Programming instead of math; statistics instead of calculus

Schools should be teaching computer programming instead of math^[1]. Math is a systematic, rigorous thought system that builds quantitative reasoning and problem solving skills. Programming taps into a similar set of skills but is more practical. The ability to write functional code will take the most people further than factoring polynomials. It could be as simple as Automator or Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) in Excel.

Schools should be teaching statistics instead of calculus. Very few people use the calculus taught in school. However probability, the fundamental basis of statistics, is a general life skill. Thinking probabilistically cracks open the door of possibility that our typical deterministic thoughts leave closed. With the increasing amount and power of data, a basic data analysis toolbox is more valuable than infinitesimals.

School should be preparing students for the world as it is and how it will mostly likely be. Far more people are programming than using math, and far more people are applying statistics than calculus.

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1. By math, I mean algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. Basic arithmetic is a necessary skill for every functional citizen.  ↩