I think Paul is referring to a test we gave to our entire student body and
faculty in 1998. A summary is posted on the USMA site at
http://lamar.colostate.edu/~hillger/dykt.htm (scroll down to 1999 January).
Although ounces are not specifically mentioned in the summary, I looked up
the raw test results and found that 51% of students (grades 7 through 12)
and 20% of the faculty did NOT know that there are 16 ounces in an
(avoirdupois) pound. The middle schoolers did much better than the high
school students, presumably because such conversions are taught in middle
school math classes, but never used in school afterward. In high school,
measurement calculations are limited to science classes, which use SI almost
exclusively.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul Trusten
>
> I am in the process of refuting the Almanac article point by point. One
> of the statements made therein was:
>
> "Maybe NASA aiming someone towards Mars, or the Ford Motor Company
> designing do-dads for its cars, may find the metric system useful for
> all the dividing they are doing, but most of us just don't do a lot of
> division of distances and measures. And even when we do, we're quite
> smart enough to figure out that there are 16 ounces in a pound, thank
> you--just ask any American 10-year-old."
>
> ...But, haven't we discussed here on this list that
> Americans have an abysmal knowledge of WOMBAT and that perhaps the
> average American 10-yo does NOT know how many ounces there are in a
> pound? Would one of you (or, even MORE than one of you) please send me a
> citation on the lack of US WOMBAT familiarity?
> --
> Paul Trusten, R.Ph.
> 3609 Caldera Boulevard, Apt. 122
> Midland TX 79707-2872 USA
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>
> "No one from the Audubon Society has yet documented the
> finding of a modified barium swallow."
> --Byrd Ona Wyng, Forensic Ornithologist
>
> "Free Billy Rubin!" ---Medical Technologists' protest cry
>
>
