That's an impressive statistic, Pat. Your previous email on this subject
(but with no subject line entry) was USMA:40565. That forwarded a list
of emails that NMAP had received. But that list did not include the
submissions that were read to the panel in person.
I find little to hope for in this. The NMAP struck me as being rather
deaf on the subject of the metric system, both during my presentation
and in their interim reports. On the day I attended and presented, the
bulk of the questions asked and comments made by the panel had to do
with proposed commercial education packages. We have seen these "miracle
cures" marching down the road for years, in a steady stream, for their
chance to drink deep at the public money trough. Apart from that the
only interest by the panel seemed to be when to start teaching algebra.
In short, the NMAP seemed more focussed on methodology (especially the
procured sort) than on content.
Perhaps I will be pleasantly surprised when the report comes out on
Tuesday. I hope so.
Jim
Pat Naughtin wrote:
Dear Marion and All,
You might be interested in the fact that the National Mathematics
Advisory panel:
… reviewed written commentary from 160 organizations and individuals …
and 30 of these submissions (19 %) were about the teaching of the (SI)
metric system in USA schools.
On 2008/03/15, at 6:25 AM, m. f. moon wrote:
Pat, great comment. Without going into great detail of the problem, I got
myself into a bit of difficulty when during a discussion on a standards
specification, I suggested that a certain equation may not be correct.
I was
assigned to study the problem over night but didn't have a calculator nor
computer with me. I choose to do rational arithmetic which handled the
boundary conditions with ease -- this is where I thought the problems
might
be. A couple of quick calcs showed the intermediate values to be
correct also.
So, my claim was wrong but the method of solution was unusual for most
of the
other standards committee members but persuasive. Who needs fractions?
marion moon
------ Original Message ------
Received: Fri, 14 Mar 2008 02:42:37 AM PDT
From: Pat Naughtin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>>
Subject: [USMA:40565]
Dear All,
Here is a copy of the 30 submissions that the National Mathematics
Advisory Panel (NMAP) received with reference to teaching of the the
metric system in the schools of the USA.
---------------------------------------------
Attachment: 8_metric system.doc
MIME Type: application/octet-stream
---------------------------------------------
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
PO Box 305 Belmont 3216,
Geelong, Australia
Phone: 61 3 5241 2008
Metric system consultant, writer, and speaker, Pat Naughtin, has helped
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