A great point. Learning math doesn't automatically make you equipped to deal with other things that have math in it. At least no more so than learning a language equips you to do poetry.

Taxes are a whole different system that needs to be learned, on top of learning math. At best you can say that learning math equips you to take a tax course.

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Exactly. The hard part of taxes is government policy, not math. If you didn’t learn the math necessary to do taxes your high school wasn’t the stage of the education system that failed you, it was elementary school. High school math provides you with skills that will aid you in other fundamental civic functions such as teaching you the logical thinking you’ll need should you ever be called upon to serve your country as as a juror or to understand graphs, charts, and statistics so that you can understand the issues facing the country when you go to vote.

Math isn’t pointless, it just has for a long time been taught very poorly by people who don’t like it or understand how it plays a role throughout your life. It’s a punching bag subject.

And if none of that convinces you then just think of it as easier to teach everyone it than to sort out every kid that might try to become a scientist or engineer. Maintaining an elite force of scientists and engineers is a matter of national and economic security in the eyes of the United States government.