Show Student Life Wednesday Feb 23 1977 Page 15 University education math professors explain role of metric system in teaching by Greg Peck by Congress “In about staff writer “Students and American citizens don’t know how much easier metrics makes figuring” said Brice Adkins professor of ele- mentary education "It takes awhile to adjust to the system after being taught the Amencan system: but once you catch on it is an easier system to work with "Students planning to major in elementary' education at USU are of required to take two quarters can teach so they metric practice the system to their students when they get into their prospective field” Adkins said He said teaching the metric system is easier than teaching US system “It is more logical” so he said “so not so much time will be required to teach math on the elementary level with an understanding of this system "Though students have a lot of information about the English system after completing a education they don’t have all they are expected to know" F or Adkins said instance a large number of students still don't know how many feet make up a mile how many feet are in a rod — things of this sort” He explained that several times in the past bills to change the US systems to metric have been proposed but turned down the high-scho- ol ’ 1866 we almost went metric” he said 'Instead the U S passed a bill making it legal to use the system in the U S but was not made the standard "Around World War II the U S again nearly went to the metric system but it was again turned down by Congress possibly because of our involvement in the war and the large cost of such a project at that time" Adkins said He said “the metric system will - have an effect on America’s future economy and that transi- tions will need to be made in different areas Automobile manufacturers for example will have to convert to new speedometers which can fie read in metrics as well as changing the horsepower readings Adkins said He said “the U S will need to spend a “great deal” of money to make the transition but that more metric products will likely be and exported by the U S imported “It appears the transition will stunt the economic growth but it should strengthen it" he said “A number of countries and American companies are making the transition just so they can be compatible to oversea manufacturers who produce both English and metric system products " Some things will not lx affected by the change to the system Adkins pointed out such as mea- surements in football” those who haven’t had experience with it " Brmghurst said teaching metrics is not costly requiring afxmt '20 hours of lab and study practice to cover "Textbooks are not really re-- Hut on the average" he added “most everyone will feel some effect of the change on the way they live now ’’ Packages for example will be the same size but will be measured in December 1976 The saying “give him 25 4 millimeters (an inch) and he'll take 609344 kilometers (a milej" may never catch on in the US The metric system may though as evidenced by other countries’ efforts to discard the yard in favor of the meter A nation deciding to “go metric" brings upon itself a nation-siz- e problem Analyzing the impact which using the metric system has had upon England Australia New Zealand South Africa and Canada could prove useful to our country The United States probably will find itself m the midst of the metric sea within 1 twelve A years New Zealand third-grad- e teacher had a typical She said introduction experience of the metric system in 1972 to her school was smooth and stimulating “For the children” the teacher recalled “it was no big deal They had no trouble in seeing and understanding it Metrics made sense as contrasted with the old (mperial measures which were illogical" Great Britain though found adopting the metric system to be messy British citizens have accepted the confusion of using a dual measuring system as part of life In Great Britain the change-ove- r made uneven progress It has advanced in some areas dragged in others The engineer-m- g output is metric the construction industry is near con version clothing and industries are now changing over However British consumers measured in pounds buy items ounces feet and inches from store shelves The switchover m South Africa followed England Scotland and Wales by two years It was attained with optimum and simultaneous ease The success is attributed to unequivocal commitment by the government compulsory conversion laws New Zealand and Australia have been almost as successful as has South Africa Canada recently converted to the metric system appears to be on a course in the middle — between the British and Australian — New Zealand routes The real tasks lie ahead The subjects naturally metric — mathematics and sciences — presented unanticipated pro- blems in all five countries Mathematicians in these countries had to do more than brush Local public officials express hope for gradual conversion to metric system careers “Math will be required for all teacher certification programs and metrics are taught in the math department under new programs recently begun in the departments" Ballarn explained “Remedial math courses will also probably begin to teach the metric