A radical proposal for mathematics

Debbie Meiers, within a larger argument against the idea of a national curriculum, made a drastic proposal for changing math education in America in her blog recently:

The public’s much-criticized lack of interest in advanced math may, in fact, betray their good sense, not their bad. Calculus-driven math may be foolish-driven math, that mis-prepares us, leaving us disarmed before the realities of our world. Perhaps a “statistics-driven” math would be equally tough and “advanced” but more suitable for a democratic citizenry?

She’s no advanced math teacher, and neither am I.  So let me pose her question to those of you who are: is it time for a radical re-imagining of the mathematics curriculum? If you were in charge, what would it look like?

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