When I was in high school, Algebra was semi required class; if a student brought a signed paper from a parent they wouldn't have to take the class. My parents didn't see the need for it and thought it was a waste of time. The only thing my dad ever said about Algebra was, "Pie are not square, pie are round." That was in my freshman year in school. Then when I was a junior, I wanted to take a computer programming class but missed out on it because I would have to first take two years of Algebra.
After I graduated I attempted to learn it, but it made absolutely no sense to me. Then when my youngest son had learned it, he attempted to show me the very beginner's part of it, but still, again it is completely foreign to me. Do I feel like I missed out on knowing this? I would say yes, I missed out on a whole lot of possibilities. I'm just happy that at least that my sons both understand this subject, and it is easy for them to understand. At least they they won't be missing out.