I saw this article on the shortcomings of American math curriculum posted on Slashdot.

The practical applications of math are your checkbook. The value of mathematics in education is fundamental to studying nature. Of course, something so useful must be taught to everyone, no? But what if the result is cargo-cult education? “I typed it into the calculator but it just says ‘E’…”

I’m blessed as a parent with a child who loves math. I can already predict that there will be tough times in his education revolving around the boredom involved with rote math practice, and I will be put to task finding fun and practical examples/games/activities that exercise the new concepts he will get tested on.

http://www.fordham.edu/academics/programs_at_fordham_/mathematics_departme/what_math/index.asp