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To me, math is a skill involving the manipulation of abstract symbols. It doesn't involve sharing, being nice to other kids, helping each other out, or any of that. Those things are great, but they ain't math.
Coincidentally the math stack exchanges are regarded as the most toxic parts of that community.
You know, the really sad part about this essay is, because the teacher doesn't know what the hell they're teaching, they miss the bigger picture. These kids have been learning-crippled. It's not just math. They're looking for a mechanical process for everything. That's a tragedy. But it's lost in some misguided rant about how math might be involved in what's going on.
Coincidentally the math stack exchanges are regarded as the most toxic parts of that community.