Adopt Metric System
Deseret News
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865617361/Letter-Adopt-metric-system.html?pg=all
Summary
Totally adopting metrics would be difficult and we might struggle for a
few decades. But it would also be a great gift to our grandchildren and
those that follow. The problems surrounding STEM subjects would greatly
diminish.
Letter
Why low percentages of American students are lacking interest in
STEM subjects in high schools and universities is no mystery. These low
percentages are based in what I feel is a serious American problem we
still cling to the old English system of measurements.
Even simple calculations in temperature are confusing. Guess what, water
freezes at minus 32 F and boils at plus 212F. Can't we just use zero and
100C degrees instead? Can't we just do away with all the converting?
Most students today learn metrics to some degree. The problem is twofold:
First, learning our measuring system from infancy to teens, then being
faced with conversion throughout a lifetime. Or, as I did, forget science
classes and revert to miles, yards, feet and inches. Second, in order to
fully accept metrics as a nation, there needs to be a total cultural and
legal adoption.
Totally adopting metrics would be difficult and we might struggle for a
few decades. But it would also be a great gift to our grandchildren and
those that follow. The problems surrounding STEM subjects would greatly
diminish.
Wayne Overson
Santaquin
