[USMA:36567] Re: USMA digest 2274

[Philip S Hall]

This thread presupposes that the cashiers know that 10% is one tenth.   One thing I learned when trying to teach basic maths to very weak underachieving kids in the UK is that you can take nothing for granted. It’s not easy to put yourself in their shoes.   I maintain that metric doesn’t make any difference to whether people grasp the basic concepts - that is always down to good teaching. It does however allow them to apply mathematical knowledge much more effectively and makes the process clearer and more logical.   Phil Hall   From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mike Millet Sent: 15 April 2006 16:43 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:36566] Re: USMA digest 2274   Sadly what Ivan says is true. Many cashiers are stumped by ten percent discounts. I have also heard the "come to the US and be prepared to use inches/feet" line. I have noticed an uptick in metric measures among some of the younger age groups (referring to soda cans in mL and such) but when asked the people just say " Well I use it because it's easier to think in tens instead of some odd measurement" . This is true, but I'm beginning to wonder if this has less to do with simplicity and more to do with the population as a whole having trouble counting past ten ;). Mean of me I know. I'll go sit in the corner now ;) Mike -- "The boy is dangerous, they all sense it why can't you?"