Mathematics is the only way I know how to solve technical problems from first principles, and not get stuck when existing solution X doesn't fit problem Y. If

Mathematics is the only way I know how to solve technical problems from first principles, and not get stuck when existing solution X doesn't fit problem Y. If people want to start programming trade schools, that's fine, but that's not "Computer Science", or "Software Engineering" for that matter. Engineering means being able to solve novel problems in an applied manner. You can't do that without mathematics. Calculus is ultimately symbolic manipulation, as another commenter said. Mathematica / Matlab can do calculus. So should you.