It's more than perception - it's the ability of the brain to learn certain facts and to be able to access them at the rate that we understand patterns. Common core math is about pattern recognition - something the human brain does very well. There's definitely a level of intelligence needed to memorize times tables and to be able to simply *know* that 12+27=39 without having to think it through.
But, accepting that does not mean that level of intelligence is in any way higher than the level of intelligence that is needed to recognize patterns. That's why I'm saying that common core has a place. So yeah, I'll apologize for linking intelligence to teaching methods. What I should have said was "traditionally considered above-average", because that's exactly what that is. Someone who can do math the way I was taught was considered smarter than others. Common core-style teaching extends the mysteries of math to those who can't learn the way I did as easily as I did. I think that's a good thing.
But, accepting that does not mean that level of intelligence is in any way higher than the level of intelligence that is needed to recognize patterns. That's why I'm saying that common core has a place. So yeah, I'll apologize for linking intelligence to teaching methods. What I should have said was "traditionally considered above-average", because that's exactly what that is. Someone who can do math the way I was taught was considered smarter than others. Common core-style teaching extends the mysteries of math to those who can't learn the way I did as easily as I did. I think that's a good thing.