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By Design News Staff -- Design News, June 2, 2003
MAY I TAKE YOUR ORDER?
You make some good points in your editorial, "Bring a Number Two Pencil, Please" (My View 04.21.03). There will always be those who think standardized tests are discriminatory. Indeed they are! They discriminate against those who do not know the subjects well enough to show proficiency. I've watched for years how the standards at our grade schools, high schools, and colleges are lowered to accommodate those that are unqualified. Relate that to the engineer who designs a product and a test platform to verify the integrity of the product. The new product goes into production and fails the verification tests. Rather than correct the design, the tests are changed so that the product now passes. I shudder to think that the six students that file the lawsuit in Massachusetts may be future engineers.
Rich Frohbergh, Moorestown, NJ
BACK TO BASICS
We have failed the last several generations by forgetting the primary purpose of going to school. It was, and is, to learn how to read, write, do basic mathematics, and learn history and geography. I am a first generation American, born 11/20/29. Because of the depression and WWII, our average class size was 30+ students. It was tough, and not everyone passed. Some had to do it over and some eventually dropped out, but not many. Our parents wouldn't allow it. They realized the value of an education and wanted us to learn as much as we could. Now if kids don't learn, it is the fault of the school system.
Tom Karones, Chicago, IL
MORE THAN ONE SIDE TO H-1BS
Though your comments do ring true on many levels, you should not make big assumptions. We have had multiple H-1B engineers at our facilities over the years, none of which came from India or China. No one country will thrive without the others anymore. We are lucky to be in the U.S., but we shouldn't lock others out—international experience can yield great rewards for people both personally and professionally.
Troy Waldherr, Warrenville, IL
LAY OFF THE LAYOFFS
I want to thank you for writing the editorial on the visa issue here in America. I am a telecom engineer and this market sector is in the middle of the crater with massive layoffs. This crisis needs more attention in the government. To make matters worse, there is a new visa status that big corporations now have to get around the H-1B rules, the L-1. (See articles at www.businessweek.com/careers/content/mar2003/ca2003036_6655.htm and www.ieeeusa.org/releases/2003/032403pr.html.)
Larkin Crutcher Plano, TX
THE FLY
Here is a test horror story (MyView 02.17.03) The final exam for a class on mechanical engineering dynamics had one question: A fly (size 1 x 1cm) is crawling inward on the blade of a helicopter. The helicopter blade is rotating at a rate of 'a' rpm and oscillating up and down for 'b' seconds, with 'c' as the amplitude of oscillation.
For the purpose of this question, the oscillation is assumed to be purely sinusoidal. The helicopter is traveling at 'd' km/hour horizontally, and climbing at a rate of 'e' m/sec. The helicopter is traveling NNW relative to the surface of the Earth. Assume the 'disk' of the helicopter blade systems rotation is parallel to the surface of the Earth. The helicopter is at latitude 45°N and longitude 60°E on the Earth. Assume the Earth is a perfect sphere of radius 4,200 miles and that it rotates on its axis exactly once per day and around the sun in exactly 365.25 days. Assume that the orbit is a perfect circle of radius 'f' and the axis of rotation of the Earth is exactly perpendicular to the orbit. Derive the equation of motion of the fly with respect to the sun.
While I have never been concerned or bothered by the grade I received, or did not receive on this test, I have never forgotten the question.
John O'Meara, Cherry Hill, NJ
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