Exactly. Practical arithmetic is useful. Most people do not need mathematical theory
Oh, they need it alright. They just don't have it. Which is why there are so many on this thread screaming "burn the witch!"
My little buddy was taught the Chinese method of Math everyday after school by her Shanghai-born Mom/ She excelled in math and skipped two grades. Started college at 16, Chemistry and Bio-Mechanical Engineering. I could never figure out what she was learning because she and her Mom did it all in Mandarin!