Dear Jason, Paul, and All, >From my experience dealing with various metrication programs, it seems to me that each metrication program has three distinct components: * Knowledge; * Skills; and * Attitudes The knowledge parts of a metrication program are fairly simple; the skills take a little time to acquire; and the changes in attitude are the hardest to achieve. In any metrication program you will need to give some thought to each of these. You might find the pdf documents: '10 ways to promote the metric system' and 'Metrication emotions' helpful to begin your thinking. You will find both of these at: http://www.metricationmatters.com/articles.html or you can download them directly from the references below: 10 ways to promote metrication This is a short � 2 page � list of ways that you, or anyone else, can promote the use of the metric system, at home, at work, or at your school or college. http://www.metricationmatters.com/docs/10WaysToPromoteMetrication.pdf Metrication Emotions Another short � 2 page � list of some of the things that people feel as they approach their own metrication process. These emotions are not rational, but that does not reduce their importance. If you are a metrication leader, you should at least be aware of how others might be feeling about metrication. http://www.metricationmatters.com/docs/MetricationEmotions.pdf (Note: I only put this file on the metricationmatters.com web site today.) The Metrication Basics e-course that is available at: http://MetricationBasics.html goes into more detail on the issues of Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes. Cheers, Pat Naughtin ASM (NSAA), LCAMS (USMA)* PO Box 305, Belmont, Geelong, Australia Phone 61 3 5241 2008 Pat Naughtin is the editor of the free online monthly newsletter, 'Metrication matters'. You can subscribe by going to http://www.metricationmatters.com and clicking on 'Newsletter'. * Pat is an Accredited Speaking Member (ASM) with the National Speakers Association of Australia, and a Lifetime Certified Advanced Metrication Specialist (LCAMS) with the United States Metric Association.
on 2004-12-07 10.45, Jason Darfus at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > First of all, I sincerely apologize to everyone for getting off-topic. It > won't happen again. > > Paul, I agree with you. There is, for whatever reason, a kind of 'stygma' > attached to talking metric in this country. I'm not quite sure why but it > could have something to do with the hype and broken promises of the 1970s. > Since I was born in '75, I didn't experience the failed attempt at conversion. > > Just this year I've found the courage to speak the language but being the > dedicated supporter I am, I can imagine it wouldn't be easy for the average > citizen to gather the courage (or even the desire) to break tradition. To do > so, many times, invites a snicker or even a hostile anti-metric comment. It > takes courage to not back down and make the conversion. In those instances > I'll try to explain the quantity in relative terms, and in context, just as > was printed in the latest edition of the newsletter. > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Paul Trusten <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Dec 6, 2004 11:26 AM > To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [USMA:31568] Do you speak metric at ground level? > > One of the problems with popularizing the metric system in the United States > is that it takes courage to "speak the language." Of late, I have been pushing > myself to quote the ambient temperature to people in Celsius only, and also to > report geographic distances in kilometers only. Even among friends who know > of my mission, this is difficult, but it becomes even more daunting when I am > out in the madding crowd. This problem can be viewed as either a recipe for > conflict or an opportunity for improvement. In any case, I'm driving 80 km > today, from Orlando to New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and I plan to use metric > statements as an opportunities to promote metric, as it were, at ground level > <grin>. > > > Paul Trusten, R.Ph. > Editor, "Metric Today" > 3609 Caldera Blvd., Apt. 122 > Midland TX 79707-2872 USA >
