This document discusses critical thinking and the metric system. It questions whether people truly apply critical thinking and considers various perspectives. It also argues that the Federal Highway Administration violated the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 by removing metric measurements from its manual. The document suggests this was due to a lack of information, concern, and apathy regarding the metric system in the United States. It proposes recreating the U.S. Metric Board to increase understanding of the metric system and ensure compliance with federal laws designating it as the preferred system of weights and measures.

2. “Critical Thinking”
Do we really apply this concept?
Do we apply it in the right or wrong direction?
Am I really
thinking?
What am I
thinking?

3. “Critical Thinking”
What’s the following guy thinking about us?
I THINK I
AM BETTER
THAN
HUMANS…!
Why do we usually think that other people’s ideas are not
good?
Why do we reject other people’s ideas frequently?
Is it because of “money”, “dislike”, “arrogance”,
“prepotency”, or just because you consider your idea is
better than anyone else?

4. METRIC SYSTEM
“International System
of Units”
“Le Système International
d'Unités”
“SI”

5. METRIC SYSTEM
Do you know “Public Law 94-168” enacted
by Congress?
Do you know the “Metric Conversion Act
Doof y 1o9u7 k5n”o?w “Section 3 – (1) and (3)” of
this Law?
Section 3 – “It is therefore the declared policy
of the United States…”
(1) To designate the metric system of
measurement as the preferred system
of weights and measures for trade and
commerce…”
(3) To seek out ways to increase
understanding of the metric system of
measurement through educational
information and guidance and in Government
publications…”

6. METRIC SYSTEM
The Federal Highway Administration ,
known as FHWA, in its new Manual on
Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
2009 edition, effective January 2010,
decided to eliminate all metric symbols
from this informational material, and it
uses only non-metric measurements now.
This decision is just a flagrant violation of
Public Law 94-168 enacted by Congress in
1975. This Federal Law is still in place
without any modification at the present
time.

7. METRIC SYSTEM
MUTCD
2003
edition

8. METRIC SYSTEM
MUTCD
2003
edition

9. METRIC SYSTEM
Furthermore, the FHWA is not in
compliance with Executive Order 12770
signed by former President George H. W.
Bush in 1991. This Executive Order has not
been amended or revoked yet as of today.
Why is this
happening?
Three main reasons could
be cited:

10. METRIC SYSTEM
1.- Lack of Information, specifically
by academic institutions at all levels.
2.- Lack of Concern, involving all of
us.
3.- Excess of Apathy, involving all of
us, too.

11. METRIC SYSTEM
According to the Florida Department
of Education, they support the
metric system of measurement, but…

12. METRIC SYSTEM
o Are they really seeking out ways to
increase the understanding of the metric
system of measurement?
o Do they know what the FHWA has done
in erasing all metric symbols from the new
MUTCD 2009 edition?
oIsn’t it a backfire for Public Law 94-168
in designating the metric system of
measurement the “…preferred system of
weights and measures for United

13. METRIC SYSTEM
Then,
 Why do we have to squander money in
teaching the Metric System?
 Why do Florida Sunshine State
Standards list the Metric System and tell
teachers to teach it when we do not care
that a “Law” is being violated?
Why do we use the Metric System for
selling pharmaceutical products in Metric
units?
Why do we use “dual” units on
speedometers in almost all sold cars in the
U.S. even though it is optional for

14. METRIC SYSTEM
I am proposing the creation of the U.S. Metric
Board again in order to:
a) “…seek out ways to increase the understanding
of the Metric System…” as in Section 3 – (3) of
the Metric Conversion Act of 1975.
b) Confirm Section (3) – (1) of the Metric
Conversion Act of 1975 in which the metric
system is the “…preferred system of weights
and measures for United States…”
c) Protect Public Law 94-168 from violation and
to protect Executive Order 12770 from
disobedience, or to propose the total
elimination of such Law and the revocation of
Executive Order 12770.

15. METRIC SYSTEM
I Want Your
PHleealspe! ,
Help Me!
www.metric.o
rg

16. METRIC SYSTEM
Presentation by Tony
Planas, Ed.D.