@freemo Public education doesn't teach Mathematics in a sensible way. In College I worked as a peer tutor in Mathematics. The amount of students I encountered that were in remedial Math was staggering.

They were failed by the system. It doesn't take a rocket surgeon to realize that Algebra and Trigonometry can be taught to elementary school students or Middle School students.

Knowledge, Discipline, Character and Drive are the keys to anything great in life.

I met a plumber who was working in the apartment that I lived in as a kid. Is there a reason why that plumber taught me enough trig in an hour that I was able to out perform my peers for a few years?

I was sick in elementary school and I had to go to college with my sister. It was A&P that day and after establing that I wasn't going to be a disruption in the class, I was able to stay and participate. I passed their exam and I was having so much fun just being there.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that many levels of difficulty are not too great for a child. It takes a hostile environment, abuse and neglect to make a young mind have difficulty.

Give a growing mind as much knowledge as it can handle, it's not a flame but rather an inferno.

Have an Air Force Officer start teach children about fighter jets and they will soon realize that the children don't run out of questions and their thirst can't be quenched. That's how I got an Airman to get more Airmen to take me away to something else cool. Tbf there was an SR-71 in front of me. How does it fly that fast and what is this RAM made of? That's likely why I was taken aside and given a talk about the U-2.

I might have mentioned something about carbon, ferrite or some other material I read about. I was escorted away from the SR-71 by two Airmen. My teacher was told to mind their own business.

Any funny stories from your childhood Dr. Freemo?