calculus. My wife (who's taught stats in college many times) claims that they don't really use algebr

Most basic statistics classes that I've seen don't require calculus. My wife (who's taught stats in college many times) claims that they don't really use algebra all that much, either (you aren't generally solving quadratics or anything), but they certainly require the comfort with complicated symbols and formulas that algebra classes teach. Have a look at the TED talk linked in my top-level comment for an argument along the lines of what you're making here.