Dear Kirk W. Kaufman,
Firstly, let me congratulate you on your article 'Metric system taught for
good measure in Greensburg' by Dirk W. Kaufman
TRIBUNE-REVIEW, Friday, February 16, 2007 . It seems to me that few writers
have the courage to confront this important issue in the USA.
Your article raises several valuable issues, not least of which is the
method we choose for our inevitable process of 'going metric'. The process
you describe as used by Katrina Brown:
Katrina Brown, who has a doctorate in physics and is a professor at the
University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, has grown accustomed to doing
English-to-metric conversions in her head for the benefit of her students.
Following more than 35 years of investigation into how people upgrade to the
metric system, I would like to point out that metric conversion is not a
good approach. In my opinion, Ms Brown is inadvertently selecting one of the
slowest possible paths to metrication.
If you intend to follow up on the subject of the metric system in the USA,
you might find these resources useful:
What is the best process for going metric?
See: 'What is metrication' at
http://www.metricationmatters.com/docs/WhatIsMetrication.pdf
How far has the USA already gone down the metric path?
See: 'Don't use metric' at
http://www.metricationmatters.com/docs/DontUseMetric.pdf
Just how much more complex are the old measuring methods when compared to
the metric system?
See the single page item, SI Metric Units Vs USA Measures at:
http://www.metricationmatters.com/docs/SIMetricUnitsVsUSAMeasures.pdf
You will also find more relevant articles at
http://www.metricationmatters.com/articles.html
Thanks again for your article, and I wish you well if you intend to devote
further time and thought to this most important topic.
Just how important is the metric system?
See: 'A word about global warming' at
http://www.metricationmatters.com/docs/AWordAboutGlobalWarming.pdf
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
P.S. I would be delighted if you pass a copy of this email on to Katrina
Brown, Mark Stauffer, and Thad Zaleskiewicz.
PO Box 305, Belmont, 3216
Geelong, Australia
Phone 61 3 5241 2008
Pat Naughtin is the editor of the free online monthly newsletter,
'Metrication matters'.
Subscribe at http://www.metricationmatters.com/newsletter
Pat is recognised as a Lifetime Certified Advanced Metrication Specialist
(LCAMS) with the United States Metric Association. He is also editor of the
'Numbers and measurement' section of the Australian Government Publishing
Service 'Style manual for writers, editors and printers'. He is a Member
of the National Speakers Association of Australia and the International
Federation for Professional Speakers. See: http://www.metricationmatters.com
This email and its attachments are for the sole use of the addressee and may
contain information that is confidential and/or legally privileged. This
email and its attachments are subject to copyright and should not be partly
or wholly reproduced without the consent of the copyright owner. Any
unauthorised use of disclosure of this email or its attachments is
prohibited. If you receive this email in error, please immediately delete it
from your system and notify the sender by return email.
