Comments on: Improving Numeracy - Why joined-up government is needed http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2007/05/16/numeracy_needs_metric/ Commentary on the measurement muddle in the UK Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:50:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Andrew Milner http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2007/05/16/numeracy_needs_metric/#comment-5451 Wed, 17 Oct 2007 10:06:37 +0000 http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2007/05/16/numeracy_needs_metric/#comment-5451 The hard questions first, eh? Anyone that gets into physics study quickly realises that metric measurement is far more convenient. But Brits are so thick and insular, if you mention you are studying physics that assume it's some form of arobics. But what else can you expect from people who what asked what they think of the economy start talking about the large size pack of crisps (chips). Third-world nation status beckons. The hard questions first, eh?

Anyone that gets into physics study quickly realises that metric measurement is far more convenient. But Brits are so thick and insular, if you mention you are studying physics that assume it’s some form of arobics. But what else can you expect from people who what asked what they think of the economy start talking about the large size pack of crisps (chips). Third-world nation status beckons.

]]> by: David http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2007/05/16/numeracy_needs_metric/#comment-1473 Sat, 26 May 2007 12:09:45 +0000 http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2007/05/16/numeracy_needs_metric/#comment-1473 A good article which well highlights the problems of dragging on the completion of the transition to the metric system. However, while it may be the case that some schools in England may have taken the retrograde step of teaching about imperial units, I am not aware whether this is the case under the Scottish education system. My schooling in Scotland in the 1970s was entirely, and only, in metric, and had the fortunate result that I was able to learn about measurements easily and that my head was not cluttered up with a myriad of arcane units and conversion factors, which evidently cause so much confusion. If the Scottish education system has continued to retain its progressive stance, then surely it should be flagged up as an example of best practice to the rest of the UK for Gordon Brown to follow? Perhaps most ironic is that as the Scottish education system comes within the remit of the Scottish Parliament, Gordon Brown would not be able to bring any bad habits that the English education system may have picked up, to Scotland in any case! A good article which well highlights the problems of dragging on the completion of the transition to the metric system.

However, while it may be the case that some schools in England may have taken the retrograde step of teaching about imperial units, I am not
aware whether this is the case under the Scottish education system. My
schooling in Scotland in the 1970s was entirely, and only, in metric,
and had the fortunate result that I was able to learn about measurements easily and that my head was not cluttered up with a myriad of arcane units and conversion factors, which evidently cause so much confusion.

If the Scottish education system has continued to retain its progressive
stance, then surely it should be flagged up as an example of best
practice to the rest of the UK for Gordon Brown to follow? Perhaps most
ironic is that as the Scottish education system comes within the remit
of the Scottish Parliament, Gordon Brown would not be able to bring any
bad habits that the English education system may have picked up, to
Scotland in any case!

]]> by: Ezra Steinberg http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2007/05/16/numeracy_needs_metric/#comment-1227 Wed, 16 May 2007 19:59:47 +0000 http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2007/05/16/numeracy_needs_metric/#comment-1227 Excellent post and commentary. Perhaps Brown (should he be become PM) will be persuaded to see the completion of metrication as part of the continued modernization of the UK. Excellent post and commentary. Perhaps Brown (should he be become PM) will be persuaded to see the completion of metrication as part of the continued modernization of the UK.

]]> by: Martin Vlietstra http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2007/05/16/numeracy_needs_metric/#comment-1217 Wed, 16 May 2007 12:40:38 +0000 http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2007/05/16/numeracy_needs_metric/#comment-1217 Decimal currency was introduced into the major Commonwealth countries as follows: 1859 – Canada 1869 – Ceylon (now Sir Lanka) 1921 – East Africa (now Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania 1957 - India 1961 - Pakistan 1961 - South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland 1966 - Australia 1967 - New Zealand 1967 - Ghana 1968 - Zambia 1970 – [Southern] Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) 1971 – United Kingdom 1973 - Nigeria It is interesting to note that the United Kingdom was one of the last major Commonwealth countries to adopt a decimal currency. The British change only came as the computer age was gathering pace. I was fortunate in not having to write any computer programs to handle £sd - given the state of computer development in the 1970's it would have been a nightmare and had Britain have delayed decimalisation any longer, I believe that the financial crises that marked the 1970's would have been even worse. We had a narrow escape over decimalisation. Do we need a major crisis or accident that can be attributed directly to a failure to adopt the metric system properly before we, as a nation, do so? Decimal currency was introduced into the major Commonwealth countries as follows:

1859 – Canada
1869 – Ceylon (now Sir Lanka)
1921 – East Africa (now Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania
1957 - India
1961 - Pakistan
1961 - South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland
1966 - Australia
1967 - New Zealand
1967 - Ghana
1968 - Zambia
1970 – [Southern] Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)
1971 – United Kingdom
1973 - Nigeria

It is interesting to note that the United Kingdom was one of the last major Commonwealth countries to adopt a decimal currency. The British change only came as the computer age was gathering pace. I was fortunate in not having to write any computer programs to handle £sd - given the state of computer development in the 1970’s it would have been a nightmare and had Britain have delayed decimalisation any longer, I believe that the financial crises that marked the 1970’s would have been even worse.

We had a narrow escape over decimalisation. Do we need a major crisis or accident that can be attributed directly to a failure to adopt the metric system properly before we, as a nation, do so?

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