system" he noted “as it may be the key in determining if one truly understarnLs decimal by Valerie Sager senior writer (Tty and county officials say Digan must accept the metric system but tiiat tliey hope tfie changeover will be gradual “It will bring substantial i hanges in the rntries measuring figures" The USU Math Department instructors employes 17 of the metric system Antone Brmghurst professor of mathematics said the metric system has been taught at USU since tfie U S stated four years ago that it would convert to the different system of measurement “Most math majors will have had experience with the metric svstem prior to beginning their studies" he said “We teach it to full-tim- e system” Iogan city Mayor Desmond Anderson said "Tfiat includes sizes of lots widths of streets and amounts in fluid containers" He said the new measuring system would change instrumentation and calibration “More importantly it will bring efianges in human habiLs" Anderson said "There will be and always has been resistance to this kind of change whenever human beings are involved " will He said fie thinks accommodate the switch “It's not a question of favoring the system” said Anderson “It's a question of working towards a ' way to accommodate it up on decimals — questions about where fractions fit into a metric classroom often arose British educators take an optimistic view They say with me- trication math is “speeded" in the primary course by at least one year Also teaching is made easier and math is stimulating to children who otherwise might have found it a difficult subject Math and oilier physical sciences have often been in the metric mainstream The problem of conversion actually lies in the xial sciences area where the reatest range of units need to be hanged such as existing stativ s to reference materials Prof favors Normally social studies texts re expensive to produce and ave a long shelf life It follows hat these texts often have teen he last to be replaced by metr-- i Many ally updated versions com-nerci- she were If iniversity level The most intensive extensive ind expensive conversion problems for the five countries in the home economics and ooational education areas have been forced to develop “sixth sense" for metric size They must think ui terms of two measuring systems since ts al of equip-nehave not converted to using manufacturers metric system will mean" lie said lie understands the system but does rxA use it often “It is the language of science and I took quite a tut of chemistry and physics In college” Chambers said "I haven't used It in a long tune but I am familiar with It " 10-ye- “Miss America’s measurements would seem strange in figure bemetrics a comes in metrics Australian texts still contain mperial uniLs jiarticularly at tfie Stu-ien- (Tty Councilwomart Carol Clay said site doesn’t understand the system and would be lost if the rfiange were not gradual “I think you would have to start leai lung kuls about It wltcn they first start arfiooj" sfie said “I don’t know how you would abroach it right now” Cache County Commissioner Kulx-r- t Chamber said most pete pie will aerrj tlx change ora e they realize lt’1 coming “But if all of a sodden tfie gas stations and grocery stores swt-l- ( hed to a rhflerent system It would le a baffling Situation” le said "We've liad tlie English system so long I'm not sure people know what a switch to the plan ar (Continued from page 1!) i nt he metric system The greatest challenge is in ron verting the ordinary citizen Towever One Australian said 'You'll never metricate me Ml boots lie with my imperial-size- d in” nx-tric- a metrics Dean of Education Oral Bal-lasaid teaching of metrics to prospective teachers is important in preparing them for their Experiences converted countries point to US adoption of system from American Education Tfie quired in teaching major expenses irv lude purchasing meter stic ks tapes tfiat measure in metric and metric conversion charts so cost Ls not tfie main concern in tfie Instruction of metrics" fie said Despite being exposed to tfie system for nearly five years many citizens in the five countries feel the same as the Australian A 1975 Gallup poll showed that 50 per cent of the Australians most of them 50 years old or more felt that metrication should be slowed or stopjied The United States in preparing for transition to the metric system will be traveling its last 16 kilometers (mile) to join the rest of the world down a road familiar tn nfhr 112 emnds m metrics she would lx-- 54 kilograms Somehow the 54 kilograms sounds slimmer than 112 xiunds” Wallis said there are seven base units The length base unit is the meter The weight base unit Ls the kilogram The tune base unit is seconds Tfie temperature base unit change Ls kelvUi but the Celsius unit will be used Tfie body temperature of humans 96 6 would be 37 instead Tfie electric unit is amperes tick im O' Fawe A4e Vbi I im tet kanaaai © GuMiaz si ns laHMX aA' Mufiay otMae ler4 ! tr 11 9V hv iMMaaia k PfeiMtpa asni cHa4 m Ml jNa Cwwpve laiaat taiHawii £ uaiaamU ftaaf vxki ft ladiaa tayaitf — Uummou intensity unit is candela and the amount of (distance imt is mole This Include the atoms electrons and ion SOf FLOOR VWzi rW-- i LEATHER I N MAIN Eft |