I find the poem a sad comment on the state of teaching. TIMTOWTDI is even more true in math than Perl. But learn it by rote and the only solution that you can think of is the one you know to repeat. Plus if you get one memorized step wrong, then your motions become as meaningless as they already seem to be.

But ignore me. Comprehension is not on the test. Nor is creativity. Besides, most teachers don't understand the rituals they "teach". So understanding won't be in the course.

Carry on as you were. :-(