Fair Use and Copyright

Fair Use and Copyright refers to the proper use and distribution of all copyright protected material. Copyright was created with good intentions, so that people wouldn't steal other peoples ideas, which is great except I think it has gone a little too far. First of all, I would argue that out of all of the things that get copyrighted, I would say only half of them are original. Second, there are so many copyright laws now its almost impossible to know and keep up with all of them. Although I know I need to be aware of them in the classroom, I'm not trying to steal anyone's ideas. I'm trying to educate children without having to personally generate all the material I use to teach. I would have no problem referencing the things I use. I'm not trying to steal or take copyrighted material. I'm merely borrowing it.