Aug 8 2014
August Predictions
This month began with a “Jupiter-Sun-Mercury conjunction in Leo: the sign of the heart”. This is a great combination for creative expression and fun, however, Saturn and Mars in Scorpio are square these fun-loving Leo planets. Saturn and Mars will try to turn us away from opportunities for enjoyment, as they inform us that there is work to be done, but we can try to fulfill our responsibilities “in a creative, fun, and heart-centered way”. Choosing between joy and suffering, hard work and creative endeavor, “emotional intensity and focusing on the good may come to a peak around the full moon on August 10”. Be mindful on what you choose to focus your attention and emotions, as what we focus on, generally expands in our minds. Let’s endeavor to keep it positive. The planets in Leo want us to be happy and to celebrate our lives. Scorpio planets want us to “plumb the underworld and confront our shadows”, and with these planetary influences we can achieve a “profound emotional breakthrough” or be seen through a “test of endurance”, made somewhat easier by the energies in Leo. From August 17th through the 25th the good times intensify amid the darkness, due to a light-hearted conjunction of Venus and Jupiter in Leo, (“while Mars and Saturn perfect their conjunction in Scorpio”). “This strange planetary dance will split people into those who see life as a playground and those who see it as a battle or endurance test”; and we may swing from feeling one way or the other. These energies can guide us to what we’ve been suppressing, and help us to release emotional pain and debris from the past, in order that our inner voices may become clearer. The universe wishes to teach us that “there is no need to struggle”! “Let go of your baggage, and release the negative ties to the past……feel the lightness of your spirit!” Drop the heaviness! “The new moon on August 25 is a particularly good day to do this as the old give way to the new.” The new moon in Virgo is a time for “everyone to focus on purification and cleansing ourselves, our patterns, our lifestyles, and our environments”. It’s a good time to joyfully sweep away all we no longer need: physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually! Celebrate who you are!
The above information is quoted or paraphrased from: Donna Taylor, Predictions article in August 2014 issue of magazine: Sedona, Journal of Emergence! …….by Trish Forsyth Voss
Aug 21 2014
How important is teacher tenure in our education system?
Teacher tenure is basically a permanent contract with teachers, “ensuring them a guarantee of employment for life”. The practice began in the early 20th century when changes in political parties, racial or personal bias could result in an otherwise excellent teacher being fired. Now the practice makes it nearly impossible to fire bad teachers. I feel that most employers should have to show “just cause” for firing an employee. In the teaching profession, the dismissal review process can be very involved and costly. “Some states and school districts are beginning to turn to merit-based models for tenure and pay.” The Center for Education Reform, President Jeanne Allen said, “Many states have set the bar too low for the achievement of tenure”. With the huge amount of influence that teachers have in the lives and development of self-esteem in our kids, it’s not fair to waste our children’s time and growth in school years trying to weed out the most ineffective educators. Our kids deserve the best educational opportunities available, and to be surrounded by those best-suited to bring out their full potential. More than in any other profession, those who are burnt-out or tired of the young minds in need of constant inspiration, they should retire and allow fresher, more innovative instructors to take over, revamping the tired, old system into a new paradigm of learning.
By spiritspeak • Community Roundtable 0