24th February 2004, 10:22 AM
Quote:Oh and, as I already explained a few times, during elementary my school made a similar choice that really old schools made when they decided to teach the "new math" (you know, the hard to learn stuff that doesn't work?). They all taught us metric instead of english standard. Now, the thing is I think that was the only school doing that in the whole state. Also, I only went to that school for a year or two, as was the case with EVERY school I've ever been to. Why none of them since then decided to get down and teach me standard I am not sure, but I think it's a combination of OK school's lack of goodness (that's FUNNY, LAUGH!) coupled with the teachers just being impressed at a student knowing metric. You have to keep in mind that while most people know standard, they still think of metric as a "smart" standard of measurement (what they don't get is that metric is smart because it's so easy, not because it's something you need a diploma in to understand), so they would actually indulge me and not only allow me to use metric measurements, but went about telling all the others students they should learn too. Really, in retrospect it does seem rather odd. No, I'm not from Canada. I've lived in Oklahoma my whole life.
And I learned Metric some in first grade too (not as the only units used but we were introduced to it), but didn't then use it for everything... you mean all of your classes were ONLY metric? How bizarre. But at home I'd expect you to use Standard from the beginning...
Quote:See what I mean? That whole unit of measurement is constantly in flux because it's not based on some sure thing that won't change. Seconds are nice and metric, though all other units of time above it, though TECHNICALLY metric for being based on it, don't have the luxery of easy conversation. Still, wouldn't change THAT due to how much easier it is to use those units than having to figure out how many gigaseconds it is until the new game comes out.
Metric people knew they couldn't change our system of time... too ingrained I guess. I mean units of 60 aren't normal standard now. They were for the Babylonians who we owe that to (since the Babylonians had a Base-60 number system), but not anymore... :)