> math (not just calculus - but the entire subject of mathematics) had this reputation as being a "hard" subject
To me it seems like a lot of the fault was with the curriculum: basically full steam ahead regardless of the class’ understanding. That’s especially bad in math when each chapter uses what the previous taught.
But the point about adult salaried professionals complaining that they supposedly can’t figure something out is disappointingly relatable. I generally believe that most people are "smart" and just don’t tend to bother using their brain as a muscle and that seems to make it doubly irritating to hear such complaints.
To me it seems like a lot of the fault was with the curriculum: basically full steam ahead regardless of the class’ understanding. That’s especially bad in math when each chapter uses what the previous taught.
But the point about adult salaried professionals complaining that they supposedly can’t figure something out is disappointingly relatable. I generally believe that most people are "smart" and just don’t tend to bother using their brain as a muscle and that seems to make it doubly irritating to hear such complaints.