Well, the author assumes the "correct" answer is the ability to convert a metric quantity to Customary. I doubt the international athletes could do that either. (The article doesn't really test whether the athletes understand their scores or are truly proficient in metric, and I don't know if they are). I am just rejecting the particular test. The anser to "Does he know how much, say, 78 kg is?" is 78 kg, or if an answer in pounds is required, "who cares." If one "converts" it to pounds, note that a pound is just a funny name for 0.453 592 37 kg, and you circle straight back to 78 kg. That would be the correct answer for a German or Chinese athlete to give. Why is it wrong for a US athlete? Metrication is about using metric, not converting back to Customary. I am not claiming our athletes are or aren't proficient in metric. I am only claiming that the author, by his own test, reveals himself to be innumerate.
--- On Mon, 8/13/12, Ressel, Howard (DOT) <[email protected]> wrote: From: Ressel, Howard (DOT) <[email protected]> Subject: [USMA:51851] RE: Hard Lessons at the Olympics -- Or Just Uneducated? To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> Date: Monday, August 13, 2012, 1:22 PM If it's so hard for the US to compete on a metric level field then why are we still no. 1 in medals? -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Monday, August 13, 2012 1:09 PM To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:51850] Hard Lessons at the Olympics -- Or Just Uneducated? Frankly, I am getting tired of all this handwringing about how "hard" the metric system is. Get over it! Six billion people around the world seem to have no problem with it. Are Americans ignoramuses? And now we find out (surprise!) that our USA Olympians look like fools before those of other nations because they haven't been educated in the world's (and the official US) measurement system. And these people are supposed to be the cream of the crop. What an example we are setting for the rest of the world. No wonder we're tied for 17th place with Iceland in education! Hard Lessons At the Olympics, Like The Metric System http://www.gpb.org/news/2012/08/12/hard-lessons-at-the-olympics-like-the-metric-system
