I read you in your post.
rote memorization of alphabet, basic addition.subtraction,multiplication being able to read basic language text and speak somewhat coherently free's children to then learn. Its hard to understand fractions, trig algebra at all if you struggle to add 45+32 without resorting to a calculator. In elementary school there should be a push for these basics in grade one thru 5 not 3 of 5 hours a day discussing whether "they be racist."
thanx.
bill