There is the assumption that algebra is absolutely positively an essential skill for boys and girls in all walks of life. Not only does everyone need algebra, but students cannot hope to pass those entrance examinations to enter college without an understanding of algebra. I predict that you will not find one person in ten who will answer in the affirmative. Even airline pilots have tables and ready-made graphs for plotting distances and estimating time of arrival. People in finance have ready-made tables for finding the answers to financial problems that they frequently encounter such as compound interest.
Most people are successful in their everyday lives without using algebra.
We need algebra for that. True, but this is an artificial gate for admittance. It is like the requirement that candidates for officer training, especially flying, be a college graduate. It may be one of those things we assume is necessary, but have no proof one way or the other. Algebra is a screening device for college entrance much as Latin was a hundred years ago.