Memes

That's reasonable, but some theory is also good to know. In language class we discuss not just the content of an article but also how it is written. Language itself is a tool here, similar to math.

Another important aspect of school is to ensure that everyone is exposed to many topics. That's why we have art classes even though most people don't become artists. It let's everyone know that this topic exists and what it is about.

The practical implementation of teaching math is bad though, as you said. Sometimes it is just rote memorization, which is the complete opposite of what it should be. I hate that.