I recently learned that there are quite a few primitave tribal peoples across the globe who only use the numbers one through four. To them, every mathematical measurement beyond that is considered unnecessary and excessive. I often day dream (usually while my college algebra professor is lecturing about imaginary numbers or cubed roots) about how magnificent life would be without the antagonistic, omnipresent demon we know as math. I can imagine it now; students in first grade, maybe kindergarten, covering a three or four day section on math which would consist of the numbers 1-4, how to write them, how to say them, what chronological order they belong in, and then move on. A bit of reiteration would be needed annually,of course, but after the fourth grade I'm certain most students would catch on.
The human race would undoubtedly miss out on many opportunities which advanced math skills makes possible, however, (i.e. a monetary system, any construction abilities beyond the fabrication of grass huts, any industrial capabilities beyond chipping flint for spearheads, et cetera) but oh what a small price to pay for the emancipation from the the slavery of mathematics. no times tables (beyond 2x2), no algebra, no calculus, no trigonometry, and most importantly, no statistics. I personally would opt for a grass hut, a livestock trading system in place of the dollar, and a donkey instead of a Pontiac if I could only forget about those math credits needed to graduate.
A man can dream, can't he?
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