Time for new mnemonics

This Chron article addresses what I think is the most crucial question about Pluto's demotion from planet to Vowel Planet: What about the mnemonics?

Now how will students learn the planets? Some possibilities:

• My Very Extravagant Mother Just Sent Us Nachos.


• Make Very Extraordinary Meals of Jell-O, Strawberries and Unsalted Nuts.


• Mary's Violet Eyes Make Jack Stare Until Noticed.


• My Very Exotic Mistress Just Showed Up Nude (perhaps this one is for college lads).

Yeah, I don't think too many elementary school teachers will be writing that one on the chalkboard. The panel on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me suggested a few more at the end.

Problems I hand't considered:

The planetary change also spells trouble for science museums.

The National Air and Space Museum, for example, has a popular song called The Family of the Sun, set to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell, that children love and which helps them learn the planets.

Spokesman Mike Marcus said a decision on rewriting it has not been made yet.

The museum also has a scale model of the solar system that spans the length of the National Mall.

Reducing the number of planets eliminated fears that the museum model would have to float new, more distant planets in the Potomac River to stay on scale.

I'm telling you, it'd be so much simpler if we just left things as they were. Why mess with success? Rob is with me on this. We don't care what those pinheads say, Pluto, we still love you.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on August 28, 2006 to Technology, science, and math | TrackBack