Converting to Metrics

Re “Don’t Give an Inch on Metrics or You’ll Buy a Peck of Trouble,” by Deborah Mathis, Commentary, Oct. 4: As a science teacher of some 31 years, I feel the articleby Mathis was a waste of space.

Perhaps it is because I saw the scientific evidence presented in the Simpson trial as being seemingly irrelevant to the jury or maybe because some biology teachers I have known avoid teaching topics such as evolution (or reproduction) which they feel uncomfortable with or consider to be controversial.

The facts are both the industrial and scientific communities have been on the metric system for a long time. Most of the thousands of immigrants coming to the U.S. grew up using the metric system. In any case, it is people like Mathis who do a great disservice to the youth of America by imposing their values on the kids by limiting their access to knowledge and skills which they will need to be successful in the 21st Century.

JERRY SELIGA

Science Department Chairperson

Birmingham Senior High, Van Nuys

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* Mathis, in a gut revulsion to any kind of change, rejects the metric system out of hand. The abundance of languages already handicaps us in communicating with the peoples of the world. In terms of units of measure, though, we do have a universal language, and the United States is only hurting itself by holding out (along only with Burma and Burundi) on full adoption of this system.

Industry must spend more to operate under two different systems. Documents formatted in another country don’t print correctly because the U.S. does not use the international metric paper sizes. The inability to find screws and other parts that fit products made under the metric system is a problem. The list of self-inflicted problems goes on and on.

Already we are operating under a crazy mix of systems. We talk about grams of fat, not ounces; a liter of wine, not a quart, and you don’t hear anyone complaining. One quickly grows used to it. It’s time to go that extra kilometer and fully convert to the metric system. Mathis says “everybody else is doing it.” Did she ever think there might be a very good reason why?

JIM GOTTLIEB

San Diego