Frederick K. S. Leung is an emeritus professor at the University of Hong Kong and president of the International Commission on Mathematical Instruction. Of course, he would be enthusiastic about teaching mathematics, but he makes some important observations about the value and beauty of the subject in his article in his December 16, 2024 article in Plough.
"...the value of mathematics lies not in its usefulness in solving everyday problems, but in inculcating in students a sense of curiosity and in developing the capacity and habit of systematic, clear, precise, logical, and critical thinking. In this era of misinformation and fake news, this is all the more important. And being able to discern truth from falsehood is part of living a good life. Mathematics is about seeking truth, and being rigorous or truthful in the process. Of course, to achieve this, the teacher needs to teach mathematics in a way that instills these attributes, not treating mathematics merely as a skill to be imitated or a collection of facts to be memorized. The essence of mathematics lies in the process that fosters these attributes, rather than in the product such as algebra and geometry. It is in this sense that I consider mathematics the most useful and valuable subject (together with the subject of language, perhaps) in the school curriculum."