I do agree with you- I hope that I didn't sound snarky saying, everyone should take Algebra. I see lots and lots of kids who just aren't "mathy" kids, when I've volunteered in my kids' classes, and they should still be able to go to college.
But it is a slippery slope.
Look at what, I'm sure, you see, with your English classes you teach. Probably often not as much writing, or the spelling is sloppy, or the grammar is poor- and you just go with it because all of the kids just about write like that.
It's like our state standards here in California, with our yearly STAR test. At the end of second grade, they tested things like- how to tell time. Lots and lots of kids didn't know that! I don't even think that is a gifted thing- I think that we just keep lowering the bar so everyone can pass and feel good instead of saying, let's set the bar higher and everyone tries harder.