Memorizing times tables

Just thinking of all the IEPs I reviewed with a math goal for a student to learn his/her times tables…   For example, a child had the same goal in his/her IEP for years…especially true in elementary school through middle school.  Meanwhile, each year the syllabus required him/her to be learning concepts.  Instead, the child spent valuable instructional time attempting to commit the times table to memory, rather than focusing on understanding fractions, decimals and percents.  The team needs to consider whether or not it’s in the child’s best interest to spend instructional time drilling on memorizing these facts OR allow the child to use a chart or have access to a calculator for quick reference.  A times table is a reference tool that then affords the child information so that he can use his/her reasoning skills to solve problems.  Isn’t that what adults do?  Is the reason the child has a math goal to learn how to understand math concepts (such as division) or to memorize math facts—which can be easily accessed?