Your October 2006 text says
"ensure that all students have experiences that
enable them to measure in both the metric and the
customary systems as well as to solve problems
related to measurement in either system."
This is wrong. I ask that NCTM have policies that get rid of
inch-pound units entirely. Right now, in 2009 and forever, do
not teach inch-pound units. Teach conversion of units only as
part of algebra. NCTM policy might allow inch-pound units to
appear in history but not elsewhere.
Students will learn inch-pound units from daily life without
needing help from their school.
The use of two sets of measures costs the US an estimated
$1000 billion each year. A big part of this cost is in schools
where conversion uses a lot of class time and leads to confusion.
Now, I can expect that NCTM will say that stopping inch-pound units
can not be done in 2009. So, OK. Maybe so. When can it be done?
NCTM needs to plan to change. Do you already have a plan?
Inch-pound units are a big drag on the US economy. NCTM needs
to be a leader in the change to metric units.
Please tell us your view on this. Thanks.
Robert H. Bushnell, PhD PE
member US Metric Association
