This story is true. Any resemblance of the persons to fictional characters, living or dead, is coincidental.
Time: Summer 1975
Place: Chicago
Scene: Plush Lounge in Fantastic Hotel where educators at the First Annual America School Metrication Convention are meeting for a week.
Persons Symbol
Ms. Libby Elementri LIB
Mr. M. Etric MET
[...]
MET: Japan had a great effort to go metric originally in their schools, but did not have the backing of industry. It took them forty years to convert. At one time they even had three different systems going for them. England had a pretty good effort on the part of industry to metricate, but their educational program left something to be desired.
LIB: How do you see our situation
MET: I hardly even know you.
LIB: Come on, don't be funny.
MET: Well, our industries and large corporations like IBM, GM, and Ford are really leading the way, and there is this guy out in some place called Rhode Island—I think it's in New York—he's really pushing American metrication. Now it is up to our educational institutions to do what they are supposed to be expert in—educating. The whole problem is educational, no matter what sectors are involved.
LIB: What do you think our schools should do?
MET: Metricate, American style.
—
John Izzi, Metrication, American Style
(1974)
"What do the Bible, the American Heritage Dictionary, The Exorcist, Huckleberry Finn, The Color Purple and a pamphlet written by Warwick High School teacher John Izzi have in common?
ReplyDelete"At least once since publication, they have either been banned, challenged or placed on restricted shelves in school or public libraries."
—Barbara Davis, "Banned and challenged books know no boundaries" (Providence Journal, 1986)