I'm not sure what the best approach is regarding math. I do notice a strong math-phobia, which is often satirized alongside technical jargon. Few students go far in physics or chemistry, so much of the metric association is with math. This could be tackled by stressing metric in other areas as well and maybe (somehow) getting more inroads with sports or pop stuff.
The math phobia goes into USC satire sometimes too... you hear gripes/jokes about "A train leaves Chicago at 70 miles per hour another train heading 50 miles per hour..etc" If metric was part of that negative umbrella they would likely compound the equation as such. In truth some metric understanding is pushed in schools, but its limited, and, if unused is largely forgotten. Most high schoolers spend at least a year doing algebra but how many people on the street could figure out a graphing equation or even a simple inequality? I recall one teacher (he taught calculus) explaining to the class and asking rhetorically why metric never caught on. He then went on to say that a kilometer was longer than a mile, when asked about a race. Its a simple error, but one that can only occur from lack of usage or attention. I never really learned either measurement system in school. Virtually all of my understanding came from real-world observations and experience. In essence...you don't learn it without hands-on experience. On Tue, 17 Oct 2006 16:47:32 -0400, "Brij Bhushan Vij" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said: > Stan, Paul sirs: > >.....My point is that introducing metric system in math classes is a > >mistake. Why? Many people >suffer aversion to math. Americans in particular > >treasure math phobia, even pride in it. > It is unfortunate that US & anti-metric forces consider 'ichhy.....' in > using SI-incere efforts that most children want in their school > curriculur > to learn & understand the Metric System - the Le Systeme Internationale > d'Unites (SI) way. Lableing metric learning wih 'math phobia' only > enhanves > the craze to learn it right; and denying the American young their right > to > choose *what best holds in their learning* or its absense thereof. > Looking forwards & learning Metrics will only add to American democratic > way > of life. > Brij Bhushan Vij > (Sunday, Kali 5107-W27-00)/265+D-290 G.(Tuesday, 2006 October > 17H16:79(decimal) ET > Aa Nau Bhadra Kritvo Yantu Vishwatah -Rg Veda > Jan:31; Feb:29; Mar:31; Apr:30; May:31; Jun:30 > Jul:30; Aug:31; Sep:30; Oct:31; Nov:30; Dec:30 > (365th day of Year is World Day) > ******As per Kali V-GRhymeCalendaar***** > "Koi bhi cheshtha vayarth nahin hoti, purshaarth karne mein hai" > Contact # 001(201)675-8548 > > > >From: "Stan Jakuba" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> > >Subject: [USMA:37361] Metric and math > >Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2006 20:50:07 -0400 > > > >This is an opinion concerning the emphasis USMA members have been placing > >on writing to math teachers & their organizations in the expectation that > >it will help metricating the US. > > > >I am questioning the effectiveness of that effort. Math teachers tell me > >that they do teach metric; it is in the curriculum as any standard subject. > >They also support the vision of metric USA. And they cannot teach metric > >any more until they are told to do so. That is likely to happen only when > >the country starts going metric again. When that push starts they will do > >more regardless our prompting; but they cannot initiate the push. > > > >Notice that their teaching metric in the past failed in metricating the US > >if the metric USA was that goal (I know it was not). I believe that any > >extra effort on their part will again be wasted. Worse yet: they are the > >wrong group to teach or promote metric. > > > >My point is that introducing metric system in math classes is a mistake. > >Why? Many people suffer aversion to math. Americans in particular treasure > >math phobia, even pride in it. Fear of math is considered a virtue. The > >media delight in prizing numerical ineptitude and ridiculing the opposites > >as nerds, geeks, etc. Associating metric with math turns many pupils > >against metric. And it is the non-math types that will go into the > >Government policy making. > > > >Metric need not be a math subject. If I remember my childhood ed, I heard > >of the "metric system" in physics classes, not math. The Czech lands, being > >located in the center of Europe, had likely the same ed system as the > >continental countries (not England). Metric system and units weren't taught > >in math classes because there is no math in metric. Math was devoted to > >calculating. Measurements, for which one needs units, was left for physics. > >US math teachers "put" math (i.e., conversions) into the subject. > >Otherwise, what would they do with all those hours allocated? And they are > >used to that - conversion calculations are a must in working with the > >English system. > > > >Relegating teaching of metric units to physics in the US would take away > >the stigma of metric = math, and with it the "I am not good at it, see no > >use for it, forget it." This (majority) in the US population would have one > >less argument against metric. Introducing metric in physics or similar, > >non-math classes, on the other hand, cannot but enthuse students for > >resorting to the metric system. They see how much simpler solutions to > >problems are when using SI. Instead of aversion, they will develop a love > >of both metric AND physics. > > > >For these reasons, I question the usefulness of "working with" math > >teachers and their representatives to involve them in promoting the metric > >cause. We should instead address curriculum developers, textbook publishers > >(non-math), and other such organizations. > > > >I am not against promoting metric among math teachers or any other group. > >But recognizing the limits on the time each of us has for the metrication > >effort, I am concerned that, with this group, that time is not just wasted, > >it is counter-productive. > > > >Stan Jakuba > -- Bernard Rachtmann [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- http://www.fastmail.fm - The way an email service should be
