little cogs

I watched the TED talk that was posted yesterday. The one of Sir Ken Robinson, who asks the question: does education kill children's creativity? This really struck home with me...

I have been one severely angst ridden teacher this year. Nothing seems to go right and I find myself trying to instill creativity, collaborative skills and interdisciplinary thinking into students who not only aren't receptive, but whose parents aren't receptive either. I think I'm beginning to get ground up by the machine. I can see a foggy image of what I want my classroom to be, but I don't know if I can accomplish it. Or am I too late? By the time students reach 8th grade (the last year of middle school) they seem to have their minds made up about their educations. Or am I just not presenting the right challenges? I'm hoping that my cell project will strike a chord with students. There are several who I think could really come alive given the heavy art component to it. I want to see some success and not suffer anymore of the tiny heartbreaks that I keep having...