I have worked through most details in user26857's outline:
Normalisation of $k[x,y]/(y^2-x^2(x-1))$,
for dealing with similar questions. In reference to the comment:
"Since $\ker\varphi$ is a prime ideal of height one, all we have to do now is to show that $(Y^2−X^2(X−1),XT−Y,T^2−X+1)$ is also a prime ideal.",
I would like to know if I can replace the part involving any reference to Krull dimension and height of the kernel by more "elementary" means? For example, can I deduce that the kernel is principal without invoking these things for now?
I have seen that there are alternatives to such an approach, but right now I would like to stick with this. My reference is Reid.