Teaching by example

Fri 26 Aug – Thurs 8 Sept
Sun in Virgo; Mercury in Leo (d); Venus in Virgo; Mars in cancer

If the previous few weeks have been feeling fairly festive, or at least more sociable than usual, then that has changed as Sun and Venus leave lively Leo for the humbler pastures of the blessed virgin. And with Mercury officially moving direct again, the time is right to clean up our acts, get our desks in order and set the records straight. The only real Spring fever may be the cleaning one, as opposed to the one of the birds and the bees, for purification to perfection is the order of the day now. This may well help our learners at their exams, but will it help our truant and tardy teachers this term? Let’s hope they are also able to harness the hardworking, conscientious and diligent mood available now. Human Sciences Research surveys have shown that in this country almost 20% of teachers are absent on Mondays and Fridays. Absentee rates increase to 33% at month-end; and that teachers in African schools teach an average of 3.5 hours a day compared with about 6.5 hours in former “white” schools. This amounts to a difference of three years of schooling. Forgive me if the Virgo theme inspires me to go into details here, for this is the time for analysis – without the anal, of course. Also let’s watch out for the fussy and critical attitude for that matter too. It’s just that with Sun and Venus in Virgo, accompanied by Mercury in Leo someone needs to take charge of the faulty situations all around us, become informed, and become an authority on your field without seeming rigid or dogmatic about it. For example in the teaching field, the secret to success in solving the crisis is the leadership role of principals, teachers and parents. If this sounds a bit like the recent gang-related riots in the UK by youths, then maybe it is. If the kids see the teachers taking so much time off work, what to speak of going on strike (thereby stealing another 5% of the allocated time from the curriculum) then obviously they will imitate that example. Why do you think China, Japan and Korea are growing so fast? One reason is because of the work ethic. When I was in Taipei I observed learners taking lessons up until 5pm daily, with everything from extra English (from pre-school already) to violin or piano. This is because the demand for university level qualifications is so high that without the diligent endeavour of a Virgocentric mindset, you simply get left behind, relying on your welfare state to bail you and your unwanted progeny out of the doldrums. Unwanted progeny being another symptom of poor education or lack of Virgocentric vision, dear Prudence. Now you know why we have one of the highest unemployment rates in the world. These are all issues which can be tackled under the current planetary transits. South Africa’s horoscope places her Sun in Taurus, and with Jupiter in Taurus throughout this year, this is the ideal time to address and rectify the failings of our education system before the costs accrued due to its neglect begin to drown all her inhabitants in their own ignorance.