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Category Archives: Education
Which Council in the UK is most metric?
Philip Bladon of Redditch puts this question. He also asks which local authority is most supportive of metrication. The editors of Metric Views, however, have doubts about whether this would be a useful line of enquiry, and invite comment from … Continue reading
Posted in Consumer affairs, Education, General, Road signs
4 Comments
A critic writes – and a response
UKMA’s Chairman received the following critical letter from a thoughtful correspondent (a student or teacher of physics). As it is better argued than most efforts from defenders of imperial measures, it was thought that it was worth publishing (slightly edited … Continue reading
Posted in Education, General, Technical
11 Comments
Are imperial units natural? (and some useful rules of thumb)
One of the claims sometimes made by defenders of imperial weights and measures is that they are “natural”. The metric system (they may say) is all very well for science and technical matters, but for everyday life imperial units like … Continue reading
Posted in Consumer affairs, Education, General, Health, Myths, Technical
4 Comments
What’s wrong with two systems?
Defenders of imperial units sometimes claim that using units from different systems simply contributes to the richness of our language and culture. People use whichever units are appropriate to the context (they argue). Two examples of this viewpoint were published … Continue reading
Posted in Consumer affairs, Education, General, Health, Media, Road signs
15 Comments
Pounds and ounces baffle top students
In last night’s “University Challenge” (BBC2) between St Cross College, Oxford and Trinity Hall, Cambridge, the following question came up … [Article by Martin Ward] “Imperial measures. How many ounces in two and a half pounds?”
Posted in Education, Media
23 Comments
Tesco – trying hard but must try harder
On Saturday 21 July 2007, I visited a Tesco store in the West Midlands. On many of the fruit and vegetable displays there were signs showing the inkorrect symbol ‘Kg’. (Article contributed by Philip Bladon, author of ’A Dictionary of International Units’)
Posted in Consumer affairs, Education
22 Comments
Improving Numeracy – Why joined-up government is needed
Yesterday, Gordon Brown stressed the importance of improving numeracy skills when talking to the news media and the CBI. A modern, competitive UK clearly requires a numerate workforce. Numeracy is a lifeskill that eveybody needs whether for managing your bank … Continue reading
Posted in Education
4 Comments
Crazy acres
Of all the traditions that are kept alive today the acre for land measurement has to be one of the daftest. (Article by Phil Hall)
Posted in Consumer affairs, Education, Media
10 Comments
Measurement muddle damages education
I recently received the following enquiry expressing concern about imperial conversions in school. “My daughter brought home some homework last week which included learning some constants – e.g. 1kg = 1000g. Included in the list was 1kg = 2.2lb and … Continue reading
Posted in Education
9 Comments