Don’t forget this coming weekend is the time change for DST. Hopefully, none of you set back the time this weekend. If you did, you’ll win points with the boss tomorrow morning when you show up extra early. Lawmakers have changed the Daylight Savings Time schedule, which began this year. On Saturday, November 3rd, you’ll want to set your clocks back one hour. The time will officially change at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, Novebember 4th, making it 1:00 a.m. instead. For a detailed story, check out our new editorial section at http://www.sensiblelife.com/editorial/.

As always, don’t forget to check out our publication as well at Sensible Life Magazine.

Here’s an interesting article on a failed concept by Townsend University, http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_county/bal-te.md.towson25oct25,0,4265998.story?coll=bal-attack-headlines

What concerns me here, is the concept that “smart slackers” would complete their education without a struggle, particularly if they impose mandatory study halls upon the student. If they are a “slacker” in high school, what makes someone think it will be different in college?Here’s a thought -find out why the student is a slacker. Is it a strained and depressing home life, lack of discipline, ADHD, or other factor?

To really make a difference in the life of a student, rather than SAT scores and pigeon holing, how about doing tests to see where that person is gifted. Look at their passion. Students are more likely to excel in areas related to their passion -notice I said “related to” and not necessarily their exact passion. Sometimes students don’t know what that passion is, or how to figure it out. Many only know what they’ve been told by external influences such as peers, parents, etc. If you try taking an introverted student who has a passion for crunching numbers, and put that student on a career path for a communications field, that student will not thrive, and in some cases, learning how to be an extroverted people person will drain the life out of them.

But, what if you had a student whose passion is music, and you’ve pigeon holed that student into that course of study. Has anyone really dug deep enough to find out what music related field is best? Maybe you’ve geared that person toward a career as a composer, when what they really want to do is more of a technical position in the recording industry. Or, perhaps they want to be a writer and critique music for newspapers and other publications.

On the flip side, school isn’t for everyone, and there are positions out there that require on the job training, or abilities that are more physical than cerebral. What about those? Someone has to do them. What if the person who is a “slacker” is more geared toward building a house, or an office complex? They may be very bright and do well on an SAT, but their passion is to create things and put things together. Or, what if that person loves restaurant work and aspires to be a fast food restaurant manager? Many of these high school diploma restaurant managers make more than someone with a Bachelors degree.

In any event, do what you are passionate about, and do it well. There is honor in that.

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A news update appeared in Crosswalk regarding deaths, illness and other reactions to the HPV immunization released last year. Texas required that all girls under the age of 12 were required to receive this immunization before entering middle school. Other states attempted such a requirement, but opposition was strong as to whom should dictate whether, or not these children should receive this immunization. Should it be the parents, or the lawmakers? Fortunately, in most states, it was left up to the discretion of the parents. But, what about those who were required, or badgered into the immunization by the state? Shouldn’t those putting the requirement into place be held accountable? After all, they knew this immunization was released before adequate, long term testing could be performed. Could these deaths and illnesses have been prevented if the drug had been more thoroughly tested before lawmakers jumped on supporting Merck’s attempt at preventing HPV, even thought Merck was “supporting” many of them in their campaigns?

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