[zozbot234]

This is done as standard practice in many countries outside the English-speaking world - complex "word problems" are used to gradually introduce algebraic-style reasoning (often involving multiple "steps" as a matter of course) in the earliest grades as part of the study of both arithmetic and what English-speaking schools call "pre-algebra". Teaching proper algebra after that once the students have the proper level of mathematical maturity becomes almost seamless.

[1970-01-01]

The way math is taught in the USA is downright disastrous. It's been through several revisions over the last 30 years and still isn't showing average students reaching anywhere near these levels.