I'm not sure how anyone can learn math (as opposed to arithmetic) in american secondary schools. Based on my kids classes, they only teach techniques for solving specific types of problem and are very weak on the underlying theory. Even undergrad engineering math seems to be taught from a cookbook point of view. I was in grad school before I really understood some of the math that I had been using for the previous 10 years. I don't know why some people "get it" and others don't; some people can see through all the mechanics of solving equations and see what's underneath and others just learn how to follow the steps. I think one of my daughters actually "gets it."