I've taught high school math for over a decade, and I'm starting to question if algebra and calculus are really necessary for most students. My seniors often ask when they'll ever use the quadratic formula, and honestly, I can't give them a solid answer beyond 'it sharpens your brain.' For a student heading into trades or arts, spending four years on abstract math feels like a filter for college admission more than a life skill. But then I see how math builds logical thinking, and I wonder if dropping it would hurt critical reasoning across the board. So, should abstract math like algebra and calculus be mandatory in schools, or is it just a gatekeeping tool?