[masraum]

my stepkids were required to have graphing calculators in school. Consequently my stepson uses a calculator for simple single digit multiplication.

Kids should be taught to use the abacus early in school. I've taught myself. I really wish I had learned when the kids were young and taught them. I think it'd help both, but especially the stepson who's less math/science oriented.

They require a different way of thinking about numbers that would probably be especially useful to people that have a problem with math. It'd teach them a different point of view to work from.

Unfortunately math isn't the only subject that's lacking. I don't think either of my kids could diagram a sentence or pick out the parts of speech in a sentence. And they went to a really good school.