What Makes You Itch?

Personally, I found this video very powerful.  Although I love parts of my job, I don't feel as though my job is overall satisfying...I love teaching but I don't love the teacher that I have become if that makes any sense.  While I understand the necessity of assessments and accountability, I think it is potentially detrimental to how children learn naturally.  I don't feel that I have the freedom to develop their curiosities and creativity by exploring topics in depth or spending the time on projects that are of interest to them.  It is too expensive and  if I did they might not be able to pass standardized tests. I wish that I was independently wealthy so I could just spend time engaged in learning activities led by children.  To me, experiencing the sense of wonder and discovery through a child's eyes is a wonderful feeling!  I think there is too much anger and hatred in the world.  Perhaps, as educators, we should be responsible for leading students on a path of self discovery, as opposed to pounding knowledge [that they don't care about and will most likely forget because it is irrelevant to the their lives] into their heads (often unsuccessfully). How many students get to high school or even college and have no idea what they want to be (my middle baby included)? This saddens me, and like I always do, I feel that I have not done my job both as a teacher and as a parent. I truly believe that having a passion for what you do will bring joy.  It may sound corny, but I also think that if people lived in joy, there would be much more peace in the world...