The thing is, without learning basic math and physics in school, most people would probably be flat earthers or some other type of degenerates.

Without knowing/understanding that it's possible to go the moon, or understanding why rubbing a stick against another stick makes fire, all the nonsense ideas that are the "easiest" to accept would prevail.

Let's say I tell you that 2+2=5. If you know that 1+1=2, you can reasonably deduct that what I'm saying is false. If you know or atleast have seen how to do calculations with gravity, you can reasonably understand that it's possible to figure out how to put a rocket in space. You probably won't be able to do it yourself, but you understand that it's possible.

I always yearned to understand a practical reason to learn calculus.

I use my understanding of second and third derivatives and the risks and how they affect the likelihood of black swan events - to choose (strongly influence) who loses when playing a game of "Liars Dice". So there is that, I guess.

On a more serious note, lots of things in personal finance are a bit easier to understand with a functional understanding of derivatives and integrals. It's not critical, but it makes stuff like the compounding time effect of interest more accessible, I think.

Edit: If I could change one thing about pubic schools, I think everyone should get a chance to take stats or probability for free. It helps so much with so many areas of life.

This has always been my biggest gripe. I took linear algebra for 1 semester and while I passed, I never understood the point. Next semester I took computer graphics and everything clicked. I had a simial experience with taking Calculus and Physics. It only made sense once I understood the application.

No one knows what a 12 year old is gonna end up doing with their life. It's better to give them as many tools so they have the opportunity to follow through with something. A kid wont grow up to be an engineer if they didn't learn geometry fundamentals in middle school, or a nurse if they didn't learn basic anatomy, or a chemical engineer if they didn't learn how chemical reactions occur.

Calculus is how I think about physics, and specifically used in almost every way I physically interact with the world. When thinking about whether to accelerate to pass someone, be it walking or driving, that's calculus.

It's the highest level of that math that comes intuitively to me, and I suspect that's why I think in it. I suspect smarter people than me go through life intuitively thinking of everything in higher forms of math.