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Entry bubble Metric System: Do Americans Measure Up?

By: Ginger | November 21, 2008 | Category: General

I have 2 memories from 3rd grade that I would like to share with all of you. Once, I coughed so hard from bronchitis that my cough drop shot out of my mouth like a cherry bullet. It sailed across the room and smacked Lori Ann Schultz right in the middle of the forehead and stuck. Everyone laughed at her, a fate she totally deserved because she was always making fun of me.

measuring tapeMy second memory – The teacher introduced us to the metric system. She told us that most of the world was using the metric measuring system and that America would be switching over to it in the future. She taught us about meters, liters, kilograms, and Celsius degrees, but she still made us work with the customary units of feet, quarts, pounds, and Fahrenheit. At the time I thought, “Heck, why are you making me learn 2 systems?”

In 1975, the Metric Conversion Law was enacted. It basically said that the U.S. would use the metric system for trade and commerce. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has a website devoted to the metric system with conversion cards and equivalencies charts and links to recipe conversion tools.  If you want to help your kids with metrics, check out the NIST kids’ page.

Despite the fact that the government has encouraged the use of metric measurements in business and trade for over 30 years, most products still list both metric and customary units. I think this is because most Americans have not mentally made the switch to metrics. If all of the customary measurements disappeared off of the bottles, boxes, street signs, thermometers, and recipes how would it affect you?

P.S. Lori Ann, just in case you decide to come after me for revenge… I have a 255g (9 ounce) bag of Hall’s Ice Blue cough drops. Over the years, I’ve developed my projectile coughing abilities to a high degree of accuracy, so don’t make me use them.

| View Comments [12] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: ginger   metric_system  

Comments (12):

blue comment bubble Posted by Bumpengruver on November 21, 2008 at 10:53 AM EST

As with all Americans I have been using the US customary units of measure, inches and such, all my life. I do think the metric system is easier to deal with and calculate so I hope that someday we will fully convert to metric. It will take some time to adjust but since so many converter calculators are out there and both types of measuring units are usually displayed anyway, it shouldn't take long. On a side note: I praise you for your commitment to perfecting the projectile coughing abilities, we all have to have skills :) Take care and stay healthy.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Perry on November 21, 2008 at 11:46 AM EST

I always thought the United States totally wimped out back then by not just committing to the metric system completely. It would have been hard for a bit, but we'd all be over the struggle by now and happily existing in a metric world.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Ginger on November 21, 2008 at 12:03 PM EST

Bumpengruver, thanks for the compliment. Unfortunately, my projectile coughing skills don't pay the bills, but apparently writing about them does. LOL!

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blue comment bubble Posted by Ginger on November 21, 2008 at 12:09 PM EST

Perry, I think there is truth in what you say. Every time I travel and I have the tour guide not only translate the language, but the measurements, I feel completely lame. The only people in my travel groups who seem to comprehend metrics comfortably are the scientist, mathmeticians, and people in the medical field.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Magda on November 21, 2008 at 01:27 PM EST

The history of metric systems is very interesting. I am from Europe but I studied in the US for one year. Thus, I understood very well how difficult switching metrics is. When converting tools are at hand it is not a big problem, but when it comes to reaching the point to actually integrate in one's head the new measure(s) without any aid tools around, it could be challenging indeed. The most confusing for me was getting used with the new temperature measure. However, switching to a new metric system takes about the same kind of effort one has to make when adopting a new currency (e.g. Euro adoption) or going through money denomination (cutting zeros). It is just a matter of practice. After some time one just gets used with it and the new system becomes a kind of "second nature". I am not saying you should change your systems. I just wanted to share with you that it is not totaly scary. Anyway, should you want to do it I think a stepwise approach would more user-friendly and less disruptive than an over-the-night, comprehensive change.

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blue comment bubble Posted by MaryJo on November 22, 2008 at 12:48 PM EST

I believe we don't change because we are arrogant and think the rest of the world should change to accommodate us. Of course, the metric system would be easier to use.

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blue comment bubble Posted by DrTrain on November 23, 2008 at 05:03 AM EST

Hmm. For some reason I think that this Obama fellow is the most likely US President in a while to push ahead with your much necessary metrication. Sure it will be painful in the short term, but much benefits will come eventually.

Still, I bet no real progress is made!

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blue comment bubble Posted by Dean on November 23, 2008 at 02:16 PM EST

It's still a free country. Commerce went metric by law but citizens can do as if wish.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Unknown on November 23, 2008 at 05:20 PM EST

It is a shame that the nation did not start with the metric system because it certainly is a lot more accurate than the pound, gallon and linear system in use. Science has always depended upon this for accuracy along with other professions and rightfully so.
Will C

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blue comment bubble Posted by Terrie on November 23, 2008 at 06:04 PM EST

Hi Ginger:

I guess I just missed out completely on conversion to metrics or being taught about them. (I was never all that great at math.) I am really not sure where the country stands on that issue, but if they are still trying to go to it, I wish they would do it before my son grows up. He is still young, so now would be the time to teach the youngsters and integrate it.

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blue comment bubble Posted by thaís on November 27, 2008 at 01:47 PM EST

I loved this blog!

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blue comment bubble Posted by Aussie donna on December 04, 2008 at 07:07 PM EST

nah im silly when it comes to that maths stuff but i have been taught to use chinese calculators when sumtimes its the only method to work out a very big sum joined with colour codes and numbers for the codes it becomes easy for me to work things out but now we have electonic things and well all the changes in maths and so forth i guess im silly at it

